Customers are free to purchase natural gas services or electricity services from a retailer of their choice. For a list of retailers, visit ucahelps.alberta.ca or call 310-4822 (toll-free in Alberta).

Weather conditions in Alberta

Did you know that the transmission and distribution charges on your energy bill are affected by weather changes too? Learn more about transmission and distribution fees and how it works.

Here are the top Alberta weather highlights in 2024 that impacted your energy usage and fees on your energy bill:

June 2024

Summer has officially arrived! June started off warm and sunny with a few cool days mid month. If you are using an AC to keep cool this summer, you will notice a spike in your electricity usage over the next few months. Here are some ways to save energy this summer.

May 2024

Alberta had its first tornado of the year and a heavy snow dump just before the start of May. The weather remained damp and cool for the rest of the month with much-needed rain which helped reduce the wildfires in Fort McMurray and prevent it from spreading further. If you've been impacted by the recent wildfires and need assistance with your account, we're here to help you. Contact us or view our payment options and access government resources here.

April 2024

Just as fast as temperatures warmed up at the start of the month, temperatures dropped just as quickly due to an unexpected cold front which brought heavy snow dumps. Thankfully, the average temperature was relatively normal for April so there wasn't an unusual increase in heating usage. Plus, this much-needed moisture is a real win for our local farmers who have been dealing with long-term drought conditions in Alberta.

March 2024

Spring arrived and so did more snow! In early March, we had a snowy start with certain parts of Alberta getting more than 25 centimetres. On the bright side, since daylight savings has started again we can enjoy longer days and later sunsets, which also means less lighting costs as we move in spring and summer.

February 2024

There was a little bit of a reprieve from the frigid cold that the Polar Vortex brought last month. Even with the sporadic cold shots of Arctic air, Alberta had above-average temperatures from February to March due to a milder and drier El Niño winter. 

However, the Polar Vortex in January caused natural gas prices to increase significantly in February. As a result, you may notice a higher energy bill in February due to rates and regular heating usage. 

January 2024

The Polar Vortex in January brought a deep freeze and -40°C temperatures to Alberta, breaking temperature records from over 50 years ago. Due to the extreme cold weather, AESO issued a grid alert asking Albertans to conserve energy to reduce the risk of rolling outages. With an increased need for heating and higher than normal energy usage, you may notice a higher energy bill in January.

^Based on an average of the lowest advertised 5-year fixed rates from Atco Energy, EasyMax, Encor, and Direct Energy as of June 25, 2024.

*The forecast is based on the current forward wholesale natural gas and electricity price curves on June 25, 2024, and will not be the exact rates. Natural gas and electricity rates can change suddenly based on weather, unplanned infrastructure outages, and global events.

**Based on Direct Energy Regulated Services' regulated electricity rate in August 2023, 32.42 cents/kWh.