Foothills Energy Co-op, formed in 2016, markets electricity and natural gas to residential properties in Calgary. Their mandate is to gather funds and support energy conservation, green energy, and sustainable initiatives in the communities they serve.

We appreciate their co-op community fund, where they have initiatives and projects that can improve sustainability in a community. The committee explicitly does these projects towards energy conservation, reduction, and alternative energy.

As an Albertan homeowner, you’ll be glad to know they have several plans available. They have plans for natural gas, electricity, internet, and solar electricity.

To add, they have a monthly administration fee of $5.85 per metered site. So you have two options for the natural gas plan, and one has a prudential charge.

Unfortunately, you will be disappointed if you prefer fixed rates. Foothills Energy Co-op only offers variable market prices.

You should know that prudential is a requirement for Alberta electricity and natural gas retailers. This fee allows the company to keep lower rates so you can save money on your electricity bill.

Since the prudential is quite similar to a security deposit, it is worth noting that it’s refundable once you leave the company. Conveniently, they also don’t have a cancellation fee.

Additionally, they have available bundles for all their services. You have the option to choose two or more combination that is suitable for your home. 

But we should mention that their electricity rates are subject to availability for residential, small businesses, and farms. So we think it’s a good idea to check what is available to you before planning your budget.

We also want to add that their bundle offers have limited availability too. So it’s good to review the available bundles with their representatives first.

As for their responsiveness, the clients we surveyed liked their prompt service. In addition, their representatives are helpful and knowledgeable regarding any inquiries.

Finally, their clients liked their reasonable rates and available plans. They also appreciated the sustainability initiatives to help their communities.

Regional Energy is a locally based retailer of natural gas, electricity, and internet. Their head office is conveniently located in downtown Calgary.

We mentioned that because not many gas retailers have their main office in Calgary. Regional Energy’s central location means they have the upper hand regarding customer support responsiveness.

Contrary to that, we did hear instances of failure to answer customer calls. Unfortunately, this resulted in some delays regarding billing concerns.

As for their rates, they offer fixed and floating rates. The natural gas plan has a retail fee of $0.59 per day plus a tad higher monthly admin fee of $9.95 per metered site.

A five-year plan has a competitive cost of $4.99/GJ for fixed natural gas. But for floating natural gas, they compute the wholesale price, which changes monthly, plus $0.90/GJ.

It’s worth noting that all customers are required to stay for five years. You will have to pay $250 if you end the contract early.

But if you need to move, you can transfer the contract to a new location so you won’t have to pay the early-exit fee. Just make sure to contact the staff ten days or more before cancellation.

All in all, we appreciate the competitive rates and no hidden charges. Clients also appreciated their transparency because of the detailed billing.

Since 2008, Spot Power has been giving low-cost energy to its customers in over 400 communities in Alberta. It’s a part of Utility Network & Partners Inc, which provides energy management services.

But it’s better to contact the staff first to find out if they are available in your area. The reason is that Spot Power doesn’t provide services in Medicine Hat and some rural areas.

We appreciate the different types of plans available for you to choose from. They also offer bundles of electricity, natural gas, and internet.

As for natural gas rates, they only offer variable market prices. You can choose to pay the variable market price plus $0.30/GJ with prudential or a slightly higher rate without prudential.

Additionally, they have a referral program that can help you earn money as long as the referred person remains a customer. We also like that they can cancel anytime as long as there is a ten-day notice.

Further, they charge a monthly fixed admin fee of $6.85 per metered site. We like this because it is slightly lower compared to similar services.

However, we noticed that their electricity plans have limited availability. So, although you can bundle your natural gas rate with electricity, it’s best to confirm which ones are available in your area.

On a positive note, their staff continues to provide transparency through smooth and detailed transactions. Many clients also praised the commendable customer service.

In 2003, Energy For Less was incorporated to focus on selling natural gas and electricity to homeowners. They provide these services to all cities in Alberta.

We like that they are committed to their goal because they provide a guarantee. If Energy For Less fail to save you $102 for the first three months and you choose to switch back to your previous provider, they will pay you $102.

But you should know that this applies to customers who switched to Energy For Less for both natural gas and electricity. The calculation for the savings is based on circumstantial evidence, so it’s best to confirm the rules first.

We like that they offer a 5-year plan and variable rates. They charge the variable market price plus + $0.90/GJ and $5.700/GJ for the fixed plan.

Further, their admin fee is slightly higher at $9.95 per metered site a month. You should also know they have a cancellation fee for the fixed plan priced at $250.

On the other side, you have the freedom of switching electricity providers as there are no fees for that. They only need a ten-day notice.

Unfortunately, a few clients have complaints about overcharging issues. We think asking for a detailed invoice is best to avoid hidden or additional charges and confirm you have a fixed or floating rate.

There were also instances of unresponsiveness in customer support. Some had experienced late e-mail responses, which was an inconvenience.

Finally, if you need to switch providers fast, Energy For Less will handle all the necessary steps to ensure a smooth transaction and no service interruption.

A local energy retail service, Bow Valley Power, was founded in 2010. It has since grown, providing energy to over 180 communities in Alberta.

It’s worth mentioning Alberta’s Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) recognises Bow Valley Power as a provider of sustainable energy. The UCA mandates educating, advocating, and mediating for energy consumers’ best interests.

We like their reasonable prices plus the variable market price. But you should know that the cost changes based on the wholesale price.

To add, they charge a slightly higher monthly admin fee of $8.25 per metered site. However, they also have rates with prudential payment, which is refundable once you cancel your contract.

However, they don’t offer fixed natural gas rates. Since fixed rates can give a better budget consistency, some customers may prefer that.

But we appreciate their advocacy for green power. We like that this encourages the development of renewable energy for future generations.

They have a Solar Club, which allows customers with solar installations to earn more money. This feature is possible due to the energy the solar power sells to the grid.

As for customer support, many clients appreciated the responsiveness of the representatives. They were quick to answer any inquiries and deliver solutions to any problems.

Furthermore, they offer great deals to senior citizens. Some clients also told us they like the reasonable prices, despite a higher admin fee.