Should I lock in a fixed electricity or gas rate now in Alberta?

Nobody knows future prices. Compare a fixed price with what you pay now for your own use. The Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) explains fixed rates. Check the term, exit fee and ten-day cooling-off right. The default electricity price resets on 1 January 2027, normally within a 10 per cent limit.

What does locking in actually fix?

Locking in actually fixes the energy price only, says the UCA. A fixed price does not fix your whole bill. Your bill still moves with how much power or gas you use. Delivery charges and other fees add to the total. Check those costs as well as the energy price.

A fixed rate needs a contract. Read our fixed and floating rate guide for the plan types.

What happens to the default electricity price in 2027?

The default electricity price resets on 1 January 2027 for a two-year term, says the Alberta Utilities Commission. The normal change can be adjusted by no more than 10 per cent. That limit does not tell you the next price. Compare a fixed offer with the default price you pay now.

The Commission requires the next rates to be filed at least thirty days before 1 January 2027. The regulation also allows a separate rate reopener process. You can leave the default electricity rate without penalty, says the UCA.

See the Rate of Last Resort tracker and what is known about electricity and gas prices in 2027.

How do I compare a fixed price with what I pay now?

Compare a fixed price with what you pay now using the same monthly use from your bills. The UCA says fixed rates set an energy price for the term. Include fees when you compare costs. Keep each fuel separate and check the written terms before you sign a contract.

1. Find your monthly kWh for electricity and GJ for gas on past bills. Include winter and summer use.
2. Compare the price per kWh or GJ with your current energy price for the same use.
3. Check the term and end date. Read the renewal rules.
4. Add the administration charge for each month.
5. Check any exit fee and the conditions for leaving early.
6. Spread any credit across the full term. Check its conditions before counting it.
7. Check the ten-day cooling-off right and how to cancel. Save the written terms.

Can I get out if prices fall?

You can get out if prices fall, but exit fees may apply, says the UCA. Some retailers let you move to a lower fixed rate. Ask for that option in writing. Check how to give notice and whether a new term starts when you change rates.

Alberta’s energy marketing regulation gives a ten-day cooling-off right without cost or penalty. For a signed written contract, the period starts when the marketer receives it. Telephone contracts have their own receipt rules. Ask for your exact deadline and keep proof of cancellation.

The regulation also requires the retailer to allow cancellation if you move out of Alberta. Check your contract for any charges that apply. Do not assume an early exit has no cost.

Should I lock in gas and electricity together?

Gas and electricity are separate price choices, even on one bill. The UCA says default gas rates change each month, while default electricity rates have two-year terms. Compare each fuel with your own use and fees. A fixed gas price does not tell you whether to fix your power price.

Read our guide to getting electricity and gas from one company. Check each fuel’s term and exit rules.

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.

Any saving shown is an estimate.

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.