Utilities

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The mighty Peace, one of the province’s largest rivers, flows through northwest Alberta. Key utility services – natural gas, power and water – are competitively priced.

Natural Gas

Maturing toward a deregulated model, natural gas consumers may enter into a negotiated contract with natural gas retailers or purchase gas at regulated prices from utility companies. Currently, only a small number of retailers are offering residential contracts, and access to the deregulated options is not province-wide. The REDI region is serviced by a number of reliable natural gas providers, each offering different rate and contract options.

Natural gas prices in the region fluctuate monthly based on demand and market prices; however, the Alberta Gas Reference Price (a monthly weighted average of an intra-Alberta consumers’ price and an ex-Alberta border price, reduced by allowances for transporting and marketing gas) was between $5.21 and $6.58 per gigajoule over the first 11 months of 2004.

Natural Gas Retailer: AltaGas Utilities

Town of Rainbow Lake Gas
Northern Lights Natural Gas Co-op.

Electrical Power

Alberta’s electrical power market is unique in Canada and at the forefront of the North American marketplace. While the retail portion of the industry remains partially deregulated, by Jan. 1, 2006, all commercial and residential consumers will have the option to purchase power through negotiated contracts based on the fluctuating Alberta Power Pool pricing. Electrical power is generated locally within REDI at the Rainbow Lake natural gas power generation and co-generation plants owned and operated by ATCO Power and Husky Oil.

Residential and business consumers may purchase electrical power at flow through rates, which fluctuate continuously with the Alberta Power Pool market prices. Alternatively, they may choose to enter into power purchase agreements that offer fixed rates for pre-determined periods with one of the many licensed energy retailers.

Electricity Retailers in the region

Specific information on licensed energy and natural gas retailers

Water and Wastewater

The REDI region offers an ample supply of treated water from surface water collection and storage, as well as water resources from lakes and other water sources.

The region boasts three large lakes; Bistcho, Zama, and Hay Lakes, and seven major rivers including the Peace River, which accounts for 85 per cent of the total mean annual outflow in Alberta.

Reliable water and wastewater management facilities are operated by the municipalities in the region and regulated by Alberta Environment .