Your First Month of Bills as an Edmonton Homeowner
The mortgage payment is the number everyone plans for. The bills around it are the ones that make the first few months feel tighter than the spreadsheet promised — partly because of what they cost, and partly because of when they arrive.
The short answer
EPCOR bills water, wastewater and drainage, and City of Edmonton waste collection arrives on the same bill. Electricity and natural gas are competitive in Alberta — do nothing and you land on the default rate, which for power is the Rate of Last Resort and for gas the Default Rate Tariff. Property tax arrives annually unless you join the Property Tax Monthly Payment Plan.
Key takeaways
- Water, wastewater, drainage and waste collection arrive as one EPCOR bill, not three.
- Electricity and gas retail are competitive here — choosing nothing is itself a choice.
- The Rate of Last Resort replaced the Regulated Rate Option at the start of 2025.
- Property tax is annual by default; the monthly plan spreads it.
- Start utilities a few business days before possession, not on the day.
Who this guide is for
New Edmonton homeowners, and anyone moving here from a province where the utility setup works differently — which is most of them.
Water, wastewater and waste
EPCOR provides water and wastewater services. Drainage is billed there too, and waste collection — a City of Edmonton service — arrives on the same bill. So it is one account rather than three, which is the part that surprises people who expect a separate City invoice.
Set it up a few business days before possession. Doing it on the day is how people end up spending their first evening on hold.
Electricity and natural gas
Alberta's retail energy market is competitive. You either choose a retailer and a plan, or you do not — and if you do not, you are served at the default rate for your area.
- Electricity: the Rate of Last Resort, which replaced the Regulated Rate Option on 1 January 2025 and is approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in two-year periods.
- Natural gas: the Default Rate Tariff, also AUC-approved, and able to move month to month.
Neither is a penalty and neither is a bargain. They are the rate you get for not deciding. Fixed plans buy predictability and floating plans buy exposure, and which is right depends on how much a surprise bill would hurt.
Your distributor — the wires and the pipes — is fixed by your address and is not something you choose. Only the retail half is competitive, which is why switching retailers never involves anyone digging.
Property tax
The bill is annual, and if you are not escrowing it through your lender it lands as one number. the Property Tax Monthly Payment Plan spreads it across the year instead, which is worth setting up early rather than in the month it is due.
One thing to expect in your first year: the assessment your tax is based on is the City's, not your purchase price, and the two can differ noticeably.
Insurance, and the things with no bill
Home insurance is usually annual or monthly, and it is a condition of your mortgage rather than an option. Beyond it sit the obligations that arrive without an invoice — sidewalks are required to be cleared of snow and ice as quickly as possible, and that one is enforced.
Then the maintenance fund that nobody enjoys building: furnace servicing, a roof one day, the water heater that will fail on a long weekend. Renting quietly covered all of it. Ownership does not.
Internet, and the thing most likely to slip
Not a utility, not regulated, and the appointment most likely to land after your possession date. Book it early — earlier than feels necessary.
Ryan McCann
Ryan is an Edmonton-based REALTOR® with MaxWell Polaris and the person behind Padster. He's helped over 2,200 clients in the Edmonton area buy and sell their home.
Contact Ryan today at 780-964-8445 to talk through your next step.
Last reviewed 20 August 2026. General information for Edmonton-area buyers — not individualized financial, mortgage, legal or tax advice. Mortgage rules, government programs and market figures change; confirm current details with a licensed mortgage professional, an Alberta real-estate lawyer, or the relevant government source before making a decision. Padster is not a brokerage.
Sources
- EPCOR — Set up water and waste services
- Utilities Consumer Advocate (Alberta) — Rate of Last Resort
- Utilities Consumer Advocate (Alberta) — Default rates
Your next step
Budget the whole number
Start from what a home costs you monthly, then add the bills around it.
Search Edmonton by monthly paymentFrequently asked questions
Who provides water in Edmonton?
EPCOR provides water and wastewater services, and drainage is billed there as well. City of Edmonton waste collection also appears on the EPCOR bill, so it is a single account.
What is the Rate of Last Resort?
Alberta's default electricity rate for anyone who has not chosen a competitive plan. It replaced the Regulated Rate Option on 1 January 2025 and is approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in two-year periods.
Do I have to choose an energy retailer in Alberta?
No. If you do nothing you are served at the default rate — the Rate of Last Resort for electricity and the Default Rate Tariff for natural gas. Choosing a plan is optional, not required.
Can I pay Edmonton property tax monthly?
Yes, through the City's Property Tax Monthly Payment Plan, which spreads the annual bill across the year. Set it up before the bill is due rather than after.
How far ahead should I set up utilities?
A few business days before possession. Same-day setup is possible but leaves no room if anything needs sorting out.
