Compare your electricity bill with typical use
Compare your electricity bill with typical home use before you decide. The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives typical monthly use for power and gas. Use varies by season and by who lives at home. Check your kWh first, then the price per unit. Read delivery on its own.
The UCA gives typical monthly electricity use as 600 kWh (read 5 October 2026) [source]. Its high usage type is Over 800 kWh per month (read 30 October 2026) [source].
There is no official line above which a bill is too high. Compare kWh against typical use and price per unit against the default rate. Compare dollars against the homes below. A bill above the typical homes is a reason to look, not proof of a problem.
Compare gas use with the season
Gas use changes with the season, so compare the same month a year earlier. The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives typical monthly gas use and says winter use is higher. Check your gigajoules first, then the gas price. Delivery charges come from your distributor.
Typical monthly gas use is 10 GJ (read 5 October 2026) [source]. Use varies by season and by the number of people in a home. Gas use is higher in winter. (read 30 October 2026) [source]
The Utilities Consumer Advocate names the Rate of Last Resort as the default electricity rate.
- EPCOR Energy Alberta: 12.01¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]. The default electricity retailer in the EPCOR Distribution (Edmonton) and FortisAlberta areas is EPCOR. (read 15 October 2026) [source]
- ENMAX Energy: 12.06¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]. The default electricity retailer in the ENMAX Power area (Calgary) is ENMAX Energy. (read 15 October 2026) [source]
- Direct Energy Regulated Services: 12.02¢ per kWh (1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026) [source]. The default electricity retailer in the ATCO Electric area is Direct Energy Regulated Services. It is also the default natural gas retailer for ATCO Gas. (read 15 October 2026) [source]
For October 2026, the default gas rate for ATCO Gas North and South is C$1.458 per GJ (1 October 2026 to 31 October 2026) [source]. This price is not for Apex Utilities customers.
Energy charge only; delivery and administration charges are extra.
For winter causes, read why utility bills rise.
Apartment use depends on the home and the people
The Utilities Consumer Advocate groups low electricity use by home type and habits. Its low usage type can fit a small apartment or basement suite. It covers one to three people with conservative use. That bracket is a comparison tool, not an average for one person.
The low usage type is Under 375 kWh per month; one to three people with conservative usage (read 30 October 2026) [source]. The UCA notes: The usage bracket will not exactly match your bills. (read 30 October 2026) [source]
Our small-home estimate below uses default rates. It is a worked example, not a survey of one-person homes.
Compare your total with worked home estimates
BillRobin estimates monthly totals from dated rates and delivery charges for two home sizes. The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives typical use, but a home can use more or less. Your bill may cover a different number of days. A fixed plan can also have a different price per unit.
BillRobin works out monthly estimates for a small home and a typical home from dated rates and delivery charges. These use default rates, before any retailer plan. See every town.
These are worked examples on default rates, before any retailer plan. Every figure is an estimate. Monthly totals include 5% GST, using tariffs in force on 31 October 2026.
The typical home uses 600 kWh and 9 GJ a month. Its estimated monthly total ranges from $248 in Fort Saskatchewan to $352 in Grande Prairie.
The small home uses 250 kWh and 3 GJ a month. Its estimated monthly total ranges from $150 in Fort Saskatchewan to $220 in Grande Prairie.
In Edmonton, the part no plan changes is estimated below for each home. These charges still depend on usage. They are not all fixed fees.
- The small home: an estimated 65% of the total, about $99, is the part no plan changes. A plan changes the energy part, estimated at $54.
- The typical home: an estimated 58% of the total, about $148, is the part no plan changes. A plan changes the energy part, estimated at $108.
Separate usage from price
Usage and price affect different parts of your bill. The Utilities Consumer Advocate explains that the energy charge is the rate times the amount used. A large total alone cannot tell you which part rose. Start with the units used, then the rate, and read delivery on its own.
- Compare your kWh or GJ and billed days with typical use and your own same month last year.
- Compare your price per kWh or GJ with the default rate in force above. Read the administration fee separately.
- Read delivery charges separately from energy. They come with the address and depend in part on usage.
For illustration
A made-up energy charge of $60 for 500 kWh gives $0.12 per kWh. Energy charge divided by kWh gives the price per kWh. These are fictional amounts, not a current rate or bill estimate.
A price above the default is not a mistake: a plan can be chosen for other reasons. A price below it is not proof the whole bill is low.
Delivery is the part a plan cannot change
The delivery part of your bill comes with your address. The Utilities Consumer Advocate says a change of retailer does not change transmission and distribution charges in the same area. The home estimates above split the energy part from the rest. Lower usage can still lower some delivery charges.
The delivery charges on utility bills come from the distributor, not from the retailer. (read 30 October 2026) [source] Transmission and distribution charges in the same area will not vary regardless of retailer. (read 30 October 2026) [source]
The delivery portion of the utility bill is where consumers can see distribution and transmission charges, any applicable Municipal Franchise Fees or Local Access Fees, and rate riders. (read 15 October 2026) [source] Consumers cannot choose their distribution company. (read 15 October 2026) [source]
For a small home, read why fixed charges take a larger share. See delivery charges and riders for the bill lines.
Choose the next step after comparing
A comparison helps you choose where to look next. The Utilities Consumer Advocate explains that usage, the energy price and delivery all shape the total. Start with the part that differs from the benchmark. A bill check can compare plans for both fuels using the bills for your address.
If usage is high, follow the six causes in our high-bill guide. For reading issues, see meter readings and budget billing.
If the price is high or your plan is ending, a bill check compares plans at your address for both fuels. Delivery is the part no plan changes. This is general information.
A bill check, free during our launch
BillRobin is an Alberta service. We compare every plan we can confirm for your home, show them in order of estimated cost, and you decide. We never switch your plan, never phone you and never ask for banking details or a social insurance number.
Questions people ask
How do I know if my power bill is too high?
A high power bill needs a check of use and price before you judge its total. The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives typical home use. There is no official ceiling for a bill. Compare your use, price per unit and delivery charges. A higher total is a reason to look closer.
What is a normal gas bill in Alberta?
A normal gas bill in Alberta varies with the season and the home. The Utilities Consumer Advocate gives typical monthly gas use and says use is higher in winter. Compare the same month a year earlier, then the gas price per unit. Delivery charges also affect the total.
Does a high bill mean my plan is too expensive?
A high bill does not mean your plan is too expensive. The Utilities Consumer Advocate explains that bills include energy and delivery charges. More usage, more days billed or estimated readings can affect the total. Compare the price per unit and read the plan fee on its own.
Can switching plans lower the delivery part of my bill?
Switching plans cannot lower the delivery part of your bill at the same address and use. The Utilities Consumer Advocate says those charges come from the distributor, not the retailer. A plan changes the energy price and its own fees. How much you use can still change some delivery costs.
Sources
Written by the BillRobin team. Updated .
Show the 7 sources
https://billrobin.com/ca/en/alberta/energy/is-my-bill-too-high?utm_medium=share&utm_source=page
Are you on the right energy plan?
Send your bills as PDFs. We compare the plans available at your address, and you decide. Free during our launch.
Check my bills, free- We never phone you
- We never switch your plan. You decide.