Yes — Alberta has hydroelectric dams, but they are a small part of the picture. Hydro assets supplied roughly 2% of Alberta’s electricity generation in 2025. Natural gas does the heavy lifting, and wind and solar are growing fast.
This question gets asked two different ways. Newcomers from BC, Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec ask it because “hydro” is their word for electricity and they assume Alberta must have a hydro utility. Others ask it literally: does this province actually generate power from water? Here are both answers.
The literal answer: Alberta’s hydro fleet is real but modest
Alberta has hydroelectric plants on its river systems, most of them decades old and most operated by TransAlta. The two largest:
| Brazeau | 355 MW, near Drayton Valley on the North Saskatchewan River system — Alberta’s largest hydro plant. |
| Bighorn | 120 MW, near Nordegg. Smaller in capacity but historically the province’s largest hydro producer by annual energy, at roughly 408 GWh a year. |
There are also smaller plants on the Bow River system and the Oldman River. Together, hydro contributed about 2% of provincial generation in 2025 according to Alberta Market Surveillance Administrator reporting.
Why so little? Geography and history. Alberta’s rivers are lower-volume and more seasonal than BC’s or Quebec’s, the good dam sites are limited, and the province had abundant coal and then natural gas right under its feet. Cheap thermal fuel beat expensive dams.
What actually generates Alberta’s electricity
Alberta’s grid today looks like this:
- Natural gas — the backbone. At the evening demand peak, gas has supplied close to 78% of generation.
- Wind — Alberta became Canada’s largest wind generator in 2025, at about 14.9 million MWh.
- Solar — Alberta also leads the country, rising more than a quarter year over year to roughly 3.5 million MWh in 2025.
- Hydro — about 2%.
- Coal — effectively phased out of Alberta power generation.
Wind, solar and hydro combined reached 21% of provincial generation in 2025, up from about 19% the year before (AESO). That is a fast transition by any standard — Alberta went from a coal province to Canada’s wind and solar leader inside a decade.
If you want the mechanics of how generation reaches your panel, read how electricity generation works in Alberta.
The other answer: there is no “Alberta Hydro” to call
If you came here looking for a hydro company to open an account with, this is the part that matters. Alberta has no Crown power utility. Instead:
- A regulated wires company — ATCO, FortisAlberta, EPCOR or ENMAX — delivers electricity to your address and handles outages. Determined by geography.
- A competitive retailer sells you the energy and bills you. This is your choice, and you can switch without any interruption to service.
If you never choose, you are placed on the default Rate of Last Resort, which replaced the Regulated Rate Option on January 1, 2025 and is scheduled to run until the end of 2026. Full newcomer guide: hydro in Alberta. Structural detail: retailers versus distributors.
Can I buy renewable power in Alberta?
Yes, in two ways, and they are often confused:
- Green energy credits. The electrons on the grid are physically mixed, so nobody can send only wind power down your street. What you can do is buy credits that match your consumption with renewable generation. Get Energy offers this in partnership with Green Alberta Energy.
- Generate your own. Alberta’s micro-generation framework lets you install solar and receive credit for what you export. Alberta’s solar resource is among the best in Canada. See the guide to solar panels in Alberta, how micro-generation works and the Solar Club.
For households, in other words, the practical route to lower-carbon power in Alberta is solar on your own roof plus credits — not a hydro dam.
Does the generation mix change what I pay?
Indirectly, and it is worth understanding. Because gas sets the price at most hours, Alberta wholesale power prices tend to track natural gas and demand. Wind and solar output can pull prices down when they are strong and cold, still evenings can push them up. That volatility is exactly the choice behind a floating rate versus a fixed one: floating exposes you to the market, fixed hands the risk to your retailer. See fixed versus variable rates and how to compare energy plans.
Where to start
Get Energy is a competitive retailer serving Alberta homes, small businesses and farms — electricity, natural gas, green energy credits, solar and internet. Based in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo with customer support in Calgary. No contracts, no cancellation fees. Current rates · how switching works · sign up · (780) 665-4771.
FAQ
How much of Alberta’s electricity comes from hydro?
About 2% in 2025. Wind, solar and hydro together accounted for roughly 21% of provincial generation, with natural gas supplying most of the remainder.
What is the biggest hydroelectric plant in Alberta?
Brazeau, at 355 MW, near Drayton Valley. Bighorn near Nordegg is 120 MW but has historically produced the most annual hydro energy in the province, around 408 GWh.
Why does Alberta have so little hydro power?
Alberta’s rivers are lower-volume and more seasonal than those in BC or Quebec, good dam sites are limited, and the province had abundant coal and natural gas, which made thermal generation cheaper to build.
Is there a company called Alberta Hydro?
No. Alberta has no Crown power utility. Electricity is delivered by a regulated wires company assigned to your address and sold by competitive retailers you choose between.
Can I buy 100% renewable electricity in Alberta?
You cannot physically receive only renewable electrons from a shared grid, but you can buy green energy credits that match your usage with renewable generation, and you can generate your own power under Alberta’s micro-generation rules.
Get Energy is a tradename of Utility Network & Partners Inc.
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