Alberta · Winter 2026–27
Winter Heating Bill Estimator
How much will it cost to keep your place warm from October to April? Enter a few details and see an estimate for each month, using real Alberta gas rates and Environment Canada weather data.
| Month | Gas used | Est. bill |
|---|
Ways to save this winter
What drives your heating bill?
Your bill comes down to three things: how cold it gets, how fast your home loses heat, and what you pay per unit of energy.
In Alberta, the gas itself is often the smallest part of the bill. Delivery charges, the transmission rider, a daily fixed charge and municipal fees often add up to more than the gas. In Grande Prairie, the fixed charges alone come to about $55 a month (with fees and GST) before you burn any gas. That's why the biggest savings come from using less gas, not chasing a slightly cheaper rate.
The regulated gas rate changes every month. Last winter it went from $1.43/GJ in October to $3.39/GJ in December, and this October it's $1.46/GJ. That's why the calculator uses last winter's actual monthly rates by default. You can switch to one flat rate in Advanced.
The federal consumer carbon tax ended on April 1, 2025, so it's not included. At its last rate it would have added $4.095 per GJ.
How we calculate this
We use the heating degree-day method, a standard engineering shortcut. A heating degree-day (HDD) counts how far each day's average temperature falls below a base temperature. Environment Canada publishes 30-year averages (1991–2020) for each month and city.
Heat needed (GJ) = UA × HDD × 86,400 ÷ 1,000,000,000
UA (W/°C) = floor area (sq ft) × heat-loss factor
Fuel used (GJ) = Heat needed ÷ efficiency (+ water heating)
Bill = Gas × energy rate + (Gas × variable delivery + fixed delivery) × (1 + municipal %) + retailer fee, then + GST
- Thermostat: houses gain heat from people, appliances and sun, so the "balance point" is about 3°C below your setting. At 21°C we use HDD base 18°C. Other settings shift the base and adjust HDD using Environment Canada's base-15°C and base-18°C normals.
- Heat-loss factors (W/°C per sq ft): newer 0.07, average 0.10, older 0.14. These are assumptions, calibrated so an average 1,800 sq ft home lands near the Utilities Consumer Advocate's typical Alberta usage (about 10 GJ/month on average, 23 GJ in winter months).
- Electric heat shows only the extra electricity for heating, at energy plus variable delivery cents per kWh. Your fixed electricity charges are paid anyway, so they're left out.
- We don't include smaller riders or the property-tax rider for every town, late fees, or retail contract fees.
Compare providers for your usage
See every Alberta retailer plan with a published price, ranked by what it would cost for the usage on this page. Delivery charges are the same whoever you buy from. Neutral, no sponsored placements.
Compare providers for your usage →What to do next
Smart thermostat
Automatic night and away setbacks are the easiest win. [Partner link: smart thermostat, e.g. Canadian retailer program]
Compare thermostats →Home energy audit
A blower-door test shows where the heat leaks out. [Partner link: certified energy advisor booking]
Find an advisor →Fixed-rate gas plans
Compare a locked rate against the monthly regulated rate. Check the UCA's free cost comparison tool first. [Partner link: retailer comparison]
Compare plans →Sources
This is an estimate, not a quote. Real bills depend on the actual weather, how your home is built, how you live in it, meter-read dates, your retailer and contract, riders, and rate changes. The default figures are for Direct Energy Regulated Services customers in ATCO Gas service areas. Check your own bill and the Utilities Consumer Advocate (ucahelps.alberta.ca) before making decisions. NorthNumbers isn't affiliated with any utility.