Understanding Your AltaGas Utilities Bill
In this article we help you understand the key information about your Altagas Utilities gas bill.
Looking for more general information about your Alberta gas bill?
Payment Return Slip
Make sure to send the Payment Return Slip with your payment if you choose to mail a cheque or money order. It contains the following important information:
- Account number: the unique number for your account
- Area/Cycle number: this number allows AltaGas to locate the region of your site and in which billing cycle your account is in
- Amount now due: the total amount of your gas supply and distribution charges, with GST included
- Your address
Details of Your Bill
Account Information
Here you will find your account number, your meter number, and your premise number (your site ID).
Account Number, Meter Number, Premise Number...What's the difference?
Your account number identifies your account with AltaGas
Your meter number identifies the meter that is measuring your consumption
Your premise number is used to link your address and meter information and to bill your consumption correctly
Along with this information you will find the statement date, as well as the period during which your consumption was measured and charged for this bill. Along with the dates for the billing period you will also see the number of days within the cycle, as well as the measurements from the meter reading. AltaGas will indicate if this meter reading was a real one, or an estimate. You will also see your account type (what type of service you receive from AltaGas).
Find out how to read your meter.
You will also see the conversion factor and the billing unit (the GJ amount for which you are being charged).
Previous Payment Details
Here you will find the amount of your previous bill, the date that your last payment was received by AltaGas, and any overdue payment amounts (if you have any), or any credits to your account (if applicable).
Fixed Charges
This section includes all charges that do not vary with your consumption. These are generally charged per day, and include a fixed delivery charge and the default supply administration fee. Fixed delivery charges recover the costs of transporting gas through AltaGas's distribution system to your home. The default supply administration fee takes into account the costs of providing you retail service (including billing and customer service).
Variable Charges
Here you will find the charges that depend on your consumption (charged in $/GJ). These include the base energy charges (which recovers the costs of delivery that are not included in the fixed delivery charge), gas cost, and third party transportation. The gas cost may be separated into different rates depending on your billing cycle (as regulated gas rates change once a month). Third-party transportation costs recovers what AltaGas Utilities must pay to other companies to use their pipelines to transport gas to AltaGas customers.
Riders
Rate riders are charged by gas distribution utilities and regulated rate providers to adjust for any differences between estimated and actual costs. They are temporary credits or charges that are approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC).
Property & Franchise Fee
Also known as the local access fee, this is charged to AltaGas Utilities by your local municipality for the use of municipal land and for the exclusive right to provide service in the area. This fee is set by your local municipality and is not regulated by the AUC.
GST
5% GST is charged on the subtotal of your electricity and distribution charges.
Notices and Information
The rest of your AltaGas bill is dedicated to providing you with important notices and customer service information. This includes information about your consumption history, and any potential changes to the terms and conditions of your service (such as late payment policies, or reminders about how to close or move your AltaGas account, as well as notifications about changes in rates or any other information relating to your billing.