Affordability programs

How it works

• Alberta’s government is providing relief to Albertans facing high fuel costs.
• Effective October 1, Alberta drivers will automatically save:
  • 8.9 cents per litre on gasoline and diesel, including GST
  • 4.2 cents per litre on marked gasoline and diesel, including GST
• The fuel tax relief program is reviewed on a quarterly basis. Each quarter, we consider reinstating the fuel tax in stages or extending fuel tax relief based on the average price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI). The next change to the relief program will occur on January 1 at the earliest.
• Fuel tax is still collected on rail, propane and aviation fuels.

How much drivers will save when filling up

Other ways to save

• Fuel prices vary among retailers. Shop around for the best price before you fill up, or use an online resource like GasBuddy.com. 

Many Albertans are facing high electricity bills. To help cover the costs, we are providing $300 in rebates to over 1.9 million homes, farms, and small businesses.

How it works

• Six monthly rebates of $50 each will be applied directly to eligible electricity bills, for a total of $300.
  • Most Albertans will start to receive their rebates in July, but exact timing will vary depending on your billing cycle
  • Rebates will be applied each month for the rest of year, including December
  • Rebates will appear as a credit on your bill listed under the "GOA Utility Commodity Rebate"
  • Eligible consumers will automatically receive the rebate; no application or action is required

Eligibility

• You are automatically eligible for the rebate if you are an electricity customer who:
  • is currently connected to the system and receive a monthly bill directly from a utility provider
  • consumed less than 250 megawatt hours of electricity within the past year 
  • disconnected from the system for missed payment but is still enrolled with an electricity retailer
• You are not eligible for a rebate if you:
  • disconnected from the system and are not enrolled with an electricity retailer
  • don't receive monthly bills directly from a utility provider because you live in a sub-metered residence (some condos and apartments); only the main site that connects directly to the distribution system is eligible to receive the rebate, if it consumes less than 250 megawatt hours per year
  • provide yard or street lighting services

To help Albertans manage higher winter heating costs due to volatile natural gas prices, we're running an energy rebate program from October 2022 to March 2023 to shield consumers from price spikes.

How it works

• Rebates will be applied directly to all eligible consumers' utility bill if the regulated monthly natural gas rate charged by any one of Alberta's 3 regulated utility providers is above $6.50 per gigajoule.
  • Each month we will post the highest price default natural gas rate from the three regulated utility providers (ATCO North, ATCO South, and APEX Utilities).
  • Rebates will cover the difference between $6.50 and the regulated rate that calendar month. For example, if the rate is $7.50, eligible consumers would get a rebate on their bill covering $1 for every gigajoule used.
  • Exact timing of the rebates will vary depending on your billing cycle.
• Program runs from the start of October 2022 until the end of March 2023.
• We are working with utilities and regulators to determine the exact details of the program. More information will be released as soon as possible.

Eligibility

• You will automatically receive the rebate on your utility bill if you are a natural gas consumer who:
  • is connected to the system
  • is on either a regulated or competitive plan
  • uses less than 2,500 gigajoules of natural gas annually
• You can also apply to receive a rebate if your household, small apartment building, farm, or small industrial or commercial operation uses alternative heating fuels under the maximum limit:
  • Propane: 16,334 litres per month
  • Heating oil: 10,780 litres per month
  • Kerosene: 11,068 litres per month
• More information on the application process for alternative fuel rebates will be released in the coming months.

Questions about your bill

• If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, but did not get a rebate on your July electricity bill, contact the Utilities Consumer Advocate at 310-4822 or email [email protected] for support.

Utility costs

• Visit UCA Helps for tips to lower your utility costs and save money.

Phishing scams

• The Government of Alberta will not send texts or emails about the rebate program and will not ask Albertans to submit information to receive rebates.
• Be wary of any emails or texts related to the rebates that seem suspicious or ask for personal information.

Financial assistance

• If you're experiencing financial difficulty, programs are available:
  • Seniors Special Needs Assistance Program provides utility arrears coverage once every 3 years
  • Direct to Tenant Rent Supplement Program assists eligible applicants with rental costs
  • Alberta Supports provides an emergency-needs allowance and one-time utility assistance with disconnection notices