17.56°C Vancouver

Jan 2, 2025 4:03 PM - The Canadian Press

New year brings new Alberta taxes, electricity 'rate of last resort'

Share On
new-year-brings-new-alberta-taxes-electricity-rate-of-last-resort
The rate is set at about 12 cents per kilowatt hour until 2027. It's meant to shield against price spikes, as the previous option fluctuated from month to month.

Alberta's electricity ``rate of last resort''starts today, replacing the province's previous default rate forconsumers who don't have a contract.

The rate is set at about 12 cents per kilowatt hour until 2027. It's meant to shield against price spikes, as the previous option fluctuated from month to month.

Retailers must confirm with customers whether they want to sign on to a competitive rate, which can be much lower.

Albertans also start paying today a tax on vaping products to fall in line with existing federal taxes.

The governments say the tax is meant to discourage vaping,especially by young people.

Early in the new year, Alberta plans to impose a $200 registration tax on electric vehicles. The move is meant to recoup what electric vehicle drivers don't pay in fuel taxes.

An exact start date for that tax has yet to be announced.

Latest news

AlbertaMay 29, 2026

Warm temperatures raise Bow River levels, High Streamflow Advisory issued in Banff

Rapid snowpack melt caused by warm weather in Banff and surrounding mountain regions has pushed water levels higher along the Bow River, prompting the Town of Banff to issue a High Streamflow Advisory. Municipal officials said several low-lying pathways and riverbank areas have already been flooded as water levels continue to rise. According to the advisory, the Bow River could rise by an additional 30 centimetres by Friday if warm temperatures persist. The advisory applies to areas from upstream of Banff to the Ghost Reservoir. Lake Louise RCMP and Parks Canada have also issued public safety
BCMay 29, 2026

B.C. Conservatives to choose new leader Saturday as party faces post-Rustad crossroads

The B.C. Conservatives are set to announce a new party leader on Saturday in Vancouver, concluding a six-month leadership race triggered by John Rustad’s resignation following internal disputes and caucus defections. The final candidates are former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, political commentator Caroline Elliott, former MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, MLA Peter Milobar and entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer. The next leader will take over as Premier David Eby’s NDP government faces declining poll numbers, a development political analysts say could reshape British Columbia’s political lands
IndiaMay 29, 2026

AAP takes early lead in Punjab municipal election results

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party appeared headed for a strong showing in Punjab’s municipal elections as vote counting continued Thursday across the state. According to results available by 6 p.m. local time, the Aam Aadmi Party had won 880 wards and was leading in several others. Congress was in second place with 354 ward victories as of 5 p.m., while the Shiromani Akali Dal had secured 175 wards and the Bharatiya Janata Party had won 146 wards. Independent candidates won 245 wards. In Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s constituency of Dhuri, the Aam Aadmi Party won 20 of 21 seats, according to the
canada-enters-technical-recession-after-second-straight-quarterly-gdp-decline
CanadaMay 29, 2026

Canada enters technical recession after second straight quarterly GDP decline

Canada’s economy contracted for a second consecutive quarter, officially placing the country in a technical recession for the first time since 2020. According to new data released Friday by Statistics Canada, real gross domestic product declined at an annualized rate of 0.1 per cent during the first quarter of 2026. The economy had already posted a 1 per cent decline in the fourth quarter of 2025. Economists generally define a technical recession as two straight quarters of negative economic growth. Statistics Canada said increased gold imports and a slowdown in the oil and gas sector during
four-arrested-after-alleged-200-000-casino-fraud-scheme-in-vancouver
BCMay 28, 2026

Four arrested after alleged $200,000 casino fraud scheme in Vancouver

Four people have been arrested in Vancouver following an investigation into an alleged casino cheating scheme that police say defrauded a local casino of more than $200,000. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia said the arrests were made May 5, one day after investigators were alerted to suspected cheating activity at a Vancouver casino. The investigation began after the Independent Gambling Control Office identified irregularities during casino play, according to a police statement. Police said two men and two women were arrested and later released pending charge a

Related News