A GJ, or gigajoule, measures the energy in natural gas. It is a unit of use, not a price.
How much gas does a home use?
The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives typical monthly household gas use as 10 GJ (read 5 October 2026) [source]. Gas use is higher in winter.
A kWh, or kilowatt-hour, measures electricity use. The same source gives typical monthly household electricity use as 600 kWh (read 5 October 2026) [source].
Your home may use more or less. Compare your own past bills, especially winter bills, when checking plans.
How much does a GJ cost?
For Direct Energy Regulated Services in the ATCO Gas North and South areas, the default rate changes monthly.
In October 2026 the default rate was C$1.458 per GJ (1 October 2026 to 31 October 2026) [source]. In September 2026 it was C$1.124 per GJ (1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026) [source].
These are dated energy rates. They do not include the rest of the bill and may differ from your plan.
How usage builds the energy line
For illustration
For illustration, use a made-up price of $3 per GJ and 20 GJ of gas. Multiply 20 by $3 to get a $60 energy charge. These round numbers are not a current quote or typical use. Delivery, fees and tax are extra.
Why is the total bill higher?
Delivery pays for the network. A rider is a separate adjustment to the utility’s charges.
For the household category in the checked ATCO Gas North facts, fixed delivery is C$0.997 per day (from 1 January 2026) [source].
Variable delivery is C$1.049 per GJ (from 1 January 2026) [source]. Rider T transmission is C$1.357 per GJ (from 1 January 2026) [source].
Keep those lines separate from the gas energy price. Follow our gas bill guide to check the rest.
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Questions people ask
What is a GJ of natural gas?
GJ stands for gigajoule. It measures the energy in the gas you use, rather than its price.
What is average gas use per month in Alberta?
The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives a typical monthly household amount, shown in the checked facts. Winter use is higher.
How much does a GJ cost in Alberta?
The price depends on your plan and billing period. A default gas rate can change monthly, and delivery adds separate charges.
Is the gas energy charge my whole bill?
No. Your bill also includes delivery and other charges. Multiplying usage by the energy price gives only the energy line.
Sources
Written by the BillRobin team. Updated .
Show the 4 sources
https://billrobin.com/ca/en/alberta/energy/how-much-is-a-gj?utm_medium=share&utm_source=page
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