Energy bills for renters and condo owners in Alberta

Who can choose a retailer?

The account holder for the home’s meters chooses the retailer. Albertans can buy electricity and natural gas from a competitive retailer or stay on a default rate. Which retailers are available depends on where you live. (read 5 October 2026) [source]

If your name is on the electricity or gas account, you can compare and change plans where retailers serve your area. Some rural homes cannot: A customer of a rural gas co-op cannot sign a contract with another natural gas retailer, unless the customer is not a farm and uses more than 10,000 GJ a year. (read 15 October 2026) [source] A member of an REA signs a Member Service Contract with it. The member can buy electricity at the REA default rate for the amount in that contract, or from a competitive electricity retailer if the REA offers that option. (read 15 October 2026) [source] Our rural power and gas guide explains these utilities.

If the landlord, the condo corporation or a metering company holds the account, you cannot switch it, even though you may pay for the energy.

What to check in a lease

• Which of electricity, gas, water and garbage are included in the rent.
• Whether your unit has its own meter, or shares one with other units.
• Whether a separate company bills you for your share of use.
• What happens to the account when you move in and when you leave.

Ask for the answers in writing. If you are unsure what your lease says, the Utilities Consumer Advocate can explain how utility rules work, but it does not give legal advice.

What to check in a condo budget

Condo fees often include heat, hot water, common-area power and garbage. Read the budget or ask the board which of these your fees cover.

Your own meter still shows on your own bill. If gas heats the whole building, the condo corporation holds that gas account, and you see the cost only as part of your fees.

Garbage and water are usually not part of the energy choice

Garbage and water belong to your municipality or your building. In a rental or condo where they are in your rent or fees, there is no cart size to choose and no separate saving to find on that line.

What stays the same whoever sells you energy

• Delivery charges are set for your address by the local delivery company.
• Town fees such as franchise and local access fees stay the same. Our guide to these fees explains them.
• Riders and tax stay on the bill.

Only the energy price and the retailer’s own fees change when you switch. If you want to know whether you are on a default rate, Your bill shows you are on a default rate if it says Rate of Last Resort, RoLR, Regulated Rate, Default Rate, DRT or Default Rate Tariff. (read 5 October 2026) [source]

If you hold your own account

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. We show the facts and you decide.

If something goes wrong

Start with the company that sends your bill. If the problem is not settled, the Utilities Consumer Advocate can look into it.