How does the Federal Carbon Tax charge affect my bill?

The Federal Carbon Tax is part of the federal government's carbon pollution pricing system. It applies to fuels that emit greenhouse gases when combusted, including natural gas. It took effect in Alberta on January 1, 2020 and was designed to increase every April 1 thereafter, beginning on April 1, 2020.

On April 1, 2023, the Federal Carbon Tax rate will increase from $2.629 to $3.327/GJ. How much you pay is determined by how much natural gas you use. In Alberta, the average household consumes about 120 GJs per year. That estimate shows that the annual cost of the carbon tax on natural gas bills will increase by about $84. Remember that your monthly natural gas consumption changes depending on the season, with the highest consumption falling in the cold winter months.

Dates $/Carbon tonne Rate ($/GJ)
January 1, 2020 - March 31, 2020 $20 $1.050
April 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021 $30 $1.576
April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022 $40 $2.103
April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023 $50 $2.629
April 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024 $65 $3.327

For more information on the Federal Carbon Tax visit the Alberta and Pollution Pricing page on the Governement of Canada's website.

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High Bill FAQs

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