• Summer 2003
• Winter 2003
• Fall 2002
• Summer 2002
• Spring 2002 North
• Spring 2002 South

• Explaining where your natural gas dollar goes
• Community service:  a good investment that enriches us all
• Clear the walks for safety's sake
• Equalize your monthly payments
• Get energized with unbiased advice
• From Our Kitchen to Yours
• A Holiday Tradition - The ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen holiday cookbook

Explaining where your natural gas dollar goes 

ATCO Gas works diligently to make your bill for natural gas service accurate and easy to understand. The two largest components of the bill you pay each month are for the natural gas you actually use and for the cost to deliver it to you.

Natural Gas Costs

Most of your energy dollar, approximately 74 cents, pays for the natural gas you used. ATCO Gas buys the natural gas from suppliers at the market rate and then delivers it to you at cost, without mark-up. ATCO Gas does not profit from the cost of gas.

Your monthly bill fluctuates based on how much natural gas you used, and the actual cost paid to purchase the gas for you. Market prices fluctuate monthly, based on North American demand, which tends to be higher in the winter. All rates are independently reviewed and approved by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB). Starting November 1, 2003 until the end of March, 2004, your bill will also show a government rebate if the regulated price of natural gas exceeds $5.50 per gigajoule.

Delivery Costs

Approximately 16 cents of every dollar is used to provide the delivery, customer care and distribution systems that ensure natural gas is available when you need it. Last year alone, ATCO Gas invested $102 million to build and maintain gas lines, provide emergency response, read meters and operate local offices. ATCO Gas earns about one cent of every dollar as a regulated rate of return. All of these delivery costs are reviewed by the EUB, and are consistently amongst the lowest in Canada.

Community service: a good investment that enriches us all

 Our goals go far beyond delivering energy. We whole-heartedly believe in participating and investing in the communities where we work and live.

For more than 90 years, ATCO Gas has given time, money and resources to support youth, education, sports, the arts, environmental and social programs across the province. This year, for example, we supported the ITU World Triathlon Championship, Alberta Summer and Winter Games, Calgary Stampede and Edmonton Klondike Days. We also assisted the Alberta beef industry while helping food banks. ATCO Group and Direct Energy donated $100,000 to the Alberta Beef Producers Help Bank which purchased beef from producers and then donated it to food banks throughout Alberta.

To enrich educational opportunities, ATCO Group donated $1 million to the new ATCO Tyrrell Learning Centre at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. The learning centre, which officially opened Aug. 19, brings the magic of the dinosaur world to schools and communities across Alberta via video-conference.

ATCO Gas donated $150,000 towards the reconstruction of Hotel Selkirk at Fort Edmonton Park and to equip the Johnson Cafe with a state-of-the-art kitchen. The hotel and cafe were originally built in 1922 and were Edmonton landmarks for more than 60 years - a time when ATCO Gas, then known as Northwestern Utilities, opened its first office in Edmonton.

These are just a few examples of some events we are involved in. ATCO Gas participates in hundreds of smaller events by donating barbecues to community gatherings and sponsoring local fundraisers, community sports teams and charitable events. Employees also give to a long list of local charities through the company matching donations program.

At ATCO Gas, we believe community service is a good investment that enriches us all.

Clear the walks for safety’s sake

 When the snow falls and the ice builds, walks and driveways can become treacherous. If they are not kept clear it can be dangerous for delivery people, meter readers, and repair technicians to provide service to your home.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping the walks safe for everyone. With your help, we can provide you with the services you want and need while our employees are kept safe.

Equalize your monthly payments

The ups and downs of the natural gas market can cause some anxiety and financial stress. The ATCO Gas Equalizer budget payment plan smooths out fluctuating prices over the year, making payments more manageable. You can plan on paying the same budget amount every month.

The amount you pay is based on current and forecasted market rates for natural gas, and your home’s past energy use. The annual estimate is then divided into 12 equal monthly payments. If you start in the fall, you’ll pay for your peak winter consumption over the following spring and summer when energy use and rates are usually lower.

Once a year, we’ll review your account to balance what you’ve paid with the actual cost of natural gas you used. If you paid more than your actual costs, we’ll give you a credit. Or, if you have a balance owing, we’ll spread it out equally over your next year’s budget payments.

To make paying your monthly bill even easier, combine the Equalizer budget payment plan with our pre-authorized payment plan. Your budget payment amount will be automatically deducted from your bank account each month saving you time, postage and chequing costs, and late payment worries.

No cheques, no envelopes, no line-ups. It doesn’t get simpler than that.

Get energized with unbiased advice

Are you planning a renovation or thinking about buying a new appliance? ATCO EnergySense can help. ATCO EnergySense, Alberta’s one-stop source for unbiased energy-saving advice, provides a wide variety of tools, resources and services, including:

Fuel Cost Analysis - With the fluctuating costs of natural gas and electricity, understanding the different operating costs through a fuel cost analysis will give you extra confidence when making your final purchase decision for the appliance you’re considering.

Payback Analysis - Which major appliance models will give you the greatest bang for your buck over the long run? A payback analysis, performed on the quotes you receive from your contractor or sales representative, will help determine how fast each model will pay for itself through energy savings.

Degree Day Analysis - Using your consumption figures and outdoor temperatures over the past 20 years, the degree day analysis provides a picture as to how your new heating system should perform under normal weather conditions.

Free Publications - Fact sheets and booklets offer technical and general information on a whole list of home energy concerns.

EnergySense House - Available on the website, the EnergySense House is a useful online tool designed to help you better understand your natural gas and electricity costs. It can help you:

1. Identify the approximate energy cost to use the major appliances and
   equipment in your home.
2. Compare the cost of energy when using energy efficient appliances.
3. Identify opportunities for savings by reducing the amount of time
   appliances and equipment are used.

Home Energy Evaluation - An energy advisor measures the energy performance of your home, from top to bottom, and conducts an air-leakage test. You receive a report prioritizing improvements that will increase your home’s efficiency. ATCO EnergySense is Alberta’s primary delivery agent for EnerGuide for Houses energy efficiency evaluations.

For energy-saving advice or more information about these resources, visit the ATCO EnergySense website, www.atcoenergysense.com, or call 310-7283 (toll-free in Alberta).

A Holiday Tradition

ATCO Gas is part of the ATCO Group of companies.

Visit us:  www.atcogas.com Email us: energyline@atcogas.com Write us:  EnergyLine, c/o ATCO Gas 18th Floor, 10035 - 105 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 2V6