The Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) Regulation gives the UCA authority to indirectly collect, use and share customer information to contact utility customers. This may happen for different reasons such as:
- Notify electricity consumers on the Rate of Last Resort (RoLR)
- Help consumers who may have had their electricity or natural gas disconnected
- Resolve utility issues
Information sharing
Retailers may share the following consumer information with the UCA:
- If consumers are on the RoLR
- Type of disconnected utility (electricity or natural gas)
- Consumer name, account number, phone number, email address, service, and mailing address
- Additional contacts that may be on the account and their phone number(s) if available
- Date services were disconnected and the total balance still owing
Reasons for sharing information
With your information, the UCA can try to:
- Educate consumers about the RoLR and options for competitive plans
- Assist consumers if they’ve been disconnected at the start of winter
- Mediate a potential resolution with retailers
- If possible, arrange for reconnection of service(s)
- Provide financial assistance information
Personal information protection
The UCA can use consumer information to:
- Help compare electricity and natural gas retail options
- Help keep power or gas connected or reconnect services
- Settle disputes
Alberta law requires all parties to protect personal information.
