For the fifth month in a row, natural gas prices in Alberta have not been high enough to trigger a provincial rebate.
The province issued a bulletin Thursday setting February’s default natural gas rate at $3.715 per gigajoule (GJ), down from the $6.50 per GJ triggering rate and January’s $6.446 per GJ.
When the natural gas waiver was initially announced, it was set to run for six months between September 2022 and March 2023, but the government recently said it would be extended as part of an extension . strength action plan,
“We look forward to providing more information in the coming months,” Andrea Farmer, press secretary to Affordability and Utilities Minister Matt Jones, said in a statement.
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However, electricity prices are going in the opposite direction.
Data from the Alberta Utility Commission Friday showed the regulated rate option (RRO) – the default rate for electricity customers who are not on contract – went up again.
NMAX customers in Calgary will see RRO prices go up from about 27 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to about 29.7 cents per kWh in February. Apcor and Fortis RRO customers can expect prices to increase from 30 cents per kWh to approximately 33 cents per kWh. Direct Energy RRO rates will increase from 27 to 32.7 cents per kilowatt hour.
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Albertans on the RRO will not have to bear the full brunt of continued high prices under the government’s electricity price protection.
From January to March, any cost above 13.5 cents per kWh would be paid over the 21-month period from April 2023 to December 2024.
Schaefer said the total cost of the electricity price cap would exceed $200 million.
The opposition said the government had “mismanaged” the electricity system, adding that “their inefficiency means Albertans will be stuck paying higher bills.”
“Albertans are already struggling to keep the lights on and food on the table, but month after month, electricity costs have gone up under the UCP,” said Edmonton-Manning MLA Heather Sweet, a member of Albertan There’s no help.” in a statement.
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Farmer said the province is working on long-term improvements in energy affordability.
Pointing to the $500 and $600 electricity rebates, the spokesperson said, “The Government of Alberta is providing real relief to help Albertans pay their electricity bills this winter, as well as the electricity system in years to come.” making long-term improvements.” The government is helping in other ways in the form of total affordability payments to eligible Albertans.
Sweet criticized the government’s apparent inaction on high electricity prices, instead “pushing down the road until after the election.”
Under the previous government, Albertans had a different kind of price protection: a 6.8 per cent per kWh rate cap. It was scrapped after the 2019 elections.
While prices next month are almost five times higher than the old range, they have not always been as high as they have been over the past year.
In May 2022, RRO rates from all utilities were approximately 10 cents per kWh.
The province’s Affordability Action Plan website advises Albertans can switch to a fixed rate, which is offered on a term contract. Current rates on five-year terms from the companies mentioned above range from 12.6 to 16.2 cents per kWh.
Utilities also offer natural gas fixed rate contracts.
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