What a gas water heater costs to run in Alberta, and rental contracts

In Calgary, use your bill’s gas price and usage charges.

NRCan’s ENERGY STAR water heaters page puts it this way: Water heating accounts for 17.2% of energy use in the average Canadian home, second to space heating (read 30 October 2026) [source].

A summer bill, when the furnace is off, helps you estimate your own water heating use. Other gas appliances can contribute. The examples price only the gas used and its usage-based charges. Daily charges and rental payments are separate.

What does a month of hot water cost in my town?

For illustration: read your own summer bill, when the furnace is off, to estimate your water heating GJ. Other gas appliances add to that use.

The tankless example uses less gas. It does not reduce daily charges or rental payments.

How do I find my own water heating use?

Find the GJ used on a summer bill when the furnace is off. Note the billing dates and days covered. Allow for a gas stove, dryer or other gas appliances. Compare several summer bills before using one month as a guide for the year.

Follow your gas bill’s lines and learn what a GJ measures. For winter heating, see furnace running costs.

Tank or tankless: which uses less?

An ENERGY STAR certified tankless water heater uses 30% less energy, on average, than a storage tank type (read 30 October 2026) [source].

A storage tank consumes energy to maintain the water temperature even when hot water is not being used (read 30 October 2026) [source].

A federal minimum energy efficiency standard applies to household gas-fired storage water heaters manufactured on or after January 1, 2018 (read 30 October 2026) [source].

The table illustrates a tankless heater using thirty per cent less, as NRCan says for ENERGY STAR certified models on average. Actual use depends on the equipment and hot water drawn. Energy use alone does not give the installed price or the terms of a rental.

Is there a rebate for a tankless heater?

The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) offers financing, not a rebate. Under CEIP, financing is attached to your property tax bill and repaid to your municipality (read 21 October 2026) [source].

The program’s eligible upgrades include high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, windows, insulation, water heaters and solar photovoltaic systems (read 21 October 2026) [source]. For a tankless heater, check your municipality’s equipment and application rules before counting on support. See how CEIP works. For rebates that are open or closed, see home energy rebates.

I rent my water heater. What should I check?

Find where the charge appears: your gas bill, a separate statement or another payment. Write down the monthly amount and how long you have paid it. Ask the provider named on the agreement for a copy of the contract and a written explanation of the charges.

• Read the contract’s length and renewal terms.
• Find any buy-out price, removal fees and notice requirements.
• Check who handles repairs, maintenance and equipment removal.
• Ask how the agreement treats a move or a sale of the home.

Keep the contract and statements together. Read the terms before deciding what to do.

Selling household energy products door to door without an invitation, including natural gas and electricity contracts and furnaces, has been banned in Alberta since 1 January 2017. You can still invite a salesperson to your home. (from 1 January 2017) [source].

If a salesperson came to your door uninvited to sell a water heater on or after 1 January 2017, that sale was banned; ask Service Alberta (consumer protection) about your contract. (read 30 October 2026) [source]

For a qualifying direct sale, you may cancel within 10 days of receiving your copy of the signed contract, without giving a reason (read 30 October 2026) [source].

The direct-sale cooling-off right covers personal or household purchases over $25 made in person away from the seller’s normal business premises. In some cases, such as a seller lacking a required licence, cancellation rights extend up to one year. The seller must give a full refund within 15 days of cancellation (read 30 October 2026) [source].

These direct-sale rules do not establish whether your rental qualifies. Ask Service Alberta about the agreement and circumstances. See Alberta’s door-to-door sales ban and our utility scams guide.

For concerns about door-to-door sales, call Service Alberta’s consumer protection line: 1-877-427-4088 (read 30 October 2026) [source]. For a problem with an energy bill, see where to take an energy complaint.

A bill check, free during our launch

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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.