menu icon
Fixed-rate plans Regulated rates
Select Service Location
Log in
Shop now
Select Service Location
Pay your bill Log in

Sign up for fixed rates:

1-855-452-8869

Direct Energy customer support:

1-866-374-6299

Direct Energy Regulated Services sales & support:

1-866-420-3174
A woman relaxes in a hammock, using a laptop while enjoying a peaceful outdoor setting.
A woman relaxes in a hammock, using a laptop while enjoying a peaceful outdoor setting.
A woman relaxes in a hammock, using a laptop while enjoying a peaceful outdoor setting.

Lock in your rate with confidence

Choose your term, set up Auto Pay and enjoy more predictable monthly billing.

Direct to plans
Three people in a restaurant, gathered around a tablet, reviewing table layout.
Three people in a restaurant, gathered around a tablet, reviewing table layout.
Three people in a restaurant, gathered around a tablet, reviewing table layout.

Our energy plans for your business are not one-size-fits-all.

Check out our energy plans for restaurants and learn how to make your business more energy efficient. 

 

Learn how

Your go-to resource for all things energy related in Alberta.

Want to know more about your energy options? Looking for ways to save on energy usage? We're here to help you make an educated decision.

 

Visit our learning centre

Meet our new app

The only energy account app in Alberta‡—built to give you fast, easy access to bills, insights, rewards and more.

New to Direct Energy? Get an exclusive offer when you download the app.§

Unlock your offer

Sign up for Auto Pay!

Set up Auto Pay to avoid missing a payment and late fees.

 

Auto Pay
Skip to main content

Smooth out the highs and lows of your bills with Average Billing

Pay a more predictable bill amount each month, no matter how much energy you use during the hot summer and cold winter months.

Learn how it works
Smooth out the highs and lows of your bills with Average Billing Smooth out the highs and lows of your bills with Average Billing Smooth out the highs and lows of your bills with Average Billing

What is Average Billing?

Average Billing is a free budgeting tool that can help even out bill amounts by averaging usage charges throughout the year instead of paying the highs and lows of seasonal bills. Sometimes you’ll pay more or less than what you actually use and that becomes your deferred balance, which is spread out over your future bills.

While Average Billing doesn't reduce your total annual charges, it makes your bills more predictable, helping you budget better.

How is the monthly Average Billing amount calculated?

We add up your monthly bills for 12 months, if available.
We divide that sum by 12 or by the total months available for your service address.
Finally, we add or subtract 1/12 of your deferred balance.

Average Billing is an easy way to manage your monthly energy budget.

Sign up for Average Billing and smooth out seasonal high and low bills by paying a rolling average amount all year.

Sign up

How would Average Billing help you?

Predictable payments

Avoid the bill spikes that typically come with times of higher usage.

Stress-free bills

Breathe easier because your bills won't increase or decrease dramatically.

Easier budgeting

With less bill fluctuation each month, budgeting is that much easier.

 

 

Example of how Average Billing works

*For illustration purposes only

A graph depicting the average monthly temperatures throughout the year, with labeled axes for clarity.
A graph depicting the average monthly temperatures throughout the year, with labeled axes for clarity.
A graph depicting the average monthly temperatures throughout the year, with labeled axes for clarity.

Before Average Billing

A graph depicting the average monthly temperatures throughout the year, with labeled axes for clarity.
A graph depicting the average monthly temperatures throughout the year, with labeled axes for clarity.
A graph depicting the average monthly temperatures throughout the year, with labeled axes for clarity.

After Average Billing

How is the deferred balance calculated?

Example of a customer who has a deferred balance owing for the month

Sample bill breakdown
Natural gas charges $61.93
Electricity charges  $44.39
Distribution and government charges (Non-Direct Energy charges) $215.19
Total current charges $321.51
Current Average Billing amount $252.00

Since the Average Monthly Billing amount is lower than the actual current usage charges, the $69.51 difference will be added to their deferred balance. They will also have a higher rolling average on the next bill. 

Example of a customer who has a deferred balance credit for the month

Sample bill breakdown
Natural gas charges $22.23
Electricity charges  $28.22
Distribution and government charges (Non-Direct Energy charges) $117.40
Total current charges $167.85
Current Average Billing amount $241.00

Since the Average Monthly Billing amount is higher than the actual current usage charges, the $73.15 difference will lower their deferred balance. They will also have a lower rolling average on the next bill. 

Frequently asked questions

Show all answers

The deferred balance is the accumulative difference between your determined Average Billing amount and what you would normally owe if you were not on our Average Billing program.

You can find the deferred balance amount on your monthly bills. If the bill amount is negative, we will subtract 1/12 from your bill. If the bill amount is positive, we will add 1/12 to your bill.

If you're new to Average Billing, the deferred balance will begin on the second month. If you decide to cancel your Average Billing or change energy retailers, you will need to pay your deferred balance in full. Would add that this full deferred balance will show up on the next bill

Your monthly bill will show the Average Billing amount that is due that month. In addition, you'll see your actual usage, the current price, and your deferred balance. The deferred balance might be a credit or an amount owed.

With regular billing, your energy bill goes up during high-usage months and down in low-usage months.

Instead, Average Billing allows you to pay a rolling average monthly amount, spreading your energy costs throughout the year and making it more manageable.

Watch this video to learn more about Average Billing.

This is how we calculate your Average Billing amount:

  • We add up your monthly bills for 12 months (or the number of monthly bills available, if fewer than 12)
  • We then take that total and divide the amount by 12 or by the total months available for your service address (if fewer than 12)
  • Finally, we add or subtract 1/12 of your deferred balance, which is the cumulative difference between your monthly Average Billing amount and your actual usage charges

And don't worry, with Average Billing, you can still sign up for Auto Pay through your bank or make payments through your Online Account, mail, or phone. You can read more about your payment options here.

The amount you pay each month will not be the same. It can vary slightly based on fluctuations in your energy usage.

While your monthly energy bills won't decrease, it'll be more evenly distributed throughout the year, which means more balanced monthly payments for you.

If you've selected our Green Option, those monthly charges will remain the same each month and are not included in the Average Billing calculation.

Please call us if you'd like to remove Average Billing from your account. Unfortunately, we cannot make those adjustments through your Online Account at this time. If you decide to cancel your Average Billing or change energy retailers, we will apply any credit balance to your next bill or refund it. However, if you have an outstanding deferred balance, you'll have to pay it at this time.

Average Billing usually becomes available after you’ve had about two months of billing history with Direct Energy. We use your actual energy usage from those first bills to calculate a predictable monthly payment amount.

Once enough billing history is available, you can enroll in Average Billing if you’re eligible.

When you let us know you're moving and request a service transfer, you can include this request. Yes you can transfer your Average Monthly Billing to your new address, the Deferred balance will also be transfer over the new address.

Have a question about a plan or need help placing an order with Direct Energy?

Call us: 1-866-374-6299

Have a question or need help placing an order with Direct Energy Regulated Services?

Call us: 1-866-420-3174

Customer Service Hours: 7:00am - 9:00pm MST (Monday-Friday), 8:00am - 4:30pm MST (Saturday), Closed Sundays