Why Your Alberta Electricity Bill Feels So High
If you’ve opened your electricity bill recently and felt a jolt, you’re not alone. Alberta’s electricity costs include not just the energy you use, but delivery charges, transmission fees, rate riders, and admin costs. While you can’t control all of those, there are real ways to bring your total bill down.
Here are 10 practical tips — starting with the one that has the biggest impact.
1. Switch to a Competitive Energy Provider
This is the single biggest lever you have. If you’re on the Regulated Rate Option (RRO), you’re paying a rate that changes monthly and is typically higher than what competitive retailers offer. Switching takes less than 5 minutes and can save you hundreds per year.
Compare Get Energy’s current rates to what you’re paying now.
2. Choose the Right Rate Plan
Fixed rates give you predictability. Variable rates can be cheaper in some months but riskier. If you want to set it and forget it, a competitive fixed rate is usually the safest bet for savings. Check out our guide on fixed vs variable rates for a detailed comparison.
3. Understand Your Bill
Your electricity bill has two main parts:
- Energy charges — the supply rate (what you can change by switching providers)
- Delivery & transmission — regulated charges (same regardless of provider)
Focus your attention on the energy charge — that’s where switching providers makes a difference.
4. Use a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
If you heat with electricity or use air conditioning, a smart thermostat can cut heating/cooling costs by 10-15%. Set it to reduce heating when you’re asleep or away. Popular options like Ecobee and Nest pay for themselves within a year.
5. Switch to LED Lighting
If you haven’t already, replace incandescent and CFL bulbs with LEDs. They use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer. A household that replaces 20 bulbs can save $50-$100 per year on electricity alone.
6. Manage Phantom Power
Electronics plugged in but not in use still draw power — TVs, gaming consoles, phone chargers, coffee makers. Use power bars with switches for entertainment centres and home offices. Phantom power can account for 5-10% of your electricity bill.
7. Run Appliances During Off-Peak Hours
While Alberta doesn’t have formal time-of-use pricing for residential customers, running high-draw appliances (dishwasher, laundry, dryer) during off-peak hours can reduce strain and costs during peak demand periods.
8. Maintain Your Furnace and HVAC
A dirty furnace filter forces your system to work harder, using more electricity. Replace filters every 1-3 months. Annual furnace maintenance keeps everything running efficiently.
9. Seal Drafts and Insulate
Air leaks around windows, doors, and electrical outlets force your heating and cooling to work overtime. Weatherstripping and caulking are cheap fixes that can reduce heating costs by 10-20%.
10. Monitor Your Usage
What gets measured gets managed. Check your meter or utility’s online portal to see your daily and monthly usage patterns. You might be surprised where the energy goes — and small behaviour changes can add up.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
Switching providers alone (tip #1) can save a typical household $70-$200 per year on electricity. Combine that with efficiency improvements and you could be looking at $200-$500 in annual savings — real money that adds up year after year.
Ready to start? Switch to Get Energy in under 5 minutes and lock in a competitive rate today.
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