Enmax fixed vs. floating rates...

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by musth

Thoughts on what I'm currently being offered from Atco for electricity/gas?

I think it's a pretty reasonable fixed rate plan, especially if you're the type that doesn't like surprises and prefer monthly bills that are more consistent.

Generally though, new generation in Alberta means that electricity floating rates have been trending downwards since the terrible winter of 2023 so you probably won't go wrong with fixed or floating.



Gas is probably better with floating, but because of the massive difference in usage between winter and summer, one really cold month could wipe out the savings the rest of the year.

[The Yen Man]

How much does a 3 or 4 cent difference in rate really change the bill? The rider fees and admin fees are all still based on usage. When I calculated the difference in saving 4 cents per KWH as a rate, I save maybe $10 a month at most?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

How much does a 3 or 4 cent difference in rate really change the bill? The rider fees and admin fees are all still based on usage. When I calculated the difference in saving 4 cents per KWH as a rate, I save maybe $10 a month at most?

$20-30 bucks ish based on raw KWH and GJ usage of approx 400KWH and 15GJ ish per month? It's not much, but it still adds up. Maybe it jumps up to $40-50 on a month with a particularly bad cold snap or something?

The numbers are also inexplicably high to me. I've been trying to reduce usage for a while now. I know my usage should be elevated due to a deep freeze and second fridge, but my usage is so much damn higher than "other similar households" that I can't help wonder if there's something else seriously problematic. I might need to get an energy audit to figure out what is truly happening.

[musth]

Originally Posted by accord1999

I think it's a pretty reasonable fixed rate plan, especially if you're the type that doesn't like surprises and prefer monthly bills that are more consistent.

Generally though, new generation in Alberta means that electricity floating rates have been trending downwards since the terrible winter of 2023 so you probably won't go wrong with fixed or floating.



Gas is probably better with floating, but because of the massive difference in usage between winter and summer, one really cold month could wipe out the savings the rest of the year.

thanks, I just haven't kept up with the lately, so I was unsure. appreciate the insight

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

$20-30 bucks ish based on raw KWH and GJ usage of approx 400KWH and 15GJ ish per month? It's not much, but it still adds up. Maybe it jumps up to $40-50 on a month with a particularly bad cold snap or something?

The numbers are also inexplicably high to me. I've been trying to reduce usage for a while now. I know my usage should be elevated due to a deep freeze and second fridge, but my usage is so much damn higher than "other similar households" that I can't help wonder if there's something else seriously problematic. I might need to get an energy audit to figure out what is truly happening.

I have given up trying to get mine down to "similar homes". But I also had to bring home a a bunch of networking equipment, server, etc. when our office shut down and went remote. I did it willingly, and I am reimbursed for it, but that ain't helping my efficiency rating!

And my wife is an aquarium aficionado, so we currently have 3 tanks running. Filters, heaters, aerators, etc. all add up.

Ironically, last summer was my first with air conditioning, and I barely noticed a difference vs last summer. I'm sure that there's a cost, and I'm fairly conservative with my use of it (24 is better than 29 in my house, and 21 feels downright freezing), but there was no big spike. It is a fairly efficient unit (SEER 16), but I was still expecting to see that little usage graph spike vs. last year, and it didn't.

[Qwerty]

Bumping this thread - I am trying to figure out if its better to swap from Fixed to Variable now. From my quick googling it seems the Variable should be better for now? Electricity is around $6 cents and $1.1/GJ... It seems I am overpaying on fixed by quite a bit?

I currently have:

Current Plan
Electricity
8.88¢/kWh
+$0.36 per service per day

New Plan
Electricity
Wholesale Market Rate + $0/kWh
+$0.63 per service per day

Current Plan
Natural Gas
$3.88/GJ
+$0.36 per service per day

New Plan
Natural Gas
Wholesale Market Rate + $0/GJ
+$0.63 per service per day