Direct Energy Regulated Services said July 31, 2026, that the default natural gas rate for August 2026 will be $1.729 per GJ [1].
This rate adjustment affects residents and businesses within the ATCO Gas North and South service territories who have not selected a competitive energy supplier. Because these customers rely on the default rate, any fluctuation directly impacts their monthly utility expenditures during the transition to late summer.
The new rate of $1.729 per GJ [1] represents an increase from the July 2026 rate, which was set at $1.595 per GJ [1]. The company said it based this figure on a market price for August supplies of $1.509 per GJ [1].
Additionally, the company included an adjustment of $0.22 per GJ [1]. This specific figure serves as a correction for July and prior months to align costs with actual market expenditures.
The announcement originated from Calgary, Alberta [2]. The company said it provides these updates monthly to ensure transparency for regulated consumers who remain on the default pricing tier rather than signing fixed-term contracts with competitive providers.
These regulated rates are subject to market volatility and the specific pricing mechanisms established for the Alberta energy market. Customers in the affected ATCO territories may see these changes reflected on their next billing cycle starting in August.
“The default natural gas rate for August 2026 will be $1.729 per GJ”
The increase in the default rate reflects both current market pricing and a retroactive adjustment for previous months. For consumers in Alberta, this highlights the price volatility inherent in regulated energy plans compared to fixed-rate contracts, as default users absorb market shifts and historical cost corrections directly.
