The words on an Alberta energy bill, in plain language

Rider

A rider is a separate adjustment to a utility’s charges. It can add to your bill or take away from it, and it has its own name and dates.

Local access fee

A local access fee is a charge for the town to let the electricity lines use its streets and land. It is collected on your bill and passed to the town.

Municipal franchise fee

In the communities listed on ATCO Gas North's Rider A, the municipal franchise fee is a percentage added to ATCO Gas North's charges, including its other riders. (from 1 October 2026) [source]

Rate of Last Resort

The Rate of Last Resort is the default electricity rate for a home that has not chosen a plan. The default rate is fixed for two years starting 1 January 2025; changes between terms cannot normally exceed 10 per cent. (from 1 January 2025) [source]

Default Rate Tariff

The default rate for natural gas is called the Default Rate Tariff. It changes every month, once the Alberta Utilities Commission approves it. (read 5 October 2026) [source]

Default rate

Your bill shows you are on a default rate if it says Rate of Last Resort, RoLR, Regulated Rate, Default Rate, DRT or Default Rate Tariff. (read 5 October 2026) [source]

GJ

A GJ, or gigajoule, measures the energy in the gas you use. Your gas bill shows how many GJ you used.

kWh

A kWh, or kilowatt-hour, measures electricity use. It is the unit your electricity use is counted in.

Retailer

A retailer sells you the energy itself and sends the bill. Which retailers you can use depends on where you live.

Delivery charge

A delivery charge pays for the wires or pipes that bring energy to your home.

Fixed charge

A fixed charge is a set daily or monthly amount that does not depend on how much energy you use.

Variable charge

A variable charge rises and falls with how much energy you use.

Transmission charge

A transmission charge pays for moving energy over the large, long-distance network before it reaches your local one.

Distribution

Distribution is the local network of wires or pipes that carries energy to your home. The distribution company is not always the retailer who sends your bill.

Fixed rate plan

A fixed rate plan keeps the energy price the same for a set term. Check which charges on your bill that price covers.

Floating rate plan

A floating rate plan lets the energy price change, often every month. Ask how the retailer sets it.

Administration fee

An administration fee is the retailer’s own charge for running your account. Check whether it is daily or monthly.

Estimated reading

An estimated reading is a guess at your use when the meter was not read. Check your bill to see whether each reading was actual or estimated.

Billed days

Billed days are the number of days the bill covers. Check them when you compare one bill with another.

Utilities Consumer Advocate

When you have already tried to settle a problem with your utility company, the Utilities Consumer Advocate can investigate and try to resolve it through mediation. (read 5 October 2026) [source]

Our electricity bill guide and gas bill guide show where each word sits on a bill.