Gas, electric, wind energy rates set for July

Medicine Hat - The City of Medicine Hat has set its July energy commodity rates.

Natural Gas – all customers

The July natural gas default regulated rate (RRO) is $2.448 per gigajoule (GJ), down from the previous month of $3.363  per GJ. The rate is based on the average of the monthly gas charges set by Alberta gas distribution (pipes) owners. The City of Medicine Hat calculates the Monthly Reference Price based on the average of the rates approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission.

The third quarter fixed contract natural gas commodity offering is $4.226 per GJ. Customers who sign a fixed contract between July 1 and September 30, 2023 are guaranteed this fixed rate for 12 billing cycles (months).

The variable contract offering is based on the AECO (Alberta Energy Company) average market reference price plus $1.00 per GJ. The May rate is $3.287 per GJ (including the $1.00 premium). The rate for June will be released July 4, 2023.

Electricity

Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting

The July electricity default regulated rate (RRO) for Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers is $0.2492 per kilowatt hour (kWh), up from the previous month of $0.15761 per kWh. The rate is based on the average of the rates for owners whose regulated rate tariffs are approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission under section 103(2) of the Electric Utilities Act for that calendar month as posted by the Alberta Utilities Commission on its internet page under Regulated Rate Option Regulation.

On December 15, 2022, the Government of Alberta passed The Regulated Rate Option Stability Act through Bill 2: Inflation Relief Statutes Amendment Act which placed a temporary price ceiling of $0.13500 per kilowatt hour in January, February and March 2023 for Albertans who purchase power on the Regulated Rate Option (RRO). As of April 1, 2023, the cost difference between the RRO electricity rate from January to March 2023 and the temporary price ceiling will be added to the current RRO to recover costs until December 2024. The July recovery rate of $0.00891 per kWh will be added to the current RRO rate of $0.24924 per kWh for a total billable rate of $0.25815 per kWh. For more details about the recovery rate, visit medicinehat.ca/RegulatedRate. 

The third quarter fixed contract electricity commodity rate offering is $0.16944 per kilowatt hour. Customers who sign a fixed contract between July 1 and September 30, 2023 are guaranteed this fixed rate for 12 billing cycles (months).

The variable contract rate for Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers is based on the monthly average Alberta Power Pool price as established and published by the Alberta Electrical System Operator (AESO) plus $0.02 per kWh. The June variable rate is $0.20441 per kWh (including the $0.02 premium). The rate for July will be released August 1, 2023.

Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting Customers

The July default electricity rate for Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting customers is based the regulated rate option of $0.24924 per kilowatt hour (excluding recovery rate). 

The variable contract electricity rate for Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting customers is based on the monthly average Alberta Power Pool price as established and published by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) plus $0.02 per kilowatt hour. The rate for June is $0.20441 per kWh.

Going Green Charge

Customers also have a “Going Green” surcharge on their bill. This surcharge is for renewable energy purchased for residential, farm, small and medium commercial customers.

The Going Green surcharge is calculated monthly to recover costs incurred to purchase renewable energy.

The Going Green surcharge for July is $0.001 per kilowatt hour.

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For further information, please contact:
media@medicinehat.ca