January gas, electric, wind energy rates announced as new pricing options take effect Jan. 1, 2023

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

Natural Gas – all customers

The January natural gas default regulated rate (RRO) is $6.117 per gigajoule (GJ), down from the previous month of $6.1540 per GJ. The rate is based on the weighted average 120-day buying window price for the forecasted volume.

The first quarter fixed contract natural gas commodity offering is $6.607 per GJ. Customers who sign a fixed contract between January 1 and March 31, 2023 are guaranteed this fixed rate for 12 billing cycles (months).

The January variable contract offering is based on the AECO (Alberta Energy Company) 5A market reference price plus $1.00 per GJ. The rate for January will be released February 1, 2023.

Electricity - Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers

The January electricity default regulated rate (RRO) for Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers is $0.28639 per kilowatt hour (kWh), up from the previous month of $0.22990 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.

The City of Medicine Hat calculates the Monthly Reference Price based on the average of the rates using the four Regulated Rate Option providers approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission under section 103(2) of the Electric Utilities Act.

On December 15, 2022, the Government of Alberta passed The Regulated Rate Option Stability Act through Bill 2: Inflation Relief Statutes Amendment Act which places 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). The cost difference between the temporary ceiling and the calculated monthly regulated rate will be deferred and then charged over a 21-month recovery period from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024.

The first quarter fixed contract electricity commodity rate offering is $0.17653 per kilowatt hour. Customers who sign a fixed contract between January 1 and March 31, 2023 are guaranteed this fixed rate for 12 billing cycles (months).

The January 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 January variable rate will be released February 1, 2023.

Electricity - Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting customers

The January default electricity rate for Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting customers is based the regulated rate option of $0.28639 per kilowatt hour.

The January 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 January will be announced on February 1, 2023.

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 January is $0.0005 per kilowatt hour.

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