Short answer: over the 13 months ending August 21, 2026, Get Energy’s variable natural gas rate averaged $2.96/GJ including the transaction fee — below every major Alberta retailer’s fixed gas rate over the same period, and below our own fixed rate of $3.77/GJ. If you locked in a fixed gas rate in the last year, you almost certainly paid more than you needed to.
Last updated August 25, 2026. Get Energy averages calculated September 5, 2026. Competitor rates taken from each retailer’s own website on August 25, 2026 and change without notice — verify before you sign anything.
The comparison
| Plan | Rate | Type |
| Get Energy variable — 13-month average | $2.96/GJ | Variable, no lock-in |
| Get Energy fixed | $3.77/GJ | Fixed |
| ATCO Energy fixed, 1 year | $4.15/GJ | Fixed |
| Direct Energy fixed, 2 and 3 year | $4.57/GJ | Fixed |
| Encor by EPCOR | Spot + $1.00/GJ | Floating |
Get Energy’s variable rate is the market price plus a $0.50/GJ transaction fee, and the $2.96 figure already includes it. Administration fee is $9.97/month per site. Our current 30-day moving average is $3.71/GJ — a snapshot of a hot summer month, which is exactly why a 13-month average is the honest number to judge a variable rate by.
Why fixed natural gas rates are almost always higher
A fixed rate is an insurance product, and like any insurance it carries a premium.
When a retailer offers you gas at $4.57/GJ for three years, it is not predicting the market will sit at $4.57. It is buying or hedging supply in advance and adding a margin to protect itself if prices rise. You pay that premium every single month, whether or not prices ever rise. Over most multi-year periods, the premium costs more than the volatility it protects you from.
That is not a criticism of fixed rates — it is what they are for. If you are on a tight fixed income and a $200 winter swing would genuinely hurt, paying a premium for a predictable number is a rational trade. But it should be a conscious trade, not something you drift into because a door-to-door agent said the word “protection.”
How to judge a variable rate properly
The most common mistake is judging a variable rate by whatever this month’s number happens to be. Gas is seasonal: rates fall through spring and summer, and rise in winter when heating demand peaks. A single month tells you nothing.
- Use a 12 or 13-month average. It covers a full heating season and cancels out the seasonal swing.
- Check the transaction fee is included. Some retailers quote a market price and add fees separately. Ours are included in the averages on this page.
- Compare like with like. A variable average against a fixed offer is a fair comparison only if you use a long enough window on the variable side.
- Check the exit terms. A variable plan you cannot leave is not really flexible.
For completeness: if you have never signed a gas contract you are on default supply from your local provider, which also floats and is re-set monthly. The Utilities Consumer Advocate publishes those default rates each month, and they are worth checking alongside any competitive offer.
What this means for your bill
On a typical Alberta home using around 120 GJ a year, the gap between $2.96/GJ and a $4.57/GJ fixed rate is roughly $193 a year on the commodity alone. Against ATCO Energy’s $4.15/GJ it is about $143. Those are real numbers on a real bill, and they compound over a three-year lock-in.
Past averages do not guarantee future rates — gas markets move, and a cold winter will push variable rates up. What the 13-month average does tell you is what the trade actually cost over a full cycle.
Get Energy’s natural gas plans
We offer both, and we will tell you honestly which one suits you.
- Discount Variable — market price + $0.50/GJ. 13-month average $3.07/GJ. No term, no exit fee.
- Fixed — $3.77/GJ locked. Still below every major retailer’s fixed offer above.
Administration fee $9.97/month per site. We are a Fort McMurray company — call (780) 665-4771 and you reach our own team. Not sure which plan fits? Send us a photo of your current bill through Bill Check and we will send back a line-by-line comparison against what you are paying now, whether or not you switch.
See also: how Alberta natural gas rates work and local energy companies in Alberta.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest natural gas rate in Alberta?
Over the 13 months ending August 21, 2026, Get Energy’s variable gas averaged $3.07/GJ including the transaction fee — below every major retailer’s fixed rate over the same period.
Is a variable natural gas rate cheaper than a fixed rate?
Historically yes, because fixed rates carry a risk premium. The trade-off is a bill that varies month to month.
Why are fixed rates higher?
The retailer hedges supply in advance and adds a margin to cover its own risk. You pay that premium whether or not prices rise.
What are the risks of a variable rate?
Winter bills can spike during cold snaps. Variable suits households that can absorb monthly variation for a lower long-run average.
Can I switch from fixed to variable?
Yes, but check your current contract for an exit fee. Get Energy variable plans have no term and no exit penalty.
Sources
- Get Energy 13-month and 30-day gas averages — secure.getenergy.ca/naturalgas.html, calculated August 21, 2026
- ATCO Energy fixed rate plan — atcoenergy.com (retrieved August 25, 2026)
- Direct Energy Alberta rate comparison — directenergy.ca (retrieved August 25, 2026)
- Utilities Consumer Advocate default rates — ucahelps.alberta.ca (retrieved August 25, 2026)
Get Energy is a competitive retailer offering electricity and natural gas services for residential, small business, and farm consumers across Alberta. Get Energy is a tradename of Utility Network & Partners Inc.
Not sure what you signed? No-contract energy providers in Alberta explains terms, exit fees and auto-renewal, and what Get Energy charges to leave (nothing).
Shopping on price? Cheapest electricity rates in Alberta shows how to compare the full energy charge — fees included — against the Rate of Last Resort.
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