Calgary charges a fixed $0.015507 per kWh on power. On gas, the fee is 11.11% of delivery charges plus the same share of a fixed gas price times your use. The City plans to raise that fixed price on 1 January 2027, and has submitted the plan to the AUC for approval. Your retailer does not change these fees.
What is the local access fee on my ENMAX bill?
The City of Calgary says the local access fee on an ENMAX bill is a fixed $0.015507 per kWh (from 1 January 2025) [source]. The fee pays the City for use of its land. The same fee applies whichever retailer you choose for the same home, power use and bill period.
Utility companies pay the City for the right to build, run and maintain utilities on City land. The fees are added to utility bills and sent to the City. The Government of Alberta says municipalities set local access fees for the use of municipal property.
Read your ENMAX bill line by line. See the local access fee in every Alberta municipality.
How is the gas franchise fee on my ATCO Gas bill worked out?
The gas franchise fee on an ATCO Gas bill has two parts, says the City of Calgary. The gas price in the formula is fixed, rather than your retailer’s price. The formula is 11.11 per cent of delivery tariff charges. Add 11.11 per cent of fixed gas price times GJ used (from 1 March 2025) [source].
| Part | Share | Applied to |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | 11.11% (from 1 March 2025) [source] | Delivery charges |
| Gas use | 11.11% (from 1 March 2025) [source] | Fixed gas price of C$3.15 per GJ (from 1 March 2025) [source] times GJ used |
What changes on 1 January 2027?
The City of Calgary plans a gas price change on 1 January 2027. The fixed price would rise from C$3.15 per GJ (from 1 March 2025) [source] to C$5.67 per GJ (from 1 January 2027) [source]. The City submitted the new agreement to the AUC for approval on 21 September 2026. Your gas supply price is separate.
The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives typical monthly household gas use as 10 GJ (read 5 October 2026) [source]. Winter use is higher. Use that amount for this example.
For illustration
For 10 GJ, the gas-price part is 10 × $3.15 × 11.11%, or about $3.50. Under the City’s plan it becomes 10 × $5.67 × 11.11%, or about $6.30. That is about $2.80 more for the gas-price part alone.
Add the delivery part to work out the full franchise fee. These figures are not the whole bill. Your own gas use and delivery charges may differ.
The City gives its own estimate for an average home: The average monthly franchise fee for a residential consumer is estimated at $10.90 in 2027, up about $2.45 a month. The City says these amounts are subject to change. (from 1 January 2027) [source]
Why did the fee change in 2025?
The fee change in 2025 came from a new law on market prices. The law bans fees tied to gas or power market prices. The Act ended affected agreements on 17 March 2025 unless the AUC approved them first, so Calgary changed its formulas.
The Act received assent on 16 May 2024. It bans franchise fee formulas that use a price which varies with the market price of power or gas. (from 20 June 2024) [source]
According to the Alberta Utilities Commission’s bulletin: The amendments took effect on 20 June 2024. Affected agreements would end on 17 March 2025 unless the AUC approved them before that date. (from 20 June 2024) [source]
The City’s fixed electricity method began on 1 January 2025. The gas formula using a fixed gas price began on 1 March 2025.
Is there a limit on franchise fees?
The AUC sets a limit on franchise fees for both power and gas. The caps are 20% (read 30 October 2026) [source] for power and 35% (read 30 October 2026) [source] for gas. The caps apply to a share of delivery charges.
The City says franchise fees are typically less than 10% of a utility bill (read 30 October 2026) [source].
What happens in 2028?
The City of Calgary intends to calculate the gas fee as a simple fixed rate per GJ used from 1 January 2028. The City describes this as a quantity only method. The City has not given a rate for it. It comes after the 2027 gas price change.
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Questions people ask
Will switching retailers lower my Calgary local access fee?
Switching retailers will not lower your Calgary local access fee for the same home, use and bill period. The City of Calgary charges a fixed rate per kWh. The Government of Alberta says towns and cities set this fee. A new plan can change your power price. The City's fee uses the same rate.
Who sets the local access fee in Calgary?
The City of Calgary sets the local access fee on your power bill. The Government of Alberta says towns and cities set these fees for use of their land. The fee passes through to your bill. Your retailer collects it. Choosing a new plan does not change who sets the fee.
Is the Calgary gas franchise fee going up in 2027?
The Calgary gas franchise fee would go up under the City's plan, says the City of Calgary. The City lists the new agreement as submitted for AUC approval. The plan raises the fixed gas price used for the fee. Delivery charges and gas use also affect the full fee.
Is the local access fee a tax?
The City of Calgary calls it a franchise fee, shown as the local access fee on your power bill. The City says utility companies pay it for the right to use City land. The Government of Alberta calls it a fee set by municipalities. It appears on your bill as its own charge.
Sources
Written by the BillRobin team. Updated .
Show the 7 sources
- Alberta King's Printer: Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024
- Alberta Utilities Commission: Bulletin 2024-12
- Alberta Utilities Commission: Other charges
- City of Calgary: Energy costs
- City of Calgary: Franchise fee update
- Government of Alberta: Affordability resources
- Utilities Consumer Advocate: Frequently asked questions
https://billrobin.com/ca/en/alberta/energy/calgary-local-access-and-franchise-fees?utm_medium=share&utm_source=page
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