Investor and municipally owned utilities companies

The AUC regulates Alberta’s investor-owned electric, gas, water utilities and certain municipally owned electric utilities.

Overview

The AUC regulates Alberta’s investor-owned electric, gas, water utilities and certain municipally owned electric utilities to ensure that customers receive safe and reliable service at just and reasonable rates.

The AUC also regulates the routes, tolls and tariffs of energy transmission through utility pipelines and electric transmission and distribution lines. Companies who propose to construct or rebuild electric generation, transmission or distribution facilities in Alberta, must apply to the AUC for siting approval.

When reviewing the utility’s application, the AUC considers the social and environmental impacts, as well as any economic implications for the ratepayers.

Furthermore, the AUC also provides an adjudicative function for issues arising in Alberta’s electric and natural gas markets.

Below is a list of some of the companies regulated by the AUC. Please note that we are unable to provide a comprehensive list due to the non-traditional nature of some utility services (such as micro-generation) and the continuous changes to the utility industry. This list is provided to give the reader some background on the regulated utility services provided by the following companies and to provide examples of the activities that are regulated by the AUC.

Regulated retail companies

Natural gas
Two regulated retail service providers offer the gas cost flow through rate that is based on market and changes monthly upon AUC approval. The current rates and terms and conditions page provides the current rates that have been approved by the AUC.

Apex Utilities Inc. Apex Utilities is a retail service provider and natural gas distributor that provides natural gas services to more than 60,000 residential, rural and commercial customers in Alberta. The default rate tariff for the gas cost recovery rate is set monthly and reflects the market prices in the market. Apex Utilities Inc. is also a natural gas distribution company that delivers natural gas supply within the designated service areas in Alberta.
​Direct Energy Regulated Services Direct Energy Regulated Services is a retail service provider that is the regulated natural gas retail provider for many communities across Alberta. As a regulated retailer service provider the monthly gas cost flow-through rate is reviewed by the AUC and are set based on market conditions. To find out if Direct Energy Regulated Services is your default regulated retail service provider visit Direct Energy Regulated Services for Alberta | Direct Energy

Some rural communities may be located in a region that is within the service territory of a gas co-op. Natural gas co-ops are not regulated by the AUC. For questions or concerns regarding natural gas co-ops please contact the board of directors of the gas co-op, the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd., or the Rural Utilities branch of the government of Alberta at 780-427-0125.​

Electricity

Three retail companies offer the regulated rate option to customers in Alberta.

​Direct Energy Regulated Services Direct Energy Regulated Services is a retail service provider that is the regulated electricity provider and/or regulated natural gas retail provider for many communities across Alberta. As a regulated retailer service provider the monthly regulated rate option for electricity is reviewed by the AUC and are set based on market conditions. To find out if Direct Energy Regulated Services is your default regulated retail service provider visit Direct Energy Regulated Services for Alberta | Direct Energy

Some rural communities may be located in a region that is within the service territory of a rural electrification association. Rural electrification associations are not regulated by the AUC. For questions or concerns regarding rural electrification associations please contact the Rural Utilities branch of the government of Alberta at 780-427-0125.​
​ENMAX Energy ENMAX Energy provides the regulated rate option rate, an electricity rate that is determined through the market and approved by the AUC, to customers in Calgary. ENMAX Energy is also contracted to provide regulated rate option service to Red Deer, Cardston, Fort MacLeod and Ponoka; however, those rates are set by those municipalities.
​EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. ​​EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. provides the regulated rate option electricity service to customers in Edmonton as well as residential, farm and irrigation customers in the distribution territory served by FortisAlberta. Understanding Regulated Rate Option (RRO) | EPCOR Energy Services

Distribution companies

​​ENMAX Power Corp. ENMAX ​Power owns and o​perates electric distribution and transmission systems that deliver electricity to customers in the City of Calgary. ENMAX Power and ENMAX Energy are owned by the City of Calgary. In 2004 the AUC began regulating both ENMAX Power and ENMAX Energy’s rates and terms and conditions of service. ​
​ENMAX Energy Corp. ​ENMAX Energy is the default, regulated retailer that provides billing services and supplies electricity to Calgarians that have not signed a contract with a competitive retailer.​
EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. ​EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. owns and o​perates electric distribution and transmission systems that deliver electricity to customers in the City of Edmonton. EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc. is owned by the City of Edmonton. In 2004 the AUC began regulating EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc.’s rates and terms and conditions of service. ​
EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. ​EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. is the regulated rate provider that provides billing and supplies electricity services for customers, in the EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. and FortisAlberta Inc. distribution territories, that have not signed a contract with a competitive retailer. The AUC sets EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc.’s rates and terms and conditions of service.
FortisAlberta (electricity) ​FortisAlberta is a regulated electricity distribution provider and is responsible for building, maintaining and repairing electric distribution lines to provide safe and reliable electricity service within its designated service area. FortisAlberta operates and maintains more than 124,000 kilometres of power lines in 240 communities. FortisAlberta distribution charges are not billed directly by FortisAlberta, but through a customer’s retailer.
ATCO Electric ​ATCO Electric delivers electricity to nearly 227,000 customers in north and east-central Alberta. The distribution charges are regulated and are determined through rate applications that are considered and determined through the AUC rate review process. The charges cover the cost of building, operating and maintaining the distribution lines and to ensure continued investment in Alberta utility infrastructure.
ATCO Gas (North and South) ​ATCO Gas is a natural gas transmission and distribution company that delivers natural gas in a safe, reliable way to customers throughout the province.
Lethbridge Electric ​Utility ​Lethbridge Electric Utility is wholly owned by the City of Lethbridge and is responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of its transmission facilities. Lethbridge Electric Utility also delivers electric energy throughout the Lethbridge distribution service area. Lethbridge City Council regulates the Lethbridge distribution rate and the AUC approves the rates associated with transmission service.​
The City of Red Deer ​Red Deer’s electric utility is wholly owned by the City of Red Deer and operated by the City of Red Deer Electric, Light & Power Department. Its responsibility is to design, construct, operate and maintain its transmission facilities and deliver power to the City of Red Deer’s distribution service area. The AUC regulates Red Deer’s transmission rate.

Gas transmission utility pipeline companies

​ATCO Gas & Pipelines Ltd. ​The AUC regulates the tolls, tariffs and service regulations for ATCO Gas & Pipelines. The AUC also regulates the construction of new pipeline transmission facilities. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, on behalf of the AUC, the AER monitors and oversees the decommissioning of pipeline transmission facilities of ATCO Gas & Pipelines.​
​Apex Utilities Inc. (formerly know as AltaGas Utilities Inc.) ​The AUC regulates the tolls, tariffs and ser​vice regulations for Apex. The AUC also regulates the construction of new pipeline transmission facilities. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, on behalf of the AUC, the AER monitors and oversees the decommissioning of pipeline transmission facilities of Apex​.​

Electric transmission companies​

​AltaLink Management Ltd. AltaLink is a regulated transmission utility. The AUC approves the rates AltaLink charges for electric transmission service. These charges are allocated to the retail customers and applied to both regulated and non-regulated retail electricity bills. AltaLink also files applications to the AUC when substations and transmission lines are needed after it has been determined in a separate application to the AUC by the Alberta Electric System Operator. For more information see AESO below.​
​ATCO Electric ​ATCO Electric is a regulated utility that supplies electric transmission service within its service area.
​PiikaniLink L.P. As of March 6, 2017, by a limited partnership agreement among AltaLink Management Ltd. as general partner, and AltaLink, L.P. and Piikani Limited Partner as limited partners, each of AltaLink Management Ltd., AltaLink, L.P. and Piikani Limited Partner agreed to form a new limited partnership to facilitate the transfer of certain transmission assets from AltaLink Management Ltd. to PiikaniLink L.P., whose business consists solely of, directly or indirectly, participating in the transmission of electricity, the ownership and operation of electrical transmission lines and infrastructure, which are subject to regulation by the AUC and which are located upon the Piikani Reserve. AltaLink Management Ltd., in its capacity as general partner of PiikaniLink L.P., files transmission facility owner tariff applications on behalf of PiikaniLink L.P.
​KainaiLink L.P. ​As of March 6, 2017, by a limited partnership agreement among AltaLink Management Ltd. as general partner, and AltaLink, L.P. and Blood Limited Partner as limited partners, each of AltaLink Management Ltd., AltaLink, L.P. and Blood Limited Partner agreed to form a new limited partnership to facilitate the transfer of certain transmission assets from AltaLink Management Ltd. to KainaiLink L.P., whose business consists solely of, directly or indirectly, participating in the transmission of electricity, the ownership and operation of electrical transmission lines and infrastructure, which are subject to regulation by the AUC and which are located upon the Blood Reserve. AltaLink Management Ltd., in its capacity as general partner of KainaiLink L.P., files transmission facility owner tariff applications on behalf of KainaiLink L.P.
​TransAlta Corporation ​TransAlta’s transmission facilities consist of transmission assets and subsequent investments in these assets and others, all located on First Nations’ Lands. TransAlta, in concert with AltaLink, maintains and operates the transmission assets. TransAlta Corporation, as manager of the TransAlta Generation Partnership, files with the AUC transmission facility owner tariff applications.​

​Market oversight

The AUC is the independent tribunal responsible to adjudicate instances of market manipulation and other wrongdoings that are brought forward to it. The Market Surveillance Administrator reviews and monitors the electricity and natural gas markets to ensure fairness and balance and to ensure that the market is operated in a fair, efficient and competitive manner. If transgressions are found the Market Surveillance Administrator files an application with the AUC to adjudicate the matter and hear the matter in an open and fair proceeding that may result in an AUC-imposed administrative penalty as specified in the Alberta Utilities Commission Act.

Not regulated by the AUC

​Rural electrification associations (REAs)**​​​​ If customers have questions or concerns regarding REAs they can contact the Alberta Federation of Rural Electrification Associations or the Rural Utilities Branch of the government of Alberta at 780-427-0125.
​Municipally owned utilities ​With the exception of EPCOR in Edmonton and ENMAX in Calgary, the AUC does not regulate municipally owned utilities. If customers have questions or concerns about a municipally owned utility they can contact the municipality directly.
​Natural gas co-ops If customers have questions or concerns regarding natural gas co-ops they can contact the board of directors of the gas co-op, the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd., or the Rural Utilities branch of the government of Alberta at 780-427-0125.​