Rate Classes and Reclassification
The City of Medicine Hat’s Electric Utility Bylaw #2244 establishes rate classes for electricity customers to ensure fair and accurate billing based on your consumption and demand patterns.
Utility rates are proportionate to the cost of providing service to that group of customers. They are derived from daily charges, consumption charges measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and non-residential customers' rates may also include demand charges measured in kilovolt-amperes (kVA).
A rate class is a category assigned to a group of customers who share similar infrastructure and usage characteristics.
When rate classes change
Your electricity needs may change over time, causing your account to move from one rate class to another.
Upward reclassification
The City’s billing system can identify if your electricity usage has exceeded the limit of your current rate classification. This triggers a review period to determine whether a reclassification is appropriate.
Defined grace period
You will be notified if your account has exceeded the established threshold in your current rate class. For the next two monthly billing cycles, your account will be observed with no change to your rate class.
If your usage returns to within the thresholds of your current rate class during the grace period, no changes will be made.
Once the grace period ends, if your usage exceeds the limits again within the following 12 billing cycles, your account may be reclassified to the appropriate rate class in accordance with the Electric Utility Bylaw.
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Downward reclassification
Downward reclassification does not require a grace period. If your account maintains usage and demand levels below the thresholds of your current rate class for 12 consecutive months, it will be eligible for downward reclassification.
Contact Us
City of Medicine Hat
580 1 St SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 8E6
P:403-529-8111
F: 403-525-8696
Email us
Energy, Land & Environment
580 1 St SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 8E6
P: 403-529-8353
F: 403-502-8038
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