Nations around the world have faced extreme increases in energy prices in recent months due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global supply shortages and other factors. Alberta’s natural gas rebate program provides cost certainty and protection to more than 1.6 million families, farms and businesses across the province.

Combined with the $50 monthly electricity rebate and fuel tax pause, Alberta’s natural gas rebate will help combat the rising cost of living by providing protection from high energy prices. 

“This rebate program provides real protection and certainty to help families, farms and businesses manage heating costs and keep life affordable. With the cost of living rising around the world, Albertans can trust that, if natural prices go any higher, we have rebates ready to help protect them. We’re protecting Albertans, including those on competitive rate contracts, from the possibility of extraordinary price spikes on their winter heating bills.”

How the rebate works

The natural gas rebate program runs from Oct. 1 to March 31. The exact rebate amount that Albertans will receive depends on the default natural gas rate each month.

If the monthly default natural gas rate from any of the regulated utility providers (ATCO Gas North and ATCO Gas South, as served by Direct Energy Regulated Services, or Apex Utilities) goes above $6.50 per gigajoule, the government will provide rebates to all eligible consumers that month covering the difference between $6.50 and the highest regulated rate.

From Oct. 1 through March 31, any time the monthly default rate exceeds $6.50 per gigajoule, a rebate will be issued to all eligible Albertans to help cover the increased costs of the natural gas or other petroleum-based heating fuels they consume that month. For example, if the highest regulated rate is $7.50, eligible consumers would get a rebate of $1 for every gigajoule used in that month.

As October’s highest monthly default natural gas rate will be $5.632 per gigajoule, the rebate will not be triggered this month but the rebate program is ready and in place to support families and businesses should natural gas prices spike this winter.

The monthly default natural gas rate will be posted on alberta.ca about five business days before the start of each month, letting Albertans know if the rebate will be triggered and how much they will receive per gigajoule that month.

Natural gas consumers connected to the system

You will automatically receive the rebate on your utility bill for the month a rebate is triggered if you are a natural gas consumer who:

• is connected to the system

• is on either a regulated or competitive plan

• uses less than 2,500 gigajoules of natural gas annually

This applies to consumers on both regulated and competitive plans like fixed-rate contracts. No application is necessary if you are connected to the natural gas distribution system.

Other heating fuels also qualify

A small number of eligible Albertans are not connected to the natural gas distribution system and are using natural gas, propane, kerosene or heating oil for heating purposes. These consumers also tend to purchase winter heating fuels in bulk in the summer months, and the rebate is reflective of this trend.

You can apply for rebates based on purchased fuel in months in which the rebate is in effect up to the following maximum limits:

• propane: 16,334 litres per month

• heating oil: 10,780 litres per month

• kerosene: 11,068 litres per month

• natural gas: 417 gigajoules per month

If you use these heating fuels, you will be able to apply directly online for a rebate at alberta.ca after the program launches in October. Mail-in and telephone options will also be available.

Quick facts

• In Alberta, the default regulated rates are set for the entire month and do not fluctuate throughout the month. Rates are approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission and not determined by government.

• The rebate will appear as an individual line item on the natural gas portion of the bill under “GOA Utility Commodity Rebate.”

  • If the monthly default rate posted on alberta.ca is above $6.50 per gigajoule, eligible consumers will receive the rebate credited on the bill for that month’s usage.

  • If the monthly default rate posted on alberta.ca is at or below $6.50 per gigajoule, no rebate will be provided and no line item will appear on that month’s bill.

• Rebates will be applied to the corresponding billing month. For example, if the default rate goes above $6.50 per gigajoule in October, the rebate will be applied to bills covering that billing period.

• The exact timing for receiving rebates will vary by customer depending on their utility provider’s billing cycle.

• The rebate for petroleum-based heating fuels will be calculated in the same method as natural gas consumers, using a standardized equation to determine the consumption equivalency for the alternative fuel.

• Consumers who are connected to the natural gas system and believe they meet the eligibility criteria but have not received a monthly rebate can contact the Utility Consumer Advocate at 310-4822 or [email protected] for assistance.

• Information for consumers who are not connected to the natural gas system or consume other eligible heating fuels will be posted online after the program starts.  

• The Government of Alberta will not send texts or emails about the rebate program and will not ask Albertans to submit personal information via text or email to receive rebates.