ABEnergyExpert

Alberta Energy market professional trying to help Albertans learn more about their utility costs & choices. Tweets/views are my own, just opinion, not advice.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

On the RRO? How to tell:

NORTHERN ALBERTA - Bill from "Direct Energy Regulated Services", check logo.

EDMONTON/RURAL ALBERTA (Fortis) - EPCOR bill says "RESIDENTIAL RRO" under "Details of your new charges".

CALGARY - ENMAX bill says "Regulated Rate Option".

#yyc #yeg #ableg

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@ReaganPodelec @GreatBig_Sea @CityofStAlbert @ATCO @PierrePoilievre @JustinTrudeau You would have saved about $50 on that bill by switching your gas rate from a fixed rate to a floating rate, under $2.50 now.

Even if you want fixed, you can switch to their lowest rate of $3.99 for free, no penalty or cost. Just call them or do it online on your account.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@friesen_f @Duckett62 Switch to a retailer that doesn’t charge like ENMAX or Direct Energy. EPCOR and ATCO charge for Unaccounted for Gas.

ATCO charges more extra fees than any retailer, they charge higher usage to cover losses as well, anyone with them would be paying more, apples to apples.

[jimwacho @jimwachowich]

Here is my interview with the CBC Radio - Calgary Eyeopener with Loren McGinnis - Nov. 29, 2024:
Rate of Last Resort https://t.co/dqvllOQnf1

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@bcshaffer @NagwanYYC Agreed, not ideal, but it is the cost of having the freedom to switch on and off the RoLR, the alternative is the return of penalties and exit fees as well as a high(er) risk premium that inflates the RoLR to mitigate risk, which no one would want to ensure it doesn't move.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@NagwanYYC Moreover, if you are so concerned about advertising dollars, when can Albertans expect to get back their $259,000 the NDP spent to advertise to people to be on the RRO when every competitive retailer was offering a lower rate than the 6.8 cent RRO cap?

https://t.co/9XKxOamXSI

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@NagwanYYC “Charged Extra”?

$0.1/kWh is 60 CENTS A MONTH for an average home consuming 600 kWh a month.

That surcharge is also a GOVERNMENT FEE to recoup costs that the Utilities Consumer Advocate incurs telling people on the RoLR to get off of it every 90 days.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@bcshaffer @J_Ho_Rocks Yep, volume is shaped to local distribution's residential "Net System Load Shape".

Thankfully, shapes are similar, not a huge delta in price/shape between CAL_RES (Calgary/ENMAX), EDM_NSLS (Edmonton/EPCOR), RES (Northern AB/ATCO), NSLS (Rural South AB/Fortis) profile classes.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@jimwachowich @bcshaffer @TKavulla @andrew_leach The biggest power in the market is still held by the consumer. If Fixed rates are too high and excess margins are being realized, customers need to heed the advice of @bcshaffer and switch to floating and reject fixed rates from retailers, only way to move the market.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

👀

Wholesale price of Electricity in Alberta so far today - $0.

Actual Forecast + Supply Surplus Report is forecasting $0 prices out to 5 PM.

If 17 straight hours settle at $0, that would be an all-time consecutive record. Could be a memorable day for Alberta Electricity.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@bcshaffer Wonder if the new "Supply Cushion Regulation" will prevent many early retirements? Hope so, would ensure adequate supply. I am sure the first one will get through but then if there is a rush, they all get stuck at the exit!

If so, floating might be the choice out to Nov 30 2027.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

Alberta's "Market Power Mitigation Regulation", designed to limit economic withholding, went live in July.

And it's working.

The revenue cap hit and the Secondary Offer Price Limit is now in effect.

No hour for remainder of July can be offered above $125/MWh (12.5 ¢/kWh)

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

For the first time in history, Alberta electricity demand exceeds 12,000 Megawatts (MW) in the summer.

Moreover, during the 4:00 PM hour on July 10th, a new all-time high record was set at 12,122 MW, slightly above the forecasted demand of 12,073 MW.

[jimwacho @jimwachowich]

The story is out there.
https://t.co/TydcrfRw6Z

[Bob Turner @DoctorCanBob]

@ABEnergyExpert @ChrisVarcoe @cspotweet @CGriwkowsky @mattscace67 @NdbYyc1305 @jimwachowich It was on @CBCEdmonton this morning. Hopefully @edmontonjournal and @calgaryherald pick it up soon.

[jimwacho @jimwachowich]

ATCO Electric, a regulated Monopoly utility serving Albertans, has now agreed to pay the 2nd and 3rd administrative penalties; All 3 totaling in excess of $30 million.
Is there something wrong at ATCO?

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

Pretty shocking this has got zero news coverage. Where is the media on $3 million in *NEW* fines for ATCO for "over-recovery" (aka over-charging)? @ChrisVarcoe @cspotweet @CGriwkowsky @mattscace67

Kudos to @NdbYyc1305 for sharing & @jimwachowich for amplifying this story.

[Nigel Bankes @NdbYyc1305]

Yesterday the Alberta Utilities Commission posted information about a new settlement proposal with ATCO to deal with further instances of over-recovery from customers by ATCO. Seems like ATCO has a systemic lack of candour problem. 1/3 #ableg
https://t.co/jHKTpeET6Z

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@MartinTheOrange @cmcalgary The ‘lower’ fixed rate is a trick too. 0.2 ¢/kWh is only $1.20/month in ‘savings’ for the average home consuming 600 kWh/month. So you ‘save’ $1.20 over ENMAX but pay $4 more in fees. Plus Sponsor charges you for paying with your for credit card or wanting getting a paper bill.

[ABEnergyExpert @ABEnergyExpert]

@MartinTheOrange @cmcalgary They do not. They have the highest admin fees in the industry. They bait people in with a low fixed rate but have jacked up admin fees. They actually have two fees, 25 ¢/day, which is $7.50 and then $4.99 on top of that - $12.49 compared to $8.50 with Easymax, 47% more. Rip off.

[Blake Shaffer 📊🇨🇦🇺🇦 @bcshaffer]

From #energytwitter to a conditionally accepted publication!

Excited to see "Show me the Money! A Field Experiment to Shift EV Charge Timing" in print soon...

h/t @jlappen1 for the quote find!