FortisAlberta farm customers fall into one of serveral specific rate categories. This rate determines the distribution charge on your monthly electricity bill. The distribution charge recovers the cost of the delivery of electricity to your farm, and this charge does not change, whether you are on a regulated rate or a contracted plan with your Retailer.
As a regulated utility, FortisAlberta applies to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) each year for approval of our rates.
What is your rate class?
Most farm customers are Rate 21, which is available in rural areas to service points connected directly to FortisAlberta's distribution system to deliver energy to farming operations that include a residence.
Rate 23 is available to FortisAlberta farm customers that have, in addition to a regular farm service, varying load levels throughout the year due to the use of grain drying equipment for part of the year. Rate 23 is only available to farm customers that qualify for basic service as part of Rate 21 and operate more than five horse-power of grain drying equipment in addition to basic service.
REA Rate 24 is available to customers who are members of a Rural Electrification Association (REA) and to farmers who own their entire electric service extension.
REA Rate 25 is available to customers who are members of a Rural Electrification Association (REA) and farmers who own their entire electric service extension, where the operating demand is greater than 50 kilowatts and less than 2,000 kilowatts. Billing on this rate is contingent upon provision of monthly demand and energy meter readings. Absence of these readings will result in retroactive billing on the REA Farm Service Rate.
Rate 26 is available to customers with individually metered motors driving irrigation pumps that operate only during the irrigation season. For the purposes of this rate, the irrigation season runs from April 1 to October 31.
Rate 29 is available to customers who are members of a Rural Electrification Association (REA) and to farmers who own their entire electric service extension for individually metered motors driving irrigation pumps that operate only in the irrigation season. For the purposes of this rate, the irrigation season runs from April 1 to October 31.
What is a Rider?
Sometimes you may see a line item on your bill called a Rider. For example, when FortisAlberta implements rates on a temporary basis while waiting for approval from the AUC, Rate Riders are used to collect or refund the difference between interim rates and final approved rates. When the rates are approved, they may be higher or lower than the original rate and your Rider will reflect this difference.
What is the Local Access Fee?
Your bill may also have an additional surcharge, most commonly referred to as the Local Access Fee. The Local Access Fee is billed by FortisAlberta on behalf of your local government. Where applicable, this surcharge is paid to your local government to allow FortisAlberta access to their lands. To view the current Local Access Fee charged by your community please visit page 27 of the 2007 Distribution Tariff Rates, Options and Riders Schedules, available in the Resources section of this page. For more information about this charge you should contact your local municipality office.
Back to the Top