What does it cost to run a gas furnace in Alberta?

Furnace gas costs depend on input, running time and your town’s charges. The fan adds electricity use, even without the burner.

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Key facts

  • Heating appliance input range (2012): Most home heating appliances have capacities between 40,000 and 90,000 BTU per hour

    read 22 October 2026

    NRCan’s 2012 home heating appliance range; smaller and larger systems exist.

    Source: Natural Resources Canada: Heating with Gas (2012)
  • Condensing furnace AFUE (2012): Condensing gas furnaces have AFUE ratings between 90 and 98 percent

    read 22 October 2026

    NRCan’s 2012 description of condensing gas furnaces.

    Source: Natural Resources Canada: Heating with Gas (2012)
  • Brushless motor electricity use (2012): A brushless DC motor can reduce furnace electrical energy consumption by more than 70 percent during continuous circulation

    read 22 October 2026

    Continuous air circulation; actual use depends on motor and operation.

    Source: Natural Resources Canada: Heating with Gas (2012)
Show all 6 key facts

For a 60,000 BTU/h input furnace, an hour of burner running costs about $0.33 in Edmonton. This uses today’s default gas rate. This includes usage-based delivery charges, town fees and GST.

Running a 500-watt fan all day for a 30-day month adds about $73.08 of electricity in Calgary. This uses the default rate. It includes delivery, town fees and GST.

Running a 500-watt fan all day for a 30-day month adds about $73.44 of electricity in Edmonton. This uses the default rate. It includes delivery, town fees and GST.

These are costs of extra use. Daily charges still apply. Your bill shows any local charge for your town.

What does an hour of heat cost in my town?

Gas cost for one hour of burner running, by input rating
Town40,000 BTU/h input: one burner hour60,000 BTU/h input: one burner hour90,000 BTU/h input: one burner hour
Edmontonabout $0.22about $0.33about $0.50
Airdrieabout $0.23about $0.35about $0.53
Beaumontabout $0.30about $0.45about $0.68
Cochraneabout $0.22about $0.32about $0.49
Fort Saskatchewanabout $0.18about $0.27about $0.41
Grande Prairieabout $0.22about $0.33about $0.49
Leducabout $0.31about $0.46about $0.69
Lethbridgeabout $0.23about $0.34about $0.51
Red Deerabout $0.22about $0.33about $0.49
Sherwood Parkabout $0.20about $0.30about $0.45
Spruce Groveabout $0.22about $0.33about $0.49
Stony Plainabout $0.22about $0.33about $0.49

Worked out on the default gas rate and today’s delivery charges and town fees, with GST. Your plan’s gas price will differ.

Tariffs in force on . Rounded costs of extra use; daily charges are already on the bill.

The charges behind these numbers
  • Default gas rate, ATCO Gas (north): C$1.458 per GJ (1 October 2026 to 31 October 2026) [source].
  • Default gas rate, ATCO Gas (north) administration charge: C$0.330 per day (1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source].
  • Fixed delivery charge: C$0.997 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source].
  • Variable delivery charge: C$1.049 per GJ (from 1 January 2026) [source].
  • Load balancing deferral rider (Rider L): C$0.091 per GJ (1 May 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source].
  • Transmission service charge (Rider T): C$1.357 per GJ (from 1 January 2026) [source].
  • Rider D Unaccounted For Gas: 1.549% (from 1 November 2025) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Edmonton: 35.00% (from 1 January 2019) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Edmonton: 5.60% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Default gas rate, ATCO Gas (south): C$1.458 per GJ (1 October 2026 to 31 October 2026) [source].
  • Default gas rate, ATCO Gas (south) administration charge: C$0.330 per day (1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source].
  • Fixed delivery charge: C$0.876 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source].
  • Variable delivery charge: C$1.000 per GJ (from 1 January 2026) [source].
  • Load balancing deferral rider (Rider L): C$0.091 per GJ (1 May 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source].
  • Transmission service charge (Rider T): C$1.357 per GJ (from 1 January 2026) [source].
  • Weather deferral rider (Rider W): C$0.325 per GJ (1 September 2026 to 31 December 2026) [source].
  • Rider D Unaccounted For Gas: 1.549% (from 1 November 2025) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Airdrie: 35.00% (from 1 June 2026) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Airdrie: 2.50% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Default gas rate, Apex Utilities: C$1.602 per GJ (1 October 2026 to 31 October 2026) [source].
  • Default gas rate, Apex Utilities administration charge: C$0.164 per day (from 1 August 2026) [source].
  • Fixed delivery charge: C$2.028 per day (from 1 August 2026) [source].
  • Variable delivery charge: C$2.948 per GJ (from 1 August 2026) [source].
  • Third-party transportation rider (Rider G): C$0.869 per GJ (from 1 January 2026) [source].
  • Load balancing deferral rider (Rider L): C$0.172 per GJ (1 May 2025 to 31 October 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Beaumont: 28.50% (from 1 October 2025) [source].
  • District property tax rider (Rider B), Beaumont: 0.4851% (from 1 April 2026) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Beaumont: 1.0617% (from 1 April 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Cochrane: 20.00% (from 1 January 2016) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Cochrane: 2.00% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Fort Saskatchewan: 0.00% (from 28 September 2004) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Fort Saskatchewan: 3.40% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Grande Prairie: 31.63% (from 1 March 2026) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Grande Prairie: 5.00% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Leduc: 31.00% (from 1 May 2026) [source].
  • District property tax rider (Rider B), Leduc: 0.4851% (from 1 April 2026) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Leduc: 0.9458% (from 1 April 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Lethbridge: 27.00% (from 15 February 2012) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Lethbridge: 5.20% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Red Deer: 35.00% (from 1 January 2017) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Red Deer: 4.10% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Strathcona County (Sherwood Park): 22.00% (from 1 July 2010) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Strathcona County (Sherwood Park): 0% (from 1 July 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Spruce Grove: 35.00% (from 1 January 2023) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Spruce Grove: 2.30% (from 1 February 2026) [source].
  • Municipal franchise fee, Stony Plain: 35.00% (from 1 February 2021) [source].
  • Municipal property tax rider, Stony Plain: 2.50% (from 1 February 2026) [source].

These inputs illustrate different sizes. They do not describe every furnace. The burner must run for the full hour.

NRCan’s Heating with Gas (2012) describes the range: Most home heating appliances have capacities between 40,000 and 90,000 BTU per hour (read 22 October 2026) [source].

The conversion uses MMBtu per GJ: 0.9478 (read 22 October 2026) [source]. Each MMBtu means a million BTU.

How long does my furnace run?

Running time depends on the cold, the house and the thermostat setting. A clock hour can include time with the burner off. Your bill’s GJ measures gas use. It includes other gas appliances.

For illustration

Suppose a made-up January used 12 GJ, all for the furnace. The Edmonton example costs about $5.24 per extra GJ. Multiply by 12 for a usage cost of about $62.88. Divide that amount by about $5.24 per GJ to recover 12 GJ. Daily charges are extra. Divide 12 GJ by 0.063304 GJ per burner hour to get about 190 hours at 60,000 BTU/h input.

For ways to reduce use, read lowering your winter gas bill.

How do I find my furnace’s rating?

Find the input rating on the furnace label. It is in BTU per hour. Input is fuel energy going in. Output is heat delivered. Use input for the gas table.

AFUE means annual fuel utilization efficiency. It describes fuel energy converted to heat. It measures this over a season. At the same input, a higher AFUE delivers more useful heat. The input alone does not tell you how warm the house will be.

NRCan’s Heating with Gas (2012): Condensing gas furnaces have AFUE ratings between 90 and 98 percent (read 22 October 2026) [source].

The later regulation has a narrower equipment definition: Minimum AFUE is 95 percent for gas furnaces without integrated cooling, with input up to 225,000 BTU per hour and single-phase power, manufactured on or after July 3, 2019 (read 22 October 2026) [source]. It excludes furnaces for relocatable buildings and replacement non-condensing furnaces.

What does running the fan all the time cost?

US federal research gives this power example: A furnace blower typically draws about 500 W (read 22 October 2026) [source].

Fan electricity: 24 hours a day for 30 days
TownUS federal research: typically about 500 W, all monthFor illustration: 70 per cent less power, as NRCan says a brushless motor can
Calgaryabout $73.08about $21.92
Edmontonabout $73.44about $22.03
Airdrieabout $80.64about $24.19
Beaumontabout $79.92about $23.98
Cochraneabout $79.56about $23.87
Fort Saskatchewanabout $74.88about $22.46
Grande Prairieabout $104.04about $31.21
Leducabout $79.92about $23.98
Okotoksabout $80.64about $24.19
Sherwood Parkabout $74.88about $22.46
Spruce Groveabout $80.64about $24.19
St. Albertabout $79.20about $23.76
Stony Plainabout $80.64about $24.19

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]

The lower-power column is an illustration, rather than a promise for your motor. NRCan’s Heating with Gas (2012): A brushless DC motor can reduce furnace electrical energy consumption by more than 70 percent during continuous circulation (read 22 October 2026) [source].

NRCan also notes in Heating with Gas (2012): Running the circulation fan can increase your electricity bill without an efficient fan motor (read 22 October 2026) [source]. Brushless motors may be labelled ECM or DC. PSC is a standard motor type. The motors can draw different power at the same task.

Should I turn my furnace off in summer?

Use your equipment instructions for summer shutdown. Your gas bill lists daily charges separately. It also lists charges for gas used.

Does a fixed or floating gas plan change this?

A plan changes the energy part of the gas price. Delivery and town charges still apply. Compare your plan’s energy price with the default rate, and keep daily fees separate.

Read Alberta natural gas rates. Learn what a GJ means. Then use the example with your own bill.

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Questions people ask

How much does it cost to run a furnace per hour?

Start with the input rating on the furnace label. Convert that hourly gas input to gigajoules. Then multiply by your town’s cost of extra gas use. The table gives dated default-rate examples. Your plan and burner running time will change the result. Daily charges remain separate.

What does running a furnace fan all day cost?

The cost depends on the motor’s power and speed. Your electricity charges also matter. Continuous running uses more hours than running only with the burner. The fan table shows a full month at two power levels. Read the motor rating or measure its use. Then apply the example to your home.

Should you run your furnace fan all the time?

The table shows the electricity tradeoff. It does not decide how to operate your system. A brushless motor can use less electricity during continuous circulation. Your motor, speed setting and hours matter. Follow the equipment instructions for controls and maintenance. Compare the added electricity with your reasons for circulating air.

Does turning the furnace off in summer remove gas charges?

Daily gas charges are separate from burner use. Read your bill’s fixed and usage charges. See what remains when you use less gas. Turning the furnace off and closing a gas account are different actions. This example does not give a summer shutdown procedure. Follow your equipment instructions.

Sources

Written by the BillRobin team. Updated .

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