Green Energy Offers in Alberta

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Are you interested in learning more about your options for green energy in Alberta? Find out more about what's on offer in Alberta

Bow Valley Power

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Bow Valley Power is an Alberta-based electricity retailer that is part of the Utility Network of energy retailers. Along with offering several residential options from conventional power sources, Bow Valley Power also offers EcoLogoTM certified power. When you purchase green energy from Bow Valley Power, they purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) to match your electricity consumption. These REC are retired on your behalf, and are directly related to the amount of electricity that you consume. Bow Valley Power's REC come from Alberta-based microgeneration sites, and are sourced from a mix of hydro, biomass, wind, and solar.

Product Energy Type Rates Notes
Alberta Wide Green Value Rate
EcoLogo™-certified power
7.49 ¢/kWh
  • + $5.50 monthly administration fee
  • Minimum $200 security deposit required
  • 5% interest paid on security deposit
  • Contract can be cancelled at any time with no fees with 10 business days' notice by completing and submitting a Contract Cancellation Form
  • Price guaranteed until end 2018
  • Pre-authorized debit payment only
  • Customers must have e-mail and agree to receive monthly electronic invoices
Green Base Rate
EcoLogo™-certified power
7.99 ¢/kWh
  • + $5.50 monthly administration fee
  • No deposit required
  • Contract can be cancelled at any time with no fees with 10 business days' notice by completing and submitting a Contract Cancellation Form
  • Price guaranteed until end 2018
  • Pre-authorized debit payment only
  • Customers must have e-mail and agree to receive monthly electronic invoices

Bullfrog Power

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Bullfrog Power is the only Canada-wide energy retailer to focus solely on green energy options, and provides offers for electricity and natural gas. Bullfrog Power's green electricity in Alberta comes from 100% wind power, and the company also supports several solar power projects in the province. Green natural gas is sourced from a biogas-capture project situated on a landfill in Quebec. Bullfrog Power's electricity is EcoLogoTM-certified, and Green Natural Gas Certificates are certified by ICF International. Its green energy purchases are audited annually by Deloitte LLP.

Unlike other energy retailers in Alberta, however, Bullfrog Power does not provide retail energy services. When you purchase Bullfrog Power green energy, you purchase a premium to green your existing energy supply. This means that you will continue to receive a monthly bill from your energy supplier as well as one from Bullfrog Power. You estimate you monthly energy consumption when you sign up with Bullfrog Power, so depending on how accurate your estimate is, your monthly bill from Bullfrog may not exactly match your monthly energy bill. Bullfrog Power offers an energy-consumption calculator to help you make an estimate of how much energy you use in a month, or you can base your estimate on previous bills.

Energy Type Rates

Electricity
2.5 ¢ per kWh

Gas
$3.48 per GJ

Dual Fuel
5% discount on both rates

Encor by EPCOR

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Released in June, 2015, Chirp is a new green product offered by Encor that includes both green electricity and gas. Customers can choose the proportion of their energy use that they would like to "green", from 100% of their electricity or gas consumption to as low as 15% of their consumption. They pay a slight price premium (up to 2 ¢/kWh for 100% green electricity, or $1/GJ for natural gas) on top of their regular energy rate in order to 'receive' green energy, which is comes from Canadian sources: Chirp green electricity supports a hydroelectric facility near Lethbridge, Alberta, and natural gas is purchased from a landfill gas utilization project in Ontario. Both projects are certified (electricity by EcoLogo, and the natural gas project by ISO).

Just Energy

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Just Energy is an Ontario-based energy retailer that offers electricity, gas, and green energy options to customers across North America. The company offers both a green electricity and a green gas option for energy supply. In both plans Just Energy purchases renewable energy credits (REC) or carbon offsets (for natural gas) on your behalf. You have the option to have your entire consumption offset, or just a percentage of it, and the amount of offsets purchased are tied to your home consumption.

Through their green energy program Just Energy supports hydro, solar, and wind projects throughout North America, as well as emissions reductions projects and alternate energy and multiple source projects. Just Energy supports three programs in Alberta: one wind farm and two hydropower projects. Though they do not set a specific quota, Just Energy states that they attempt to ensure that green energy purchases are made in area in which they are sold. Just Energy's carbon offsets meet the ISO 14064 standard, and REC are EcoLogoTM certified. Their green energy purchases are audited by Grant Thornton LLP.

Product Energy Type Rates Notes
Green Energy
Electricity
8.49 ¢ per kWh
  • $6.90/month administration fee
  • 36 month (3 year) contract
  • No termination fees when cancelled after the first 12 months
Green Energy
Gas
$5.59 per GJ
  • $6.90/month administration fee
  • 36 month (3 year) contract
  • No termination fees when cancelled after the first 12 months

Spark Power

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Spark Power is Alberta's first member-owned retail energy cooperative that focuses on green power. It is also part of the Utility Network and offers both conventional power and green power options for Alberta residents. Spark Power's energy offsets support Alberta solar microgenerators, wind farms, and community solar projects. Unlike other green energy providers, Spark Power certifies its own green energy micro-generators, and customers can choose a specific renewable energy project to support, or become a Spark Power-certified micro-generator themselves.

Spark Power's offsets are not the same as REC, and cannot be traded on any renewable energy credit market internationally, in Canada, or in Alberta. However, they are audited by Spark Power members, and the company issues quarterly reports on the status of the generators and green energy offsets produced and retired.

Product Energy Type Rates Notes
SPARK Green Power Rate
Renewable Electricity
8.20 ¢/kWh
  • $5.75 monthly administration fee
  • Minimum $200 security deposit and referral required
  • Contract can be cancelled at any time with no fees with 10 business days' notice by completing and submitting a Contract Cancellation Form
  • Price guaranteed until end 2018
  • Pre-authorized debit payment only
  • Customers must have e-mail and agree to receive monthly electronic invoices

Green Energy Offers Comparison

Each green energy offer presents its own advantages and disadvantages. Bullfrog Power's offer is slightly different from the rest of the green energy providers, as it does not provide the same competitive energy retailer services. If you sign up for Bullfrog Power you essentially are purchasing the green energy premium; your energy supplier remains the same, and you receive an additional bill from Bullfrog Power. This is a convenient option for those who are satisfied with their current energy supplier, or for those who are unable to switch suppliers. Bullfrog Power's green energy is verified by independent third parties, and 100% of their green power comes from Alberta wind farms, making it a solid option from an environmental standpoint. However, if you would prefer the simplicity of greening your energy with just one bill, you might want to consider one of the other competitive energy retailers that provides green energy.

Of the larger retailers, both Just Energy and Encor offer green energy options, for both electricity and natural gas. However, Just Energy does not specify how much of your energy consumption goes towards purchasing RECs that are locally produced. If this is a concern for you, you may want to consider some of the other options, such as the Encor Chirp plan, which supports Alberta and Canadian projects only.

Bow Valley Power's green energy is also based on REC to green your power consumption, and their REC are locally sourced from Alberta microgeneration facilities. Their green energy comes from a mix of hydro, biomass, wind, and solar, though they are unable to specify the exact proportions of their energy sources. At 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, they also offer the lowest rate for green power. However, they do not offer green natural gas. If you prefer a dual fuel option, you should check out Just Energy or Bullfrog Power.

Unlike the other green energy providers, Spark Power's green rate is not based on REC. Instead, Spark Power certifies its own renewable energy credits. While these are not internationally recognized, microgeneration facilities in Alberta are required to emit less than 418 kg of greenhouse gas emissions per MWh, and Spark Power reviews its microgenerators on a quarterly basis to ensure that credits are being allocated accurately. Spark Power At 8.65 cents per kilowatt-hour, Spark Power's green electricity may be the most expensive, but some customers might also appreciate that it runs as a not-for-profit co-operative. Also, unlike its competitors, Spark Power allows you the option of choosing which micro-generation facility your consumption supports, which might be attractive for customers who are interested in supporting green energy in their community.