Farms are the hardest energy bill in Alberta to read and the easiest to get
wrong. Multiple meters across a quarter section, seasonal loads that spike for weeks and then stop,
irrigation, grain drying, livestock ventilation and a farm residence — all on rural
distribution tariffs that work differently from urban ones.
We supply and broker electricity and natural gas for Alberta farms and agricultural operations,
and the free Energy Cost Audit covers every meter on the operation, not just the one that arrived in
today’s mail.
Where the energy actually goes
| Load | What it means for the bill |
|---|---|
| Irrigation | Large seasonal motor load. Pivots concentrated into a few months set a demand peak that some tariffs then carry forward. |
| Grain drying | Intense, short and usually gas-fired. A few weeks of drying can dominate an entire year’s gas spend. |
| Livestock ventilation and heating | Continuous, non-negotiable and weather-driven. Barn heating is a major winter gas load. |
| Shop and yard | Welders, compressors, heated shop — the same peaky profile as a trades business, on the same property. |
| Farm residence | Often billed on the same or an adjacent account, sometimes on a different rate class entirely, and frequently overlooked when plans are chosen. |
Where the money usually is
Every meter, not one
Farms routinely have several sites on different contracts, different retailers and different end dates. Reviewing them together is usually the single biggest win.
Seasonal demand
Where a peak set during irrigation or drying season is carried forward, you can pay off-season for an on-season peak. This is a delivery-side question, not a rate question.
Rate class and rural tariffs
Rural distribution tariffs have their own structures, and a class chosen years ago may not match how the operation runs now.
Solar and on-site generation
Alberta farms have the roof and land area and often a good load match. Sizing it against actual annual use is part of the review, not a separate sales pitch.
Worth checking on your own bill
- How many meters does the operation have, and is every one of them on a chosen plan?
- Do the contract end dates line up, or are they scattered across the year?
- Does billed demand stay high after irrigation or drying season ends?
- Is the farm residence on the right account and rate class?
- Has anyone compared the gas contract against the drying season’s actual volume?
Book a free Energy Cost Audit
Send us one recent electricity bill and one natural gas bill. We review both halves — the
energy you buy and the delivery charges you are billed to receive it — and come back with a
written summary of what we found and what, if anything, is worth changing. No cost, no obligation,
and no requirement to switch anything.
Upload your bills — free Energy Cost Audit
Prefer email? Send your bills to
info@getenergy.ca, or call
(780) 665-4771, Monday to Friday 9 AM–5 PM.
Common questions
Can Alberta farms choose their electricity and natural gas supplier?
Yes. Farms and agricultural operations buy in the same deregulated market as other Alberta consumers and can choose a competitive retailer for each site and commodity.
Why do farms often have several energy accounts?
Because separate meters are usually installed for the yard, shop, irrigation, barns and the residence. Each is a distinct account and can end up with a different retailer, rate and renewal date.
Does seasonal use like irrigation or grain drying affect delivery charges?
It can. Where a tariff carries peak demand forward, a peak set during a short intense season can continue to affect billed demand well after that season ends.
More for Alberta businesses
- Business energy in Alberta — the overview
- The Energy Cost Audit — what we review and what you get
- Distribution and transmission charges on a business bill
- Small business electricity rates in Alberta
- Commercial natural gas in Alberta
- Do you need an energy broker in Alberta?
Energy prices move every week. Our Alberta
Energy Market Report tracks wholesale power prices, the natural gas reference price and retail
rate movement every Monday.
Get Energy published small business rates: variable electricity 7.06¢/kWh (30-day average, calculated September 8, 2026), fixed 1-year 6.57¢/kWh, variable natural gas $3.71/GJ (calculated September 5, 2026), administration fee $9.97 per site per month. Sites above 250,000 kWh or 2,500 GJ a year are quoted on their own profile. Last updated September 12, 2026.
Get Energy is an Alberta competitive retailer and energy broker serving
residential, small business, farm and commercial consumers. Get Energy is a tradename of Utility
Network & Partners Inc.