Quick answer: If you have not signed a retail contract, Alberta’s regulated Rate of Last Resort charges 12.06¢/kWh in ENMAX areas such as Calgary, 12.01¢ in EPCOR and FortisAlberta areas, and 12.02¢ in ATCO areas, fixed until December 31, 2026. Delivery charges come on top: for a home using 600 kWh a month, the all-in cost works out to about 21.5¢/kWh in Calgary and Edmonton, 24.9¢ in FortisAlberta areas and 34.4¢ in ATCO areas.
Key takeaways
- The Rate of Last Resort energy price is fixed through December 31, 2026. The price for 2027 and 2028 must be filed by about December 2, 2026, and it can move no more than 10% up or down.
- Delivery (distribution plus transmission) is set by your local distribution company and approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission. It is the same whichever retailer you buy energy from.
- Where you live changes the bill more than any retailer does: at 600 kWh a month, delivery is about $56 in Calgary and about $134 in ATCO Electric areas.
- Solar power you use at home saves the energy price plus the per-kWh delivery charges, about 17.6¢ to 25.9¢ per kWh depending on your area. Solar you export is credited at your energy rate only, because delivery charges apply only to power you draw from the grid.
- Some retail plans built for solar owners, such as Solar Club’s HI/LO plan, pay a higher rate for summer exports.
Alberta electricity rates at a glance (2026)
Your bill has two main parts: the energy charge from your retailer or regulated provider, and the delivery charge from the company that owns the wires in your area. The energy prices below are the regulated Rate of Last Resort, which applies if you have not signed a contract with a retailer.
| Area | Regulated energy provider | Energy price | Distribution company | Delivery: fixed | Delivery: per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary (and other ENMAX areas) | ENMAX Energy | 12.06¢/kWh | ENMAX Power | $0.77/day | 5.51¢ |
| Edmonton | EPCOR Energy Alberta | 12.01¢/kWh | EPCOR Distribution & Transmission | $0.73/day | 5.94¢ |
| FortisAlberta areas (much of central and southern Alberta) | EPCOR Energy Alberta | 12.01¢/kWh | FortisAlberta | $1.03/day | 7.62¢ |
| ATCO Electric areas (much of northern and east-central Alberta) | Direct Energy Regulated Services | 12.02¢/kWh | ATCO Electric | $1.68/day | 13.89¢ |
Delivery figures are the 2026 residential rates approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), including the transmission rider in effect from October 1, 2026. They exclude municipal access and franchise fees, which vary by town, and GST.
What is the Rate of Last Resort?
The Rate of Last Resort (RoLR) is the regulated energy price for Alberta homes that have not chosen a retailer. It took effect on January 1, 2025, in place of the old Regulated Rate Option, and its first term runs to December 31, 2026. The AUC set the prices in Decision 29204-D02-2025: 12.01¢/kWh for EPCOR Energy Alberta, 12.06¢ for ENMAX Energy and 12.02¢ for Direct Energy Regulated Services.
The Rate of Last Resort covers energy only. The Utilities Consumer Advocate notes that it does not include billing and delivery costs, so the price on your bill per kWh is always higher than 12¢.
A few municipal utilities set their own rates. Medicine Hat, for example, charges residential customers 7.000¢/kWh for October to December 2026, recalculated every quarter.
Which company serves your area?
Two companies matter on every Alberta bill, and they are often different:
- Your distribution company owns the poles and wires and sets the delivery charges: ENMAX Power in Calgary, EPCOR in Edmonton, FortisAlberta across much of central and southern Alberta, and ATCO Electric across much of the north and east. You cannot choose it; it depends on your address.
- Your energy provider sells you the electricity. If you have not signed a retail contract, it is the regulated provider for your distribution area: ENMAX Energy in ENMAX areas, EPCOR Energy Alberta in EPCOR and FortisAlberta areas, and Direct Energy Regulated Services in ATCO areas (AUC chart). You can switch to a competitive retailer at any time.
Delivery charges by area: why they matter so much
Delivery has two parts: a fixed daily charge you pay whatever you use, and per-kWh charges for distribution and transmission. The Utilities Consumer Advocate puts transmission at about 15% and distribution at about 24% of the average bill.
The gap between areas is large. ATCO Electric’s residential rate adds 13.82¢ for every kWh plus $1.68 a day, against 5.45¢ plus $0.77 a day in Calgary (ATCO and ENMAX Power rate schedules). Rural lines serve fewer homes per kilometre, so each home carries more of the cost.
Two things to know when you compare bills: all four 2026 schedules are labelled interim by the AUC, and transmission riders are reset every quarter. In 2026 they were credits in the second and third quarters and small charges again from October 1.
What a typical Alberta electricity bill looks like
An average Alberta home uses about 600 kWh of electricity a month, according to the Utilities Consumer Advocate. At that usage, on the Rate of Last Resort:
| Area | Energy | Delivery | Total | All-in per kWh | Delivery share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary (ENMAX) | $72.36 | $56.44 | $128.80 | 21.5¢ | 44% |
| Edmonton (EPCOR) | $72.06 | $57.78 | $129.84 | 21.6¢ | 45% |
| FortisAlberta areas | $72.06 | $77.18 | $149.24 | 24.9¢ | 52% |
| ATCO Electric areas | $72.12 | $134.50 | $206.62 | 34.4¢ | 65% |
Xolar calculation for a 30.42-day month from the AUC-approved 2026 rate schedules, including the October 2026 transmission rider. It leaves out municipal access and franchise fees, any administration charge from your provider, other riders, and GST, so your actual bill will be somewhat higher.
Rate of Last Resort or a retail contract?
Competitive retailers sell fixed-price contracts, variable plans that follow the market, and plans designed for solar owners. Their prices change often and differ by postal code, so we do not quote a range here. The Utilities Consumer Advocate’s cost comparison tool lists current plans for your address and usage.
Whichever you choose, delivery charges stay the same, because they come from your distribution company, not your retailer. A retail contract changes only the energy part of the bill.
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What happens to Alberta electricity rates in 2027?
No 2027 price has been announced yet. Under the AUC decision, the regulated providers must file the Rate of Last Resort for January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028 at least 30 days before it starts, with prices set on or before December 2, 2026. The new price can be no more than 10% higher or lower than today’s:
| Provider | Now (to Dec 31, 2026) | Possible range for 2027–2028 |
|---|---|---|
| ENMAX Energy | 12.06¢ | 10.85¢ to 13.27¢ |
| EPCOR Energy Alberta | 12.01¢ | 10.81¢ to 13.21¢ |
| Direct Energy Regulated Services | 12.02¢ | 10.82¢ to 13.22¢ |
The range is the 10% limit applied to the current price, not a forecast. We will update this page when the 2027 prices are filed.
What Alberta electricity rates mean for solar
Under Alberta’s Micro-generation Regulation, a home solar system (a “small micro-generator”, under 150 kW) is credited for the power it exports at the energy rate your retailer charges you, unless you agree a different rate in writing. Distribution charges, however, are based only on the power you draw in from the grid. That creates two different values for your solar power:
| Area | Value of solar you use at home (energy + per-kWh delivery) | Credit for solar you export (Rate of Last Resort) |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary (ENMAX) | about 17.6¢/kWh | 12.06¢/kWh |
| Edmonton (EPCOR) | about 17.9¢/kWh | 12.01¢/kWh |
| FortisAlberta areas | about 19.6¢/kWh | 12.01¢/kWh |
| ATCO Electric areas | about 25.9¢/kWh | 12.02¢/kWh |
So the more of your solar you use yourself, the more each kWh is worth, especially in ATCO and FortisAlberta areas. Your fixed daily delivery charge stays whatever you generate.
A few more rules worth knowing: the system should be sized to meet all or part of your home’s annual consumption, credits appear on your bill monthly, and your retailer must pay you for unused credits once a year (Utilities Consumer Advocate).
Solar Club and other HI/LO plans
Because the export credit follows your energy rate, some retailers sell plans that switch between a high and a low price. Solar Club lists a HI rate of 35.00¢/kWh for members who export in summer and a two-year LO rate of 5.90¢/kWh for the rest of the year; most members switch to HI in spring and back in fall. The same rate applies to power you buy, so the plan pays off when your summer exports outweigh your summer purchases.
This is a retail plan, not a government rebate, and the rates can change. Check the current terms on the retailer’s site before you sign. For Alberta’s actual rebates and financing, see Alberta solar rebates in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the electricity rate in Alberta right now?
The regulated Rate of Last Resort is 12.01¢ to 12.06¢ per kWh depending on your area, fixed until December 31, 2026. With delivery, a home using 600 kWh a month pays about 21.5¢ to 34.4¢ per kWh all-in, before municipal fees and GST.
What is ENMAX’s electricity rate in Calgary?
ENMAX Energy’s Rate of Last Resort is 12.06¢/kWh until December 31, 2026. ENMAX Power’s delivery charges add about $0.77 a day plus 5.51¢ per kWh.
What is EPCOR’s electricity rate in Edmonton?
EPCOR Energy Alberta’s Rate of Last Resort is 12.01¢/kWh until December 31, 2026. Delivery in Edmonton adds about $0.73 a day plus 5.94¢ per kWh.
Why are delivery charges so high in rural Alberta?
Delivery rates are set by area. ATCO Electric and FortisAlberta serve large rural territories with fewer customers per kilometre of line, so their approved rates are higher. At 600 kWh a month, delivery is about $134 in ATCO areas against about $56 in Calgary.
Will Alberta electricity rates go up in 2027?
The 2027–2028 Rate of Last Resort has not been set. It must be filed by early December 2026 and cannot rise or fall by more than 10% from today’s price. Delivery rates are set separately each year by the AUC.
Do solar panels reduce my delivery charges in Alberta?
Solar you use at home does: it avoids the per-kWh delivery charges on power you would otherwise draw from the grid. Exported power does not, because exports are credited at your energy rate only, and the fixed daily charge stays the same.
Is there an Alberta electricity rebate in 2026?
The Alberta Energy Rebate is a one-time $100 payment per eligible adult for everyday costs, and applications close October 31, 2026. It is not tied to solar. For solar programs, see Alberta solar rebates in 2026.
Sources
- Alberta Utilities Commission, Decision 29204-D02-2025 (Rate of Last Resort prices and 2027 rules) and Rate of Last Resort by area
- AUC-approved 2026 rate schedules: ENMAX Power, EPCOR, FortisAlberta, ATCO Electric
- Utilities Consumer Advocate: default rates, delivery charges, micro-generation
- Government of Alberta, Micro-generation Regulation (AR 27/2008)
Thinking about solar in Alberta? See what systems cost in our Alberta solar cost guide, or find your city on our Alberta service area page, including Calgary and Edmonton.