You are moving from BC to Alberta and looking for the Alberta version of BC Hydro. There isn’t one — and that is genuinely good news, because in Alberta you choose who sells you electricity.
Thousands of British Columbians relocate to Alberta every year, and setting up utilities is where the two provinces feel most different. In BC, electricity is simple in the way monopolies are simple: one utility, one rate, nothing to decide. Alberta hands you a decision instead. Here is what changes, in plain terms.
1. “Hydro” is not a word here
BC Hydro is a provincial Crown corporation, and the name became the everyday word for electricity across the province. Alberta’s grid was never built on dams — it ran on coal and now runs largely on natural gas, with wind and solar growing quickly. Hydro assets supplied about 2% of Alberta’s generation in 2025. So Albertans say electricity, power, or just “the utility bill.” Nobody will know what you mean by “the hydro.”
Practical version: search for an electricity retailer, not a hydro company. Our full explainer is here: hydro in Alberta, for newcomers.
2. There is no single utility — there are two different companies
In Alberta, the job BC Hydro does alone is split in two:
- A wires company (distributor) — ATCO, FortisAlberta, EPCOR or ENMAX, depending on your address. They own the poles and wires, read your meter and restore power in an outage. Assigned, not chosen.
- A retailer — buys the energy and bills you. Your choice, and you can change it whenever you like.
This is the single biggest adjustment coming from BC. You are not looking for “the utility” — you are picking a supplier. See retailers versus distributors.
3. If you don’t pick, you get the fallback rate
Do nothing and you land on Alberta’s default rate, the Rate of Last Resort, which replaced the Regulated Rate Option on January 1, 2025 and is set to run to the end of 2026. It is a legitimate rate and the lights will be on — but it is designed as a backstop, not as the sharpest offer on the market. Compare it against current retail rates before you settle.
4. Your rate can be fixed or floating — a choice BC never gave you
BC Hydro rates change when the regulator approves a change; recent applications set annual bill increases in the mid-single digits. You had no product to select. In Alberta:
- Fixed — locks your energy rate for a term. Predictable, easier to budget, and it protects you through a cold snap.
- Floating — tracks the market monthly. Lower in soft months, higher when the market tightens.
Coming from a stable regulated rate, most BC transplants prefer fixed for their first year while they learn what an Alberta winter does to their usage. Read fixed versus variable and how to compare energy plans.
5. Natural gas is now a real bill
In much of BC, homes lean on electric heat and mild winters. In Alberta, most homes heat with natural gas — and gas is a separate commodity with its own retailer choice and its own rate. Expect a meaningful gas bill from roughly October to March, and expect it to dwarf your BC winter heating expectations. Start with residential natural gas and how gas pricing works here.
6. Your bill has more lines on it
An Alberta bill separates the energy you used from the regulated delivery, transmission and rider charges that every retailer passes through identically. Competition affects the first part only. That is worth knowing before you evaluate any offer — a retailer who claims they will slash your whole bill is not being straight with you. Walk through it with reading your Alberta electricity bill and transmission and distribution charges explained.
7. Solar works differently — and often better
Alberta has some of the best solar resource in Canada and a micro-generation framework that credits the power you export. If you had written solar off in the Lower Mainland, it is worth a second look here. See the guide to solar panels in Alberta and how micro-generation works.
Your move-in checklist
- Confirm your move-in date and new Alberta address.
- Choose an electricity retailer, and a natural gas retailer if the home has gas. One company can do both.
- Decide fixed or floating — ideally before your first winter.
- Set up internet at the same time (Get WiFi). Energy and internet bill separately; the advantage is one local company and one team to call.
- Keep your final BC Hydro statement until your Alberta account is running — useful for comparing usage.
Why people call us
Get Energy is a competitive retailer serving Alberta homes, small businesses and farms, based in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo with support in Calgary. No contracts, no cancellation fees — which matters when you are new and still learning your usage. See current rates, read how switching works, or sign up online. Prefer to talk it through? (780) 665-4771.
City pages: Calgary · Edmonton · Fort McMurray · Red Deer · Grande Prairie
FAQ
Who is the BC Hydro equivalent in Alberta?
There is no equivalent. Alberta has no Crown power utility. A regulated wires company delivers electricity to your address, and you choose a competitive retailer to sell it to you.
Do I need to set up electricity before I move to Alberta?
Arrange it around your move-in date. Enrolment is administrative and typically takes effect within a billing cycle; you are not left without power while it processes.
Is electricity cheaper in Alberta than BC?
It depends on the plan you choose and the season, and BC’s regulated rates are historically low. The meaningful difference is that Alberta lets you shop and lock a rate, which BC does not.
Do I have to pay a cancellation fee to BC Hydro?
No. You close your BC Hydro account by giving them your move-out date and forwarding address.
Why do I suddenly have a natural gas bill?
Most Alberta homes heat with natural gas rather than electricity, and gas is billed separately from power, with its own retailer choice.
Get Energy is a tradename of Utility Network & Partners Inc.
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