By Cam Mitchell
Solution 105 Consulting Ltd.
“FEBRUARY BLUES”
Winter is in full swing… or is it? Pretty blue skies today and warm weather! Things can change quickly in Alberta, but not a lot has changed in the energy commodity markets. We now have a carbon levy, but index rates are still very low. These low rates are expected to continue for a while yet. Below I’ve tried to highlight the best residential options available.
WE RECOMMEND:
- Gas onto Direct Energy REGULATED Services. This is the default, no retailer rate.
- Electricity:
- Floating rates are too good to pass up
- Best option is ENRG Power, as their floating rate is spot plus 0.55 cents/kWh. Monthly admin fee of $6.50/month.
- Next best is Brighter Futures Energy Inc. at spot plus 0.60 cents/kWh. Monthly admin fee of $6.50/month.
- Don’t want the risk or fluctuations
- Brighter Futures Energy Inc. has a 4.99 cents/kWh option (4.85 cents/kWh for seniors). Rates stable to Dec. 2018. $6.50/month admin. Free termination.
- What about ATCOenergy? I hopped over there with my gas and electricity for Jan 1. How is it going after one month?
- Floating rates are too good to pass up
AT MY HOUSE:
If you were one of those individuals who follow this update closely, you will note that I made the jump to ATCOenergy starting January 1. I went there on the promise of free electricity and natural gas in January. Their floating admin rates are a bit higher (at plus 1.0 cents/kWh and plus $0.89/GJ), but one thing they have going for them is a monthly admin fee of just $3.50/mth/utility when you sign up for both gas and electricity. [But $7/mth if you just sign one utility up]. So there is a potential monthly admin savings to be had compared to DERS admin of around $7.50/mth and ENRG Power admin of $6.50/mth. They also have a $50 anniversary credit, if you stay with them for 12 months straight.
Doing the math, my annual costs with ATCOenergy will come in very close to costs with the recommended option of DERS and ENRG Power below. The math really depends on how much energy you use. I am very close to break even, and I average about 9,000 kWh and 100 GJ over a year. If you use less than this, then ATCOenergy will be more attractive (since there lower monthly admin fees and anniversary credit will outweigh the cost of the extra 0.45 cent/kWh and $0.83/GJ fees). If you use more than me, you may want to go with the recommended options below.
So, after all of that, I’m going to stick with ATCOenergy until something better comes along. They are no better for me than the other option, but no worse either.
NATURAL GAS:
For gas, we are still not seeing many decent residential offers. Most offers are higher than $3.50/GJ. The shorter term forward market is around $2.60/GJ for February and March. Longer term pricing is below $3.00/GJ into 2022. So for gas, we recommend staying on the Direct Energy REGULATED Services (DERS)… remember “Regulated Service”. If you aren’t with these guys now, you will automatically go there if you terminate your current gas contract. Make sure there are no termination fees! There may also be a small enrollment fee to get on with DERS.
For February, the DERS rate is $2.642/GJ. For February, we had predicted around $3/GJ for DERS, and for March, we are expecting around $2.70/GJ.
Looking at the longer view, we still recommend DERS. Index offers from most retailers add around $0.75/GJ or more for fees to the floating rate. As DERS fees are closer to $0.06/GJ, we recommend residents stay on the default gas rate.
ELECTRIC
I am still keen to continue the floating market ride at this point. Alberta’s spot market rates have averaged below 3 cents/kWh over the last 12 months and the forward market is suggesting rates under 4 cents/kWh for some time yet.
As mentioned above, I have swapped over to ATCOenergy, but generally speaking, the best longer-term option is ENRG Power. They offer spot plus 0.55 cents/kWh.
If you still are looking for a fixed rate, Brighter Futures Energy Inc. has an offer at 4.99 cents/kWh (4.85 for seniors). That said, we think the floating rate is the way to go at this time.
February and March 2017 forward pricing suggests index residential rates will come in around 3.5 cents/kWh. January 2017 averaged about 3.2 cents/kWh.
Just to help put things into perspective, all that we are talking about here is the commodity rates and costs, not the delivery and other regulated charges. An average house might use around 9,000 kWh and 100 GJ over a year.
COMMERCIAL USERS
And for those of you who are not residential users, and maybe a bit bigger, give us a call. We are seeing even better pricing for commercial users so get in touch and we can help.