Affordability programs

From April 1 until at least September 30, Alberta will stop collecting the provincial fuel tax on gas and diesel at the pump. Alberta drivers will automatically save:

• 13.6 cents per litre on gasoline and diesel, including GST
• 4 cents per litre on marked gasoline and diesel

The fuel tax removal will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. We will consider reinstating it in stages based on the average price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI). October 1 is the earliest it could be reinstated.

Fuel tax will still be collected on rail, propane and aviation.

Table 1: How much drivers will save when filling up

Retailers

Fuel retailers are important partners in the fuel tax relief program. Resources are available to show your participation in the program.

• Posters:
  • Fuel tax relief is here 8.5x11: Colour | Black & White
  • Fuel tax relief is here 11x17: Colour | Black & White
• Refunds:
  • Retailers may apply for a refund of the provincial fuel tax they have already paid on inventories prior to April 1.

Many Albertans faced high electricity bills last winter. To help retroactively cover the costs, we will be providing a total of $150 in rebates to over 1.9 million homes, farms, and small businesses.

How it works

• Three $50 rebates will be applied directly to eligible electricity bills with most Albertans starting to receive their rebates in July, August, and September for a total of $150.
  • Exact timing will vary depending on your billing cycle
  • 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

Get help

• Questions: If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, but did not get a rebate on your July 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

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 European-style 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.