Since we assume that you would like to live in the modern world and not write letters by candlelight, you will probably need some electricity, no? The purveyor of electricity in the Bow Valley is Epcor.
Managing Your Account (New accounts, moving, cancelling service)
It is in your best interest to contact Epcor with at least 3 days notice prior to your move-in date. If you elect to wait until the last minute, you’ll be charged $10 for your poor planning. Epcor representatives indicated that 1 week prior is a good time to arrange the new service (or changes to existing service). Accounts can be opened online or via telephone (310-4300 in Alberta, 800-667-2345 in North America, 780-412-4000 Outside North America). You will require two pieces of identification. Driver’s License and Birth Certificate are preferred. If you don’t have those items, Epcor can use other document to get you hooked up. A $200 Deposit is required for new customers, which will be added to your first bill. If you’re not keen on having Epcor hold onto your moolah, you can opt for a credit check - if you pass, no deposit is required.
If you already have electricity service and are moving to a new pad, you can transfer your service online or via telephone (see phone numbers above).
Monthly Charges
There are a number of factors that affect how much your monthly bill will be, the least of which is the actual cost of the electricity itself which hovers between $.09-$.12/kWh (Kilowatt hour). How energy efficient are your appliances and what type of appliances are you using? How many people live with you, and do they operate on a similar schedule? Do you plug in your car, or multiple cars, in the winter? Do you have electric or gas heat? Do you make energy-efficient choices (turning lights off, choosing low watt bulbs, etc)? As there are too many variable at play, Epcor is reluctant to indicate what an average bill is worth. We polled a few of our users to see how much they were paying so that you could have a general idea:
$65/Month in 2008 <Condo 1000 square feet; 2 Bedroom, 1 bathroom; some energy efficient appliances/bulbs; gas heat; 2-3 occupants on fairly similar schedule>
$76/Month in 2008 <House 1700 square feet; 3 Bedroom, 2 bathroom; some energy efficient appliances/bulbs; gas heat; 2-3 occupants on fairly similar schedule>
$65/Month in 2008 <Condo 1000 square feet; 2 Bedroom, 1 bathroom; some energy efficient appliances/bulbs; gas heat; 2-3 occupants on fairly similar schedule>
Does your rent include utilities?
Having your utilities included with your monthly rent can be a great way to manage your living expenses. However, remember that landlords are business people and are generally not in the business of losing money. When utilities are included, the rent is usually a little higher to accommodate for any high bills that you may incur. If you do choose a rental property with utilities included, don’t delude yourself into thinking “I don’t pay, so it doesn’t matter if I leave the lights on all day, or run the dryer just to warm up my bath towel”. It matters. If you consistently use more power than your landlord has budgeted for, your rent will likely increase. So turn off those lights, and only run the washer/dryer/dishwasher with full loads or be prepared to pay the price later down the line. Plus, you live in the Bow Valley now so it’s time to start putting the environment first!