Distributor vs retailer: the only split you need to remember
In Alberta, the company that delivers your energy is different from the company that bills you. Knowing which is which keeps you calm when something goes wrong and clear-eyed when you compare offers.
- Owns the physical network
- Restores outages, responds to leaks
- Tariff is AUC-set or municipal bylaw
- Cannot be chosen by the customer
- Sells you the kWh or GJ contract
- Sets the commodity rate, sends the bill
- Fixed, variable, RRO or renewable plans
- Switch any time, no work to the network
Alberta energy retailers directory
The 16 most-asked-about retailers in the Alberta market. Click any card for full details, plans and contact info.
Operates in: Province-wide. Calgary-based, Wood Buffalo roots; donates 10% of profits to charity
Operates in: Province-wide (sister to ATCO Electric + ATCO Gas)
Operates in: Province-wide
Operates in: RRO default for ATCO Electric territory (northern + eastern AB)
Operates in: Province-wide (operated by ENMAX)
Operates in: Province-wide. RRO default in Calgary (ENMAX wires territory)
Operates in: Province-wide. RRO default in FortisAlberta territory + beyond
Operates in: EQUS REA member territories (rural central + south)
Operates in: Province-wide (commercial focus, residential available)
Operates in: Province-wide
Operates in: Province-wide (Calgary-based independent)
Operates in: Province-wide (Peace Hills Power Society backing)
Operates in: Province-wide. Wholesale-passthrough pricing
Operates in: Province-wide. Donates a share of profits to charity
Operates in: Province-wide. 100% renewable electricity option
Operates in: Province-wide. NRG Energy subsidiary; fixed SureLock terms up to 36 months, sold via ACN reps
There are more than 60 retailers licensed in Alberta in total. The complete list is published by the Utilities Consumer Advocate.
Filter by retailer type
Four plan families to pick from. Each has its own logic.
How to find your current retailer in 60 seconds
Your retailer name appears in the bill header and on the envelope. The retailer also handles all account, contract and billing enquiries.
If you never signed a competitive contract, you are on the Regulated Rate Option. The RRO retailer depends on your distribution territory.
Any account or billing question: call your retailer (number on your bill). Outage or leak: call your distributor 24/7 line, not the retailer.
How to switch retailer in Alberta: the 4-step process
Switching takes 10 minutes online and 1 to 2 billing cycles to complete. No work happens to the wires or pipes. The same energy keeps flowing without interruption.
You need your account number, current rate, your distributor name and a recent month's consumption (kWh or GJ).
Look at total annual cost (rate x your consumption + monthly admin fee + GST), contract length, and early-termination fees, not just the headline rate.
Most retailers let you enrol online in under 10 minutes. Approve their terms, give them your address, account number and the move-over date.
The new retailer notifies the wires/pipes company and your old retailer. You get a final bill from the old one, a starter bill from the new one. No interruption.
Alberta gives you 10 business days after signing a competitive contract to cancel without penalty. Use the time to read the full terms, especially the early-termination fee, the rate-change rules and the auto-renewal clause.
Selectra energy expert insights
A low per-kWh rate paired with a high monthly admin fee can cost more than a higher rate with no fee. Multiply your annual consumption by the rate, add 12 months of admin fee, then compare.
The RRO can be cheaper in low-price months but spikes painfully in high-price ones. A fixed-rate contract trades the chance of a great month for predictability across the full term. Pick based on whether you value certainty or chasing the lowest possible average.
Many fixed-rate contracts auto-renew at month-by-month variable rates when the term ends, which can be far higher than your original locked-in price. Set a calendar reminder 60 days before contract end so you can re-shop or re-sign at a fresh fixed rate.