Alberta
Albertans don’t have to choose between heating and eating. Here’s how you keep your home warm this winter
Alberta’s Winter Rules for utilities protect vulnerable Albertans by helping keep their lights on and homes warm during the cold winter months.
When temperatures drop, Alberta’s Winter Rules for utilities are designed to keep the power and heat on for Albertans during the cold winter months. Ensuring Albertans have access to reliable and affordable energy is a top priority for Alberta’s government.
From Oct. 15 to April 15, electricity and natural gas services in Alberta cannot be fully disconnected by retailers. This also applies to any time during the year when the forecast for the next 24 hours indicates temperatures below zero degrees.
“During Alberta’s harsh winters, no one should be forced to choose between heating and eating. We’re keeping the lights on for the most vulnerable and taking action to lower power bills for all Albertans. I encourage anyone having difficulties with their utility bill to contact the Utilities Consumer Advocate and learn what options are available.”
Under the Winter Utilities Reconnection program, customers with disconnected utilities are contacted to help get them reconnected before the cold weather hits. This is led by the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA), in partnership with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), utility retailers and distributors and other government agencies. Albertans who are having difficulty with paying their utility bills, communicating with their retailer or making manageable payment arrangements should contact the UCA.
“The Winter Utilities Reconnection Program is an important protection for customers struggling with utility bills. UCA Mediation Staff are available to help customers get energy utilities reconnected and stay safe during winter. They can be reached at 310-4822.”
Alberta’s government is working tirelessly to lower utility bills and protect ratepayers, ensuring Albertans keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their bank accounts. With more still to come, Alberta’s government has already taken action by stabilizing local access fees through new legislation, introducing regulations to prevent power price spikes and investing in programs to help municipalities and rural Albertans manage and lower their energy costs. Additionally, the UCA continues to help consumers better understand and navigate the utility market, and their advocacy has led to Albertans saving more than $3.2 billion over the past two decades.
Affordable electricity options are available
Alberta has a unique competitive electricity market, which gives Albertans the power to choose the best energy provider, plan and payment option to fit their needs. Consumers can purchase their power from more than 50 competitive retailers, with the choice of either fixed or variable rate contracts.
Albertans are encouraged to explore their options and find the competitive rate best-suited to their needs. Last year, tens of thousands of households moved off the Rate of Last Resort to competitive contracts for a more affordable option. Albertans who are looking for help with their utility bills or are experiencing a dispute with their provider should contact the Utilities Consumer Advocate at 310-4822, via email, or through their website.
Related information
- Utilities Consumer Advocate
- Financial Assistance Resources (UCA)
- Alberta Utilities Commission
- Farm fuel and rural utility programs
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Show your Alberta side. Buy Local. |
When the going gets tough, Albertans stick together. That’s why Alberta’s government is launching a new campaign to benefit hard-working Albertans.
Global uncertainty is threatening the livelihoods of hard-working Alberta farmers, ranchers, processors and their families. The ‘Buy Local’ campaign, recently launched by Alberta’s government, encourages consumers to eat, drink and buy local to show our unified support for the province’s agriculture and food industry.
The government’s ‘Buy Local’ campaign encourages consumers to buy products from Alberta’s hard-working farmers, ranchers and food processors that produce safe, nutritious food for Albertans, Canadians and the world.
“It’s time to let these hard-working Albertans know we have their back. Now, more than ever, we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products. The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family, support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride. We are pleased tariffs don’t impact the ag industry right now and will keep advocating for our ag industry.”
Alberta’s government supports consumer choice. We are providing tools to help folks easily identify Alberta- and Canadian-made foods and products. Choosing local products keeps Albertans’ hard-earned dollars in our province. Whether it is farm-fresh vegetables, potatoes, honey, craft beer, frozen food or our world-renowned beef, Alberta has an abundance of fresh foods produced right on our doorstep.
Quick facts
- This summer, Albertans can support local at more than 150 farmers’ markets across the province and meet the folks who make, bake and grow our food.
- In March 2023, the Alberta government launched the ‘Made in Alberta’ voluntary food and beverage labelling program to support local agriculture and food sectors.
- Through direct connections with processors, the program has created the momentum to continue expanding consumer awareness about the ‘Made in Alberta’ label to help shoppers quickly identify foods and beverages produced in our province.
- Made in Alberta product catalogue website
Related information
Alberta
Province to expand services provided by Alberta Sheriffs: New policing option for municipalities
Expanding municipal police service options |
Proposed amendments would help ensure Alberta’s evolving public safety needs are met while also giving municipalities more options for local policing.
As first announced with the introduction of the Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, Alberta’s government is considering creating a new independent agency police service to assume the police-like duties currently performed by Alberta Sheriffs. If passed, Bill 49 would lay additional groundwork for the new police service.
Proposed amendments to the Police Act recognize the unique challenges faced by different communities and seek to empower local governments to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing overall public safety across the province.
If passed, Bill 49 would specify that the new agency would be a Crown corporation with an independent board of directors to oversee its day-to-day operations. The new agency would be operationally independent from the government, consistent with all police services in Alberta. Unlike the Alberta Sheriffs, officers in the new police service would be directly employed by the police service rather than by the government.
“With this bill, we are taking the necessary steps to address the unique public safety concerns in communities across Alberta. As we work towards creating an independent agency police service, we are providing an essential component of Alberta’s police framework for years to come. Our aim is for the new agency is to ensure that Albertans are safe in their communities and receive the best possible service when they need it most.”
Additional amendments would allow municipalities to select the new agency as their local police service once it becomes fully operational and the necessary standards, capacity and frameworks are in place. Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring the new agency works collaboratively with all police services to meet the province’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities. While the RCMP would remain the official provincial police service, municipalities would have a new option for their local policing needs.
Once established, the agency would strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which include the RCMP, Indigenous police services and municipal police. It would help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently across the province.
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