The cost of electricity is variable in Yukon, and changes frequently – often monthly. The “fixed charge” or “customer charge” also changes frequently.
These changes in rates are not explicitly shown on billing statements, and are hidden in the riders on the bill. How much does electricity cost in the Yukon? Not an easy question to answer, but something this site will attempt to do.
As an example, for usage starting in October 2024, most residential customer bills went up by around 11%. This was hidden in the “riders” on one billing statement. The next month, YEC and ATCO announced bill simplification and rate rebasing, a bill formatting change that they said did not affect rates. True this did not change rates, but it hid the large increase that had just happened the month before! Let’s have a bit more transparency. It was this maneuver from YEC and ATCO that inspired this page.
For a billing date of Oct 4, 2024, and service dates of Aug 28 to Sep 27, the actual customer charge was $23.56 (w/o GST). For the next month’s bill, it was $25.85. The billing statement said the customer charge was $14.65. And the cost per kWh went from $.172 to $.191.
As an example, 800kWh would have been $161.47 (+GST) and then the next month, the same usage would cost $179.00. Up $17.53 one month to the next, this is a 11% increase.
| Bill Date: | Usage Date: | Cust Chg (w/o GST) | Rate $/kWh (w/o GST) | kWh Used | Total w/o GST | Chg |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Aug28-Sep27 | $23.56 | $0.172 | 800 | $161.47 | |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Sep27-Oct29 | $25.85 | $0.191 | 800 | $179.00 | 10.9% |
And shortly following this increase, YEC and ATCO announced that the change in format of the bill and riders did not increase rates, neglecting to inform customers that rates had just increased.
Should actual rates be shown on electricity bills – the way they are just about everywhere else, other than where ATCO is involved?
Ask the Yukon Utilities Board to require ATCO and Yukon Energy to provide actual rates on billing statements. How much does electricity cost in Yukon? Has the rate gone up or down? This information needs to be shown on billing statements. https://yukonutilitiesboard.yk.ca/contact/