• An energy contract is a legal agreement between you and a licensed energy retailer.  It states the price you will pay for energy and the terms and conditions of your energy purchase.
• A licensed energy retailer is an independent electricity and/or natural gas marketing company whose prices are not regulated by a provincial or municipal government, a Rural Electrification Association (REA) or another agency. 
• These companies are licensed by the Government of Alberta, but are not affiliated with government.  Any special rewards or offers made by the retailer to encourage you to sign a contract are not part of any government program.
• It can take up to 90 days for competitive service to begin or to switch energy services from one retailer to another. This means, if you are a new utility customer (starting service at a new address) you will have to initially connect your electricity and natural gas services with the regulated rate provider who can transfer the service immediately before going on a competitive energy contract.

More information

• Contact your energy retailer with questions about your energy contract.
• Contact the Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate at 1-866-714-4455 (toll free) for more information about your options for buying electricity or natural gas.
• Contact Service Alberta at 1-877-427-4088 (toll free in Alberta) to find out if an energy retailer is licensed or if you feel you have been treated unfairly.  It is against the regulations for a licensed energy retailer to use misleading statements or apply pressure tactics in the conduct of their business.  Service Alberta will investigate all complaints and enforce actions – including fines and license revocation – against a retailer found to be in breach of the regulations.

Sample Contract

• Energy Contract Folder (PDF)
• HTML Version

Plain Language Contract

• Sample Terms and Conditions (PDF)
• Sample Product Sheet (PDF)

Tipsheets

• Dealing with Door-to-Door Sales (PDF)
• Electricity and Natural Gas Contracts (PDF)