Energy contract cancellation fee in Alberta: what plans state, and when a fee is worth paying

Alberta’s Energy Marketing Regulation sets no fee amount. The contract must show its charges, and its disclosure statement must say how the contract can end. The Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) says leaving default electricity has no penalty. Written contracts can be cancelled without cost within ten days after the retailer receives your signed copy. Read your contract for its fee.

The exit fee depends on the contract

The exit fee depends on the contract you signed. The UCA says leaving early may carry an exit fee. Read each fuel’s fee clause before leaving, and the part of your disclosure statement on ending the contract. We found no limit on the amount in the Energy Marketing Regulation.

The contract must show any charges for the supply of energy, including any exit fees that may be charged directly or indirectly by an owner of an electric distribution system (section 10(1)(a)(v)). (read 15 October 2026) [source]

The disclosure statement must say under what conditions the contract can be ended, including any notice period required (Schedule 1, item 3). (read 15 October 2026) [source]

The Utilities Consumer Advocate says consumers may have to pay exit fees for leaving contracts early. Consumers can leave default retailers at any point without penalty. (from 30 October 2026) [source]

What retailer plan pages state about leaving early

Retailer plan pages state their own terms for leaving early. The UCA says a contract may carry an exit fee.

We show what plan pages state about exit fees about a month after we collect them.

See the plan-by-plan list for electricity and gas.

ENMAX, Direct Energy and ATCO Energy on cancelling

ENMAX, Direct Energy and ATCO Energy each make their own statements about cancelling. ENMAX describes its Easymax terms. Direct Energy describes signing up and leaving your current supplier. ATCO Energy mentions fees on other retailers’ plans. These statements serve different purposes. Read your own contract before you leave.

ENMAX states that every Easymax plan includes cancellation with no penalty with ten days’ notice. (read 30 October 2026) [source]

ENMAX says its Rate of Last Resort customers are never locked in and can leave at any time without penalty. (read 30 October 2026) [source]

Direct Energy says it charges no enrolment fees for electricity and natural gas. It says your current supplier may charge a cancellation fee if you switch within your contract term. That FAQ states no amount. (read 30 October 2026) [source]

ATCO Energy says some retailer plans have a cancellation fee. Its statement concerns leaving another retailer when switching to ATCO Energy. (read 30 October 2026) [source]

When paying an exit fee could pay off

Paying an exit fee could pay off when the monthly saving estimate recovers it before your contract ends. The UCA gives typical household use, but your own bills are the right starting point. Compare the energy prices from your current and new plans. Include both fuels and fees.

Months to recover a flat fee = the fee divided by the monthly saving estimate.

Leaving pays only if the months left exceed that recovery time. If the fee applies to each remaining month, compare it with one month’s saving estimate instead.

Include any sign-up credit you would lose. Spread a credit over the whole term when comparing costs. Check whether credits stop when you leave. Read the sign-up credit guide for the terms to look for.

An introductory price may end before the term does. Use each price for the months it covers.

The UCA’s typical monthly electricity use is 600 kWh (read 5 October 2026) [source]. Use your own gas use and price units for a gas estimate.

Rights to cancel without a fee

Rights to cancel without a fee depend on how and when you signed. The Energy Marketing Regulation gives written and phone contracts their own windows. The UCA explains the cooling-off period. Moving out of Alberta also gives a right to cancel. The Rate of Last Resort has its own rule on fees.

• For a written energy contract, you may cancel without cost or penalty within 10 days after the marketer receives your signed copy. You do not need a reason (section 10(1)(a)(ix) and Schedule 1, item 5). (read 15 October 2026) [source]
• For a contract made by phone, you may cancel without cost or penalty within 10 days after you receive a copy of the contract (section 11.4(1)(a)(xi)). (read 15 October 2026) [source]
• For a contract made by phone, you may also cancel without penalty within 60 days after you receive the first billing statement (section 11.4(1)(a)(xiii)). (read 15 October 2026) [source]
• Every competitive retailer has a cooling-off period of ten calendar days in which the contract can be cancelled for any reason without penalty. Your current retailer keeps providing service until the switch is complete. (read 15 October 2026) [source]
• A marketer must not solicit, negotiate or conclude a contract in person at your home, unless you expressly invited them before they came, by phone, e-mail, text, their website or in person at their place of business (section 19(2)(a) and (5)). (read 15 October 2026) [source]
• A marketer must allow you to cancel the contract if you move out of Alberta, or to an area where the Electric Utilities Act or the Gas Utilities Act does not apply (section 19(2)(n)). (read 15 October 2026) [source]
• Under section 19(1)(a) of the Rate of Last Resort Regulation, an owner must not collect fees related to entry to or exit from the regulated rate tariff. (read 30 October 2026) [source]
• The Utilities Consumer Advocate says consumers can leave the Rate of Last Resort at any point without penalty. (from 30 October 2026) [source]

When moving out of Alberta, ask the retailer in writing whether any exit fee would still be payable.

Moving and contract terms

The disclosure statement must say whether you will or will not still be responsible to buy energy under the contract if you move to another location within Alberta (Schedule 1, item 4). (read 15 October 2026) [source]

Section 14 of the Energy Marketing and Residential Heat Sub-metering Regulation sets a maximum contract term of five years. Each renewal may also last no more than five years. (read 30 October 2026) [source]

Follow the steps to cancel an energy contract. For a new plan, read the switching guide.

The Utilities Consumer Advocate says to ask the current retailer whether notice is required before switching. Exit fees can make the final bill higher or lower than a typical bill. (read 30 October 2026) [source]

Help with a fee dispute

Help with a fee dispute starts with your retailer. Ask in writing for the clause and how the fee was worked out. The Utilities Consumer Advocate can mediate disputes with competitive retailers. Keep your contract, bills and replies together, ready for that call.

To reach a Utilities Consumer Advocate mediation officer, call 310-4822 in Alberta or 1-888-644-6608 outside Alberta, or email ucahelps@gov.ab.ca. The UCA mediation team helps consumers resolve an issue with their utility company. (read 15 October 2026) [source]

The Alberta Utilities Commission does not regulate the rates of competitive retailers and has no jurisdiction over the service they provide. It points customers to the Utilities Consumer Advocate, which can mediate disputes with competitive retailers, and to Service Alberta for licensing and complaints. (read 15 October 2026) [source]

See the guide to energy complaints for the next steps.

A bill check, free during our launch

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Send us your gas and electricity bills as PDFs. No PDF? Screenshots or a photo work too. We compare the plans at your address, free during our launch period.