What Alberta's Rate of Last Resort (RoLR) Means for Your Business
If your business never signed a competitive electricity contract, you're almost certainly on the Rate of Last Resort — and probably overpaying.
The Rate of Last Resort (RoLR) is the default electricity plan in Alberta for accounts that aren't on a competitive retail contract. It replaced the old Regulated Rate Option (RRO) and, since January 2025, is set as a two-year fixed rate rather than changing month to month.
How the RoLR is set
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) reviews the RoLR and it can move by up to 10% each two-year period. For the 2025–2026 term, the regulated providers publish rates around 12 ¢/kWh — for example roughly 12.01–12.06 ¢/kWh depending on your provider.
Why businesses overpay on it
The RoLR is designed as a safe default, not the cheapest option. Competitive fixed contracts for commercial volumes routinely price well below the regulated rate. Because the commodity (energy) portion is the only part of your bill that's repriceable, moving off the RoLR to a competitive rate goes straight to your bottom line.
What to do about it
- Check your bill's energy/retailer section for your current rate.
- Compare it to a competitive fixed or index contract sized to your load.
- If you operate a large or multi-site business, ask for aggregated pricing across all locations.
Not sure whether you're on the RoLR? Request a custom quote and a specialist will review it with you.
Ready for real contract options? Get my custom quote.
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