Status: Bill 19 was introduced on April 22, 2024
Ministry responsible: Affordability and Utilities
Overview
Bill 19, the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, would help make utility costs more affordable and predictable across the province by ending the use of variable rates when setting local access fees for electricity and natural gas service distribution.
If passed, Bill 19 will prohibit the use of variable market rates when setting local access fees, creating a standard framework across the province for how they are calculated by municipalities and regional service commissions. The changes would also allow the Alberta Utilities Commission to provide oversight over all municipalities on how fees are calculated and applied.
Proposed legislation would also replace the term “Regulated Rate Option” with “Rate of Last Resort”. By changing the name to the Rate of Last Resort, consumers will be able to better understand the rate they are paying and encourage them to find the best option for them.
Key changes
If passed, Bill 19, the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, will amend sections 45, 75, and 360 of the Municipal Government Act to clarify:
- how the fees can be calculated, specifically, calculations cannot be based on variable costs of electricity or natural gas
- the Alberta Utilities Commission has oversight over all agreements
If passed, Bill 19, will amend the Electric Utilities Act (Section 139) and the Gas Utilities Act (Section 49) to:
- align language and intent between the governing Acts
- clarify how pre-existing agreements operating outside of the new parameters are to be addressed
If passed, Bill 19, will make adjustments to the following Acts to strike out “Regulated Rate Option” and substitute it with “Rate of Last Resort”:
- Government Organization Act
- Regulated Rate Option Stability Act
- Electric Utilities Act
- Alberta Utilities Commission Act
Next steps
If legislation is passed, changes to local access fees will come into force upon proclamation. Adjustments to the name “Regulated Rate Option” would come into force January 1, 2025.
News
- Making utility bills more affordable (April 22, 2024)