To protect the privacy of certain individuals the names and identifying details have been changed.
Adrian Mcdermott was moving to Alberta from Winnipeg. In Winnipeg, residents purchase their electricity and natural gas from Manitoba Hydro. Once Adrian moved to his new city in Alberta he found out that he had more than one choice for buying his electricity and natural gas.
Adrian found the electricity and natural gas market in Alberta confusing. He did a quick online search of ‘Alberta utilities’ and found the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) website. From the home page, Adrian clicked on the Residential button and found information on moving in and moving out, a Cost Comparison Tool, and a page about Understanding Your Bill.
Through the steps on the Setting up Residential Utilities page, Adrian learned that since he needed services right away, he would have to start with the default retailer. Adrian contacted the default retailer in his area a few days before he moved in to set up services in his name at his new residence.
Once he got his first bill, Adrian was surprised to see so much information. He wondered what he was actually paying for so he used the Sample Bill on the UCA website to understand what the line items meant. He even learned a bit more about Rate Riders.
After settling into his new home, Adrian used the Cost Comparison Tool and ultimately decided to stay with the default rate. In the future, he knows where to look for information about Alberta’s energy market.