One bill can be simpler. It is not automatically cheaper. Compare a bundle, separate electricity and gas plans, and keeping what you have. The useful answer is the one that fits your home after fees and conditions.
Some Alberta retailers let you put electricity and natural gas on one bill. Each service can still have a different rate, fee and contract. The Utilities Consumer Advocate explains the retailer choices.
Start with the easy questions
Where is the home? Do you pay for both electricity and natural gas? Is either plan near renewal? These questions help you find the right options before spending time on the fine print.
A recent bill may contain the usage history you need, in a table or chart. Check the service address and dates, then find electricity usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh), gas in gigajoules (GJ), and each service’s rate and administration fee. If you have moved, keep the old and new homes separate.
The optional bill-comparison checklist
For your current arrangement and each candidate, record:
- Electricity kWh and gas GJ over the same service period.
- Each commodity rate and whether it is fixed, floating or default.
- Administration, daily, minimum, membership and other retailer fees.
- Contract term, renewal and promotion dates, deposit, payment requirements and exit costs.
- Delivery, transmission, municipal and tax lines: which stay the same, which change, and which need checking.
- Whether the offer applies to your service address and customer type.
What a bundle actually changes
A bundle can mean one retailer, one account, or a discount. Check exactly what is included: two services do not necessarily mean one administration fee. A promotion, deposit or payment condition can also change the value of the offer.
You do not have to choose the same rate type for both services. For example, you might prefer a fixed electricity rate and be comfortable with a floating gas rate. A fixed commodity rate does not fix your total bill: usage and other charges can change. A floating rate that looked attractive last year is not a promise about next winter. See UCA’s rate-choice guide and our fixed-versus-floating explanation.
A made-up example with the same usage
These figures are invented, not current offers. They use one month of 600 kWh of electricity and 8 GJ of natural gas. No real retailer is represented.
| Cost for the same month | Bundle | Separate plans |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity energy | 600 × $0.0900 = $54.00 | 600 × $0.0850 = $51.00 |
| Electricity administration | $12.00 | $14.00 |
| Natural-gas energy | 8 × $3.50 = $28.00 | 8 × $3.20 = $25.60 |
| Natural-gas administration | $10.00 | $8.00 |
| Total of listed costs | $104.00 | $98.60 |
The separate plans are $5.40 lower for this month’s usage and listed fees. The bundle could still suit a household that values one account more than that difference. Another usage profile or offer could change the winner.
This is not a complete bill or an annual saving. Include delivery, transmission, municipal and tax lines in a full comparison. Check which charges stay the same and which change; do not subtract an energy-only quote from your entire old bill. GST on a retailer charge changes when that charge changes. See UCA’s bill explanation and our electricity-rate checklist.
For a yearly comparison, use a year of usage where available. Heating and electricity needs change through the seasons, so multiplying one month’s difference by twelve can mislead. Calculate each option against the same household profile, including your current plans.
If you are moving or renting
Ask whether your current plan can move, what happens to each service, and whether start and end dates overlap. An old home’s annual usage is only an estimate for a different building; it should not silently become a confident forecast.
Renters who pay utilities may be able to choose a retailer. In a sub-metered arrangement, the landlord may control that choice. Check the UCA tenant guide (PDF). Our switching guide covers the changeover questions.
The choice can be simple
- Bundle when the combined cost and conditions fit, and one account is worth it to you.
- Choose separately when that combination costs less or fits each service better. You can also keep one current plan and change the other.
- Stay put when the difference is small, the evidence is incomplete, or changing adds more effort than value.
The UCA comparison tool is a useful public starting point. Verify the selected offer and eligibility with the retailer, because prices and terms can change.
BillRobin is building a simpler combined bill check. Read how we approach evidence and recommendations, or join the free early-access list below. The personalized service is not accepting bills, taking payment or switching providers through this site yet.
Sources & review
Based on the official sources below, reviewed on 9 September 2026. Rules and offers can change; verify the current terms before acting. We link to sources so you can check the details.
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