Solar Electricity Buy Back Rates

1. Energy Readings
   Each month, your distribution company reads your meter to measure how much electricity you used. Then they send this information to us, the provider.
   
   This bill shows that Kris, a solar micro-generator who also happens to be the Owner/Operator of Park Power, used a total of 594 kWh for the month.
2. Energy Charges
   Kris joined the Solar Club awhile ago, when rates were slightly lower, so he’s got a fixed low export rate of $.0619 (6.19¢) per kWh. His total energy charges for 594 kWh were $36.77.
3. Regulated Charges
   These charges are regulated by the provincial government.
4. Transmission and Distribution Charges
   The Alberta Utilities Commission regulates transmission and distribution charges on behalf of the Alberta government. These charges are regulated to ensure Alberta has a safe infrastructure and that we all have reliable electricity service no matter what provider we’re buying it from. The money goes to distribution companies for distributing electricity throughout the province and maintaining the electricity infrastructure.
   
   Each month, your distribution company determines how much these charges will be based on factors like how much electricity you’re using. They share the amounts with us, and we add them to your bill. When you pay us, we take the money you paid for these two charges and pass it directly to the distribution company. We don’t apply any additional fees or mark-ups.
   
   Transmission and distribution charges will be the same amount for you no matter what provider you’re with. And when you add them together, they make up about 50% of your bill (or more). While we’d love to make these charges lower for you, that’s not one of the powers of Park Power—or any Alberta energy provider, for that matter. Transmission and distribution charges are the price we all pay to have reliable electricity service in Alberta.
5. Balancing Pool Charge
   The Balancing Pool is an organization that helps with the management of the electricity market on behalf of the Alberta government.
6. Admin Charge
   For electricity service, we charge a fixed admin fee of $7.25 per site per month. This covers the transactions we do to process your bill and makes it possible for us to share profits with our community partners.
7. Micro Generation Readings
   These are the measurements of the solar electricity you generate and put back into the grid. Kris generated 88 kWh for the grid this month.
8. Microgen Credits
   This is the money you get for the solar electricity you sell to the grid. Here, Kris got a credit of $5.45 for selling 88 kWh back to the grid at $.0619 (6.19¢) per kWh.
   
   If you’re on the high export Solar Club rate of 30¢ per kWh, your Microgen Credits could turn into a generous amount. For example, if you sold 200 kWh to the grid, this would amount to a $44 credit on your bill.
9. GST
   Add 5% GST to it all, and you’ve got your bill!

How to estimate your Park Power bill

To figure out how your energy costs would differ with Park Power, compare our rates above with the rates on your current provider’s bill in the Energy Charges/Retailer and MicroGeneration section. When you multiply your usage (imports and exports) by Solar Club Rates($0.XXXX/kWh or XX.XX cents/kWh) then you will have amounts for energy import charges and microgeneration credits. Compare that to the Energy Charges/Retailer Charges on your bill to see how your costs will compare.

Keep in mind that all of the Distribution/Delivery, Transmission, and all Government Regulated Charges will be the same with every provider.

We also encourage you to check out the Alberta Government Utilities Consumer Advocate Cost Comparison Tool. You can use this tool to compare us with the competitors.