According to Natural Resources Canada (2017), household heating accounts for 61.6% of the total residential energy use (electricity and natural gas) across the country. Over the winter as temperatures outside cool down below - 40°C in some regions, everyone, and their dog is ready to bundle up and turn up the thermostat. But how much energy does the average household use in Alberta?

 

The average household in Alberta contains three people (census Canada 2018) therefore the energy use statistics outlined in this article represent a three-person household. Energy costs will vary slightly by region, so for the purposes of this article, all costs will be calculated for the average home in Edmonton. For individuals and couples, actual energy usage may be lower than quoted in this article. For larger households and families, actual energy usage may be higher than quoted in this article. Either way, our energy rates remain the same. For utility services in Edmonton, our margin is $0.01/kWh for electricity and $0.89/GJ for natural gas.

Units of energy:

  • Kilowatt-hours (kWh)
  • Gigajoules (GJ)

 

How is electricity usage measured for billing utilities? 

 

Energy is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), it is a unit of energy used by an electrical device over a given period. For example, 1 kWh could be:

  • 1,000 watts used over 1 hour
  • 10 watts used over 10 hours

To give you a frame of reference for this number, the average desktop computer uses between 100 - 250W per hour in use. The average laptop computer will use between 25% - 50% of the energy required for a desktop. Think twice about your energy consumption the next time you decide to leave your computer on overnight. Powering down your devices or using energy savings mode isn't just good for the environment, it's better for your wallet too. You can check your devices to learn more about how energy rates are calculated in your home. Look for the ENERGY STAR rating for products when shopping for new appliances to find the most efficient solution for your home: ENERGY STAR for Products. Always switch off devices that are not in use to save money on your electricity bill. For more information on how to make your home more energy-efficient, visit Canada's Energy efficiency for homes (nrcan.gc.ca)

How much electricity does the average household use in Alberta?

 

The average residential household in Edmonton uses 1200 kWh of energy in a month. The average unit price per month for electricity services in Edmonton is $67.88.

Our margin for electricity in Edmonton is $0.01/kWh.

 

How much natural gas does the average household use in Alberta?

 

Natural gas is measured by gigajoules (GJ), one GJ equals one billion joules (J). A gigajoule of natural gas is approximately equivalent to 27 liters of fuel oil, 39 liters of propane, 26 liters of gasoline, or 277 kWh of electricity.

A typical residential household in Edmonton uses 14 GJ of natural gas in a month. The average unit price per month for natural gas services in Edmonton is $46.92.

Our margin for natural gas in Edmonton is $0.89/GJ.

 

What costs are included in my utility bill?

 

Once utilities are set up, electricity usage will be measured by meters on the power line. A standard utility bill is divided into two parts: delivery and supply. Electricity needs to be delivered from the generation site to the consumption site. The delivery charge for utilities is nothing like the one you pay the pizza delivery person; the delivery rate is a fixed cost set by the utility provider to maintain upkeep on the power lines, natural gas pipelines, transformers, and other physical equipment.

 

Why does my electricity bill vary from month to month? 

 

We offer services on a variable-rate plan. On a variable-rate plan, our customers pay the floating rate for utilities, which bills services based on the exact price of utilities in the market each month. Alberta's energy prices vary from month to month. As you may have noticed, February is often the month with the highest energy and natural gas bill for Albertans. The cold weather makes everyone turn up the thermostat in their home a few more degrees and across the province that adds up.

 

How much energy is required to use common home appliances?

 

Home appliances are required to state estimated energy requirements on the packaging, but how do we make sense of these numbers when it comes to calculating your home energy bill? The estimated energy requirements generally reflect the maximum energy requirements of an appliance, which can make it difficult to try to calculate your actual home energy requirements. Nonetheless, if you are interested in how to lower your monthly utility bill, check out our Free Home Energy Guide to identify better home energy saving practices.

 

Are you looking for the best prices on electricity, natural gas, and internet Alberta?

 

Utilities Consumer Advocate is a third-party market research tool that will help you to make an informed decision about your utility provider. Compare prices on utilities by the service provider to find the best deal for you. Whether you are looking for a residential utility provider in the city or in rural Alberta, Utilities Consumer Advocate is the best place to compare prices. Check out your options with Utilities Consumer Advocate: Retailers and Distributors 

 

What makes Peace Power Alberta's best utility provider?

 

We are a proud Alberta-based utilities company that strives to provide the best quality of service and customer service in our industry. Being in competition with the largest energy companies in Canada doesn't scare us one bit because of our commitment to our community. Peace Power is committed to developing meaningful relationships with our community partners and giving back to Alberta's economy by donating to charitable organizations. Learn more about our community partners.

 

Are there any other questions that we can answer for you?

 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us today with any questions and one of our representatives will get back to you right away.

Contact us


Peace Power is Alberta's Best Utility Provider

Electricity, Natural Gas, and High-Speed Internet

Providing utility services throughout Alberta, including Edmonton, Calgary, Grand Prairie, Red Deer, Slave Lake, Lethbridge, Airdrie, Fort McMurry, Fairview, Sherwood Park, Medicine Hat, Spruce Grove,  Leduc, St Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, and everywhere in between.