Your Wires Owner 

Your Wires Owner (WO) delivers electricity, maintains the network, responds to power outages, and reads your meter. They are also responsible for calculating the charges associated with these services. On your bill, electricity charges are listed under Delivery Charges and are referred to as:

• Distribution
• Transmission
• Rate Rider(s) Charge (if applicable)
• Local Access Fees (where applicable)

*The Rate Rider(s) Charge is listed with your delivery charges. Rate riders are attributable to the meter or site address, as approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC).

What is a Wires Owner (WO)?

A Wires Owner (WO) is the operator of the wires that distribute electricity to your home or business and can operate in one of two ways. The WO can either own and operate the wires, or they can contract their services.

Your WO is responsible for installing, maintaining and reading your electricity meter to measure your consumption. They provide consumption and billing data to your Retailer to calculate your electricity bill.

The WO operates and maintains a Wires Service Trouble Line for customers. with concerns about such things as fallen lines, power outages, etc. Customers should contact their WO to respond and fix problems with their wires.

Each WO is regulated. Their rates and terms and conditions of service are approved by a regulator. The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) is the regulator for most large WOs in Alberta. Municipally-owned WOs are currently regulated by their City Councils if the WO does not have an affiliated company that offers service outside the municipality. WOs owned by Rural Electrification Associations (REA) are currently regulated by their REA Board of Directors.