Calgary Utility Rates See Recent Update as Power Price Index Released
Statistics Canada has released September data for the Electric Power Selling Price Index, benchmarked to 2014, providing Calgarians with a fresh look at potential shifts in electricity costs. Published on November 10, this index offers critical insights into pricing changes that directly affect household budgets and local businesses.
Calgarians have closely watched utility bills following a period of significant electricity price volatility. However, the landscape is set for notable changes in the new year. Effective January 1, 2025, Alberta’s default electricity rate, previously known as the Regulated Rate Option, transitions to a new "Rate of Last Resort" (ROLR), designed to offer more stable, fixed pricing for two years.
Concurrently, the City of Calgary is implementing its own changes to electricity franchise fees, moving to a quantity-only model. This shift aims to detach these fees from market fluctuations, offering greater predictability and potentially lowering the average residential electricity franchise fee by approximately $3.33 per month in 2025.
Amid these regulatory adjustments and market shifts, the Electric Power Selling Price Index remains a vital tool for economic analysts and policymakers tracking the evolution of electricity pricing over time. For Calgary consumers and businesses, monitoring this index will continue to be crucial in understanding the ongoing affordability of power.
