Gas and electric fees set to rise for Brooks ratepayers in April

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 17, 2026.

Residents of Brooks have until the end of the month to send objections, concerns or support for the increase of a franchise fee for ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd., which supplies natural gas – a move that will impact ratepayers.

The utility company will file an application with the Alberta Utilities Commission requesting the acknowledgment of a new franchise fee of 22.5 per cent for the City of Brooks effective April 1, a slight increase to the current fee of 19.5 per cent.

According to the AUC, based on the average monthly residential consumption of natural gas, the average monthly residential ratepayers can expect to see fees increase to approximately $10.58.

Residents have until Jan. 29 to share objections or support with the city or to ACTO directly. Contact information has been posted on the City of Brooks website.

Information from public feedback, except for that designated confidential, will be provided as part of an upcoming commission proceeding and will become public record.

Additionally, FortisAlberta, which supplies electricity, has also filed an application with the AUC seeking approval to raise its municipal franchise fee for Brooks to 17 per cent, from 14.75 per cent, effective April 1.

According to the application summary submitted to AUC the average residential customer could see a monthly fee of $13.55 on their bills.

Residents also have the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed increase and have the same Jan. 29 deadline to send submissions sharing objections or in support of the proposed fee increase.

Franchise fees are payments municipalities receive from utility companies for letting them build, operate and maintain on municipally owned land, and also gives utility companies the right to be the only service provider in certain areas.

Fees are calculated and approved by the AUC based on a formula using variable and fixed prices of natural gas and electricity. The commission also sets a 20 per cent cap for distribution tariff charges for electricity and a 35 per cent cap for natural gas.

These fees are then added and applied to ratepayers and make up a small percentage of utility bills.