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Understand your utility bill

Learn​ how to read your EPCOR bill, the charges it includes, and the factors that may affect your bill.​

Note: Albertans on the regulated rate option (RRO) for electricity have seen an increase in market electricity rates on recent bills and these market rates are expected to remain high in the coming months.​​

 

Understand the charges o​n your bill

Know how to read your EPCOR electricity, water, wastewater and drainage bill, understand what individual charges represent, and how your charges are calculated.

The charges on your bill

 

Factors that might affect your bill​

Learn what factors might increase or decrease your bill, including market volatility, energy rates, energy use and seasonal temperatures.

Learn about the factors​​​​

Content here

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Understand the charges o​n your bill

Know how to read your EPCOR electricity bill, understand what individual charges represent, and how your charges are calculated.

The charges on your bill

 

Factors that might affect your bill​

​​Learn what factors might increase or decrease your bill, including energy rates, seasonal temperatures and energy consumption.

Learn about the factors​​​​

 

Reading your bill

Know how to read your EPCOR electricity bill. 

How to read your bill

 Wh​at charges are on your bill 

​​We charge you separately for the electricity you consume, the cost of delivering the electricity to your home or business, the clean water that comes out of your taps, the waste water that goes down your drains, and any specific municipal services including Blatchford Renewable Energy and City of E​dmonton Waste Services.​​​

How are the charges calculated 

How we calculate your bill depends on the services you receive, the billing period and how much electricity and water you used. ​

If you receive natural gas via Encor, view your Encor bill breakdown. If you live in the Blatchford community, you will also see a renewable energy charge on your bill.​​​​

 

 Wh​a​t charges are on your bill 

We charge you separately for the electricity you consume and the cost of delivering the electricity to your home or business.​​​

How are the charges calculated 

How we calculate your bill depends on the services you receive, the billing period and how much electricity you used.

If you receive natural gas via Encor, view your Encor bill breakdown.​​​​

​​Fluctuating charges 

Your bill will show how much electricity and water you used between the two most recent meter readings, or an estimate if we are unable to take a meter reading. We charge for every kWh of electricity and cubic meter of water you used in the billing period. For Blatchford Renewable Energy, we charge for every kWh of your thermal energy consumption. Fluctuating charges can also be known as variable charges.

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Fixed charges 

Once we’ve worked out how much electricity and water you used we add the fixed charges to your bill. The fixed charges cover some of the essential running costs like installing, operating, and maintaining the electrical grid. Fixed charges are charged regardless of which retailer you choose to supply electricity. These charges are reviewed and approved by the regulator for your service area and include charges collected on behalf of the local wires owner, the Alberta Electricity System Operator.​

​​Fluctuating charges 

Your bill will show how much electricity you used between the two most recent meter readings, or an estimate if we are unable to take a meter reading. We charge for every kWh of electricity you used in the billing period. Fluctuating charges can also be known as variable charges.​

​​Fixed charges 

Once we’ve worked out how much electricity you used we add the fixed charges to your bill. The fixed charges cover some of the essential running costs like installing, operating, and maintaining the electrical grid. Fixed charges are charged regardless of which retailer you choose to supply electricity. These charges are reviewed and approved by the regulator for your service area and include charges collected on behalf of the local wires owner, the Alberta Electricity System Operator.​​​​

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Your utilities bill - page 1 Your utilities bill - page 2
Your utilities bill - page 1

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​How to read your bill

Section​​​ ​​Description

​​A. What you owe

 ​This includes a summary of your previous bill amount, any payments we received as well as any new charges or adjustments for the current billing period.

​B. Usage graphs

 ​​Compare your electricity usage over time to track whether you use more or less electricity in a given billing period. If your readings have been estimated, the graphs may show different than what was actually consumed. You may notice a usage reduction if you recently purchased an energy efficient appliance. View conservation tips.​

​C. Contact information

 This includes how to contact us if you have questions about your account, a service emergency, or to request a repair.

​D. Payment return slip

 This includes your account number, the total amount and due date. Include this return slip if you mail your payment or pay in person at your financial institution to ensure your payment is processed quickly and accurately. If you have set up automatic payments​ in My Account this will be noted on your payment return slip. 

​E. Details of previous payments (pg​.2)

 ​This includes your last bill amount, any payments we received and any outstanding balance.

​F. Total new charges ​ (pg.2)

 ​This is a total of all your new charges. Learn what the charges on your bill​ mean.​

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Your utilities bill - page 2
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​NOTE: The information on the sample bill is for general illustrative and informational purposes only.

Details of new charges

​Below we have defined the​ charges included on your bill.

​Electricity charges explained

​Charge​ ​Definition​ ​Fluctuating ​Fixed
​1. Electricity This amount is based on the rate and how much energy you used in the billing period. The energy you used ca​n be based on an actual, estimated or adjusted meter reading. ​
​2. Administrative ​This covers the cost of billing and providing support to our customers. ​ ​
​3. Distribution ​This amount is billed on behalf of the power distribution company for your area. Distribution charges are regulated by the Alberta Utilities Commission and cover the cost of the infrastructure needed to move electricity from the transmission system through the distribution system to the power meter at your home or business.​ ​​ ​
​​4. Transmission ​This amount can be billed on behalf of the power distribution company for your area. Transmission charges are regulated by the Alberta Utilities Commission and cover the cost of the infrastructure needed to move electricity from the transmission system to the distribution system.​ ​ ​​
​5. A1 Rider
 ​The A1 Rider is a fee that your Wires Owner is charged by your municipality for their equipment, poles, transformers and power lines through your municipality. ​​ ​
​6. Rate riders ​Rate riders are a temporary credit or charge, approved by the regulator, that may appear on utility bills in some communities. Rate riders are used to adjust for differences between actual operational costs that are not included in the approved rates. Typically, rate riders relate to transmission and distribution costs. More than one rate rider can appear on your bill at the same time. ​ ​​
​7. Local access fee
 ​This is based on your location and covers the cost to access municipal land for building and maintaining the power lines and other equipment used to deliver electricity to your home or business. ​
​​

Note: The Federal Carbon Tax is paid only on charges related to natural gas use. If you receive natural gas via Encor, view your Encor bill breakdown​​​

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Your utilities bill - page 1 Your utilities bill - page 2
Your utilities bill - page 1

 

​How to read your bill

Section​​​ ​​Description

​​A. What you owe

 ​This includes a summary of your previous bill amount, any payments we received as well as any new charges or adjustments for the current billing period.

​B. Usage graphs

 ​​Compare your electricity and water usage over time to track whether you use more or less electricity or water in a given billing period. If your readings have been estimated, the graphs may show different than what was actually consumed. You may notice a usage reduction if you recently purchased an energy- or water-efficient appliance. View conservation tips and typical causes of ​high water usage​. 

​C. Contact information

 This includes how to contact us if you have questions about your account, a service emergency, or to request a repair.

​D. Payment return slip

 This includes your account number, the total amount and due date. Include this return slip if you mail your payment or pay in person at your financial institution to ensure your payment is processed quickly and accurately. If you have set up automatic payments​ in My Account this will be noted on your payment return slip. 

​E. Details of previous payments (pg​.2)

 ​This includes your last bill amount, any payments we received and any outstanding balance.

​F. Total new charges ​ (pg.2)

 ​This is a total of all your new charges. Learn what the charges on your bill​ mean.​

 ​​​

Your utilities bill - page 2
​
​​​

​NOTE: The information on the sample bill is for general illustrative and informational purposes only.

Details of new charges

​Below we have defined the​ charges included on your bill.

​Electricity charges explained

​Charge​ ​Definition​ ​Fluctuating ​Fixed
​1. Electricity This amount is based on the rate and how much energy you used in the billing period. The energy you used ca​n be based on an actual, estimated or adjusted meter reading. ​
​2. Administrative ​This covers the cost of billing and providing support to our customers. ​ ​
​3. Distribution ​This amount is billed on behalf of the power distribution company for your area. Distribution charges are regulated by the Alberta Utilities Commission and cover the cost of the infrastructure needed to move electricity from the transmission system through the distribution system to the power meter at your home or business.
Note: EPCOR has about 6,300 kms of primary distribution wires in our system.		 ​​ ​
​​4. Transmission ​This amount can be billed on behalf of the power distribution company for your area. Transmission charges are regulated by the Alberta Utilities Commission and cover the cost of the infrastructure needed to move electricity from the transmission system to the distribution system.​
Note: EPCOR has about 260 kms of aerial transmission wires in our system.		 ​ ​​
​5. Rate riders
 Rate riders are a temporary credit or charge, approved by the regulator, that may appear on utility bills in some communities. Rate riders are used to adjust for differences between actual operational costs that are not included in the approved rates. Typically, rate riders relate to transmission and distribution costs. More than one rate rider can appear on your bill at the same time. ​​ ​
​6. Local access fee This is based on your location and covers the cost to access municipal land for building and maintaining the power lines and other equipment used to deliver electricity to your home or business. ​ ​​

​
Note: The Federal Carbon Tax is paid only on charges related to natural gas use. If you receive natural gas via Encor, view your Encor bill breakdown​​.

Water and wastewater ​charges explained

Charge ​Definition ​Fluctuating ​Fixed
​7. Monthly water service ​This amount is based on the size of water meter you have. The charge covers the cost of maintaining the network of reservoirs, pumping stations and pipes to deliver water to you. ​ ​
​8. Cost of water used ​This amount is based on how much water you use in the billing period based on your water meter. Your water meter measures the quantity of water that passes through your water service line. The charge covers the cost of sourcing, storing, and treating the water delivered to you. ​ ​
​9. Wastewater treatment service This amount covers the cost of building and maintaining sewer pipes to deliver used water to treatment facilities. ​ ​
​10. Wastewater treatment This amount is based on how much water you used in the billing period. The charge covers the cost of removing, cleaning and returning the used water safely back into the environment. ​

 

Drainage and monthly waste charges explained

Charge​ ​Definition ​Fluctuating ​Fixed
​11. Monthly drainage service This amount covers the costs associated with planning, designing, building, operating and maintaining the pipes and facilities required for the collection and transfer of wastewater to the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant.​​

 ​ ​
​12. Sanitary ​This amount is based on how much water you used in the billing period. The charge covers the costs associated with planning, designing, building, operating and maintaining the pipes and facilities required for the collection and transfer of wastewater to the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. ​ ​
​13. Stormwater This amount covers the cost of collecting the unmetered water that flows off your property (typically weather related) into the sewer system. ​ ​
​14. Monthly waste services fee This amount covers the cost of recycling and garbage collection, Eco Stations, Big Bin events, recycling depots, and the environmentally responsible processing operations at the Edmonton Waste Management Center. This monthly waste services fee is billed by EPCOR on behalf of the City of Edmonton. For more information, contact the City of Edmonton at 311. ​

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Your EPCOR bill details the charges related to your natural gas services. To learn more about what the individual line items on your bill mean, see the examples below. View a sample bill to see all line items.​

Your EPCOR bill details the charges related to your natural gas services. To learn more about what the individual line items on your bill mean, see the examples below. View a sample bill to see all line items.

Payment return slip

If you are paying by mail, always include the payment return slip in your envelope. The Payment Return Slip clearly identifies your account number, amount owed, and the due date to ensure that your payment is processed quickly and accurately.

Details of your new charges

Your consumption information is broken out to include length of the billing period, the date of your last meter reading, and whether your consumption calculation was based on actual or estimated meter reading, or a combination of both.

Delivery to you

This is the cost associated with the distribution and transportation of gas from the source to end user.

Monthly charge

The administration charge that covers the cost of maintaining gas services and providing billing and customer service. Included in your monthly charge, customers will pay $1 per month as part of the Access to Natural Gas Act (Bill 32), which helps to facilitate the expansion of natural gas into more Ontario communities.

​Allocation of payment between natural gas and non-natural gas charges

Payments are applied to charges on your account against the oldest charge first, and then based on the priority for the additional charges.

Natural gas commodity

The gas commodity charge is calculated using the actual cost of gas for the gas you use during the period of time between meter readings. The commodity rate you are billed at on your EPCOR bill depends upon the commodity purchase choice you have made.

Federal Carbon Charge

This charge reflects your monthly consumption and the associated costs to deliver natural gas to your home at an annual rate set by the government. The money collected from this charge goes to the federal government as part of its carbon pollution pricing program. Learn more about the Federal Carbon Charge.

Usage graph

The graph on the front of your bill will help you visually track the usage you are billed for each month. Have you recently purchased an energy- or water-efficient appliance? Keep an eye out for savings here.

Total charges

This is the amount owing for all your services billed on this statement.

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Monthly fixed charge Delivery and upstream charges Rate rider 1 Federal carbon charge Gas supply charge Usage graph Total charges
Monthly fixed charge
​The administration charge that covers the cost of maintaining gas services and providing billing and customer service. Included in your monthly charge, customers will pay $1 per month as part of the Access to Natural Gas Act (Bill 32), which helps to facilitate the expansion of natural gas into more Ontario communities.  
Delivery and upstream charges
​This is the cost associated with the distribution, transportation and storage of gas from the source to you. This includes all charges EPCOR pays to its upstream service provider in association with transportation and storage of the gas before it is delivered to EPCOR's system. The cost of your meter, as well as other distribution components such as the pipes, valves, pressure stations etc. are also included in this charge.
Rate rider 1
​This charge is an adjustment approved by the Ontario Energy Board to recover revenue the utility was not able to collect as a result of delays in connecting customers to the system. This charge is in effect until December 31, 2028.
Federal carbon charge
​This charge reflects your monthly consumption and the associated costs to deliver natural gas to your home at an annual rate set by the government. The money collected from this charge goes to the federal government as part of its carbon pollution pricing program. Learn more about the Federal Carbon Charge.    
Gas supply charge
​The gas commodity charge is calculated using the actual cost of gas for the gas you use during the period of time between meter readings (or based on an estimate of the gas used during that period). The commodity rate you are billed at on your EPCOR bill depends upon the commodity purchase choice you have made. If you have not signed a contract with an energy retailer then you are automatically billed at EPCOR's gas commodity rate. If you have signed a contract with an energy retailer then you are billed at your contracted energy retailer rate for the natural gas commodity portion of your bill.
Usage graph
​The graph on the front of your bill will help you visually track the usage you are billed for each month. Have you recently purchased an energy- or water-efficient appliance? Keep an eye out for savings here.
Total charges
​This is the amount owing for all your services billed on this statement.

Your EPCOR bill includes details about:

  • Your account.
  • Your service.
  • How much you use.
  • Information and updates about your service.

We want to help you understand where to find key information and what it means.

Sample bill

Select the image below to learn more about your bill.

Note: These samples are provided for general illustrative and informational purposes only.

Have a question? We're here to help. Please contact a Customer Care representative to get started.

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 ​Factors that might affect your bill

The most common factors that can increase or decrease your bill are energy rates, seasonal weather, and your overall energy consumption. Learn more below.

Wholesale energy rates

If you are a Regulated Rate Option (RRO) customer, you may see the rate you pay for electricity change from month to month. This is because the RRO is based on competitive market conditions in which electricity is purchased, so it varies based on weather, supply and demand. These factors are unpredictable and can change quickly resulting in fluctuations in the rate. 

This past winter, when electricity demand was higher, the market price of electricity increased, leading to a higher RRO rate. 

To learn more about the RRO, and your options, please visit Understanding the Regulated Rate Option. ​

See the current regulated rates.​​​​​​​

Seasonal temperatures and energy consumption 

Cold temperatures in winter months and hot summer temperatures mean the average Albertan household consumes more energy to keep their homes comfortable. These fluctuations can lead to increases on your bill. 

The lengthy cold snap we saw in December and early January meant most of us were using more energy than normal to heat our homes during that time.

Lowering your consumption can lower your bill​​

It’s always a good idea to familiarize ourselves with some easy, low-cost ways that everyone can consider to reduce energy consumption. To learn more, read our Efficiency & Conservation tips.

Transmission and distribution charges

These charges are billed by the power distribution company in your area. Transmission and distribution charges cover the cost to:

  • Transport and deliver energy to your home or business; and
  • Build new and maintain existing infrastructure.​

The rates are regulated by the AUC, and are the same regardless of your choice of retailer. The charges have two components: fixed and variable based on usage. This past winter, when consumption was high, this charge also increased. More information on transmission and distribution charges can be found on the UCA website.

Customers are free to purchase natural gas services or electricity services from a retailer of their choice. For a list of retailers, visit ucahelps.alberta.ca or call 310-4822 (toll free in Alberta).​​

Connect with us

We are committed to working with our customers. If you need support with any aspect of your utility bill, we encourage you to reach out to our Customer Care team at 310-4300. We're available to review your bill with you and offer options to help you manage your account.​​ 

There are a number of financial supports available to assist customers. If you need help to manage your bills, please view the financial support resources provided or connect with our Customer Care team. ​​​​​
 

 

How to pay your bill

Learn how to safely and comfortably pay your EPCOR bill. Choose the payment method that works best for you and your lifestyle.

How to pay your bill ​​​

 

Sign ​​​up for ebill

Go paperless with online billing. Receive email notifications when bills are ready and view bills online. Statements are stored for up to 2 years.

Online billing with ebill

 

Billing support

Our EPCOR customer care team is available to review y​our bill with you, offer payment options and work with you on billing disputes.

Get billing support ​​​​​​​

 

Manage your account online

With your EPCOR My Account profile you can view your statement, pay your bills and update your account information online anytime, anywhere. Learn more about what you can do and how to get started.

Set up my online account​

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Customers are free to purchase natural gas services or electricity services from a retailer of their choice. For a list of retailers, visit ucahelps.alberta.ca or call 310-4822 (toll free in Alberta).

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