Energy rebates will extend into month of December

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
The provincial government will provide a $50 rebate per month for the rest of 2022.
On July 6, the government announced nearly two million homes, farms and businesses will receive electricity rebates for the rest of the year to help cover high bills amid rising energy costs.
The electricity rebate program will now offer about $600 million in relief through the rest of 2022, providing eligible Albertans with a monthly $50 bill credit for six consecutive months.
More than 1.9 million homes, farms and small businesses will receive monthly credits on their electricity bills starting this month and stretching until the end of December, for a total of $300 in rebates.
It was noted as the cost of living continues to pose challenges for Albertans, the government is providing an additional three months of bill credits to alleviate some of the high utility costs that many families and businesses have faced during recent months.
The expanded electricity rebate will hold the criteria currently in place:
• Albertans currently connected to the system that have consumed electricity within the past calendar year, up to a maximum of 250 megawatt hours per year, are automatically eligible for the rebates.
• Eligible Albertans can expect to see an automatic $50 rebate on their bills. No application or other action is needed to start receiving the rebate.
The extended monthly rebates will apply to the entire bill, not just the energy portion. In addition, the $50 rebates will be on all eligible bills – protecting consumers on the variable regulated rate option as well as those on competitive contracts.
The July rebate will be listed on each bill as a line titled “GOA Utility Commodity Rebate,” and $50 rebates will follow in August, September, October, November and December for a total of $300. Exact timing will vary depending on the billing cycle of one’s utility provider.
Along with the electricity rebate, a natural gas rebate will be starting in October, providing support on utility bills until March 31, 2023, if prices remain high.
Consumers who believe they meet the eligibility criteria but have not started receiving the rebates by the end of July should contact the Utility Consumer Advocate.