On the default rate, each extra kWh costs about 20.3 cents in Calgary. In Edmonton, it costs about 20.4 cents. Both figures include delivery, town fees and GST.
The energy price alone in Calgary is 12.06¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]. In Edmonton, it is 12.01¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]. The table below links every charge used.
What is a kWh?
For illustration
A kilowatt-hour is the energy used by 1,000 watts running for one hour. A 100-watt bulb running for ten hours uses one kWh.
kW measures power at a moment. kWh measures energy used over time.
Why is the real cost higher than the energy price?
Extra use adds energy, delivery and transmission charges per kWh. Riders, town fees and GST add to that cost. Some towns charge a percentage of named tariff charges. Others charge a fee per unit used.
The retailer collects delivery charges for the distributor. Choosing a plan changes the energy part. Read about local access and franchise fees.
What does a kWh cost in my town?
| Town | One extra kWh |
|---|---|
| Calgary | about 20.3 cents |
| Edmonton | about 20.4 cents |
| Airdrie | about 22.4 cents |
| Beaumont | about 22.2 cents |
| Cochrane | about 22.1 cents |
| Fort Saskatchewan | about 20.8 cents |
| Grande Prairie | about 28.9 cents |
| Leduc | about 22.2 cents |
| Okotoks | about 22.4 cents |
| Sherwood Park | about 20.8 cents |
| Spruce Grove | about 22.4 cents |
| St. Albert | about 22.0 cents |
| Stony Plain | about 22.4 cents |
Worked out on the default electricity rate and today’s delivery charges and town fees, with GST. Your plan’s energy price will differ.
Tariffs in force on . Rounded estimates of extra use; daily charges are already on the bill.
The charges behind these numbers
- Rate of Last Resort, ENMAX Energy: 12.06¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Rate of Last Resort, ENMAX Energy administration charge: C$0.4134 per day (from 1 January 2025) [source]
- Balancing pool rider: 0.1290¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Fixed delivery charge: C$0.769463 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Variable delivery charge: 1.5477¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Quarterly transmission adjustment rider: 0.0583¢ per kWh (1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Transmission charge deferral rider: 0.0483¢ per kWh (1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Transmission charge: 3.8996¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Local access fee in Calgary (approved for 2025 and 2026): 1.5507¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2025) [source]
- Rate of Last Resort, EPCOR Energy Alberta: 12.01¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Rate of Last Resort, EPCOR Energy Alberta administration charge: C$0.230 per day (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Fixed delivery charge: C$0.72856 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Variable delivery charge: 1.783¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Balancing pool rider: 0.130¢ per kWh (1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Transmission true-up rider (Rider J): -0.016¢ per kWh (1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Transmission deferral rider (Rider K): 0.103¢ per kWh (from 1 October 2026) [source]
- Transmission charge: 4.050¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Local access fee, Edmonton: 1.388¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Rate of Last Resort, EPCOR Energy Alberta administration charge: C$0.260 per day (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Balancing pool rider: 0.1198¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Base Transmission Adjustment Rider: -0.59% (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Fixed delivery charge: C$1.034442 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Variable delivery charge: 3.3477¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Quarterly transmission adjustment rider: 0.0155¢ per kWh (1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Transmission charge: 4.2560¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Airdrie: 20% (from 1 April 2021) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Airdrie: 1.04% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Beaumont: 17.25% (from 1 January 2020) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Beaumont: 1.29% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Cochrane: 17% (from 1 January 2020) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Cochrane: 1.03% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Fort Saskatchewan: 0% (from 1 October 2013) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Fort Saskatchewan: 0.86% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Rate of Last Resort, Direct Energy Regulated Services: 12.02¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Rate of Last Resort, Direct Energy Regulated Services administration charge: C$0.558 per day (1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Fixed delivery charge: C$1.4125 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Variable delivery charge: 9.03¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Balancing pool rider (Rider B): 0.133¢ per kWh (1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Temporary adjustment rider (Rider G): -0.212¢ per kWh (1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Transmission deferral rider (Rider S): 0.068¢ per kWh (1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source]
- Fixed service charge: C$0.2698 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Transmission charge: 4.79¢ per kWh (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider (Rider A), Grande Prairie: 12.26% (from 1 April 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Leduc: 18% (from 1 May 2026) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Leduc: 1.03% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Okotoks: 20% (from 1 January 2021) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Okotoks: 0.92% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Strathcona County (Sherwood Park): 0% (from 1 January 2026) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Strathcona County (Sherwood Park): 0.85% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Spruce Grove: 20% (from 1 January 2016) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Spruce Grove: 1.36% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, St. Albert: 15% (from 1 January 2023) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, St. Albert: 1.52% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
- Municipal franchise fee, Stony Plain: 20% (from 1 January 2013) [source]
- Municipal assessment rider, Stony Plain: 1.32% (from 1 July 2026) [source]
Each figure starts with the difference between the bill explainer’s small and typical electricity examples. We divide that by their difference in use. Daily charges cancel out.
Why does a small bill cost more per kWh?
Daily charges spread over fewer kWh make the average higher. That average answers what the whole month cost per unit. The table answers what extra use costs.
Consider the Edmonton default-rate example. At 250 kWh a month, the average is about 32.7 cents per kWh. At 600 kWh, it averages about 25.5 cents per kWh. Both averages include daily charges and GST.
These are worked examples, not your actual bill. The Utilities Consumer Advocate’s typical monthly electricity use is 600 kWh (read 5 October 2026) [source]. The town table lists the tariff facts used.
Our high utility bill guide helps you check the other lines.
How does a GJ of gas compare with a kWh?
For illustration
One GJ holds the same energy as about 278 kWh. The exact conversion is 1.0 Gigajoules (GJ) 277.7778 Kilowatt-hours (kW.h) (read 21 October 2026) [source].
This compares energy content. A furnace and a baseboard heater have different efficiencies. Converting units alone cannot compare heating costs. See what a GJ means.
What would change my cost per kWh?
A fixed or floating plan changes the energy part. Delivery tariffs, riders and town fees can also change over time. Check the dates behind each example and compare your plan’s rate. Read about fixed and floating plans.
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Questions people ask
What is a kWh of electricity?
A kilowatt-hour measures energy used over time. A kilowatt measures how fast a device uses energy at a given moment. Your meter records the energy you use. Your bill applies the energy rate and other usage charges to that amount. Daily charges apply as well.
What does an extra kWh cost in Alberta?
It depends on your town, delivery company and electricity plan. The energy rate is only part of the cost. The town table adds the usage charges and tax on the default rate. Use it as a dated example. Then check the energy rate on your own plan.
Why is my average cost per kWh higher on a small bill?
Daily charges still apply when you use little electricity. Divide the whole bill by a smaller amount of energy. Those charges spread over fewer units. That raises the average cost per unit. The cost of extra use leaves out daily charges. You already pay them.
Can I compare a GJ of gas with a kWh?
Both units measure energy, so you can convert between them. That does not tell you the cost of useful heat in your home. A furnace and an electric heater use energy differently. Compare equipment efficiency, fuel prices and delivery charges. Check these before drawing a conclusion about heating costs.
Sources
Written by the BillRobin team. Updated .
Show the 3 sources
https://billrobin.com/ca/en/alberta/energy/cost-per-kwh?utm_medium=share&utm_source=page
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