FAQ

Blue Mountain has been around for nearly 70 years now.  We started as a rural electrification association in 1952 serving rural agricultural customers and have grown to be the large, independent power co-op we are today.

Traditionally, rural industry and commercial customers only had one option for electric power distribution. Due to recent regulatory changes, and active pursuit of market agreement clarifications on our end, Blue Mountain Power Co-op won the legal right to offer rural commercial, industry, and oil & gas customers a choice for who they want to deliver their power.

Blue Mountain has the necessary resources and equipment to handle any size project. We carry a staff of skilled professionals with rigorous safety standards. Moreover, we have a proven history of completing projects on time and within budget.

Blue Mountain has a proven history of meeting its commitments. Many of our new industry customers are a result of referrals from other satisfied customers, happy with the results they have experienced by making Blue Mountain their choice.

As a non-profit organization Blue Mountain Power Co-op’s pricing philosophy is established at cost. We are committed to providing fair and affordable pricing. This commitment is reflected in our competitive Association Credit program designed to mitigate initial costs. BMPC’s monthly distribution charges are among the lowest in the province.  We offer a Regulated Rate Option (RRO), Stable Rate Contract and a Wholesale Rate Contract for lower monthly rates, so you can select the energy plan that works best for you. To learn more about our rates, navigate to our Energy Rates page.

To learn more about Blue Mountain Power Co-op, please call our office at 310-POWR (7697) or visit our Contact page to find how you can get in touch.

In the event of a power outage, please do the following:

1. Reset Your Breaker – The power loss may be a tripped circuit breaker. Simply reset your electrical panel or fuse box, which is either located in your home or near your property’s transformer pole.
2. Check the Outage List – Check our list of planned and unplanned outages to see if there is a known power outage in your area. If your outage isn’t listed, or you have additional information, please report it.
3. Report an Outage – Call Blue Mountain Power Co-op at 310-POWR (7697) to report your outage. The more details you provide us, the better. Be sure to have your Land Location or Account Number ready.

Your Land Description is based on the Alberta Township Survey (ATS) grid network which divides the province into equal-sized parcels of land. This information can be found on the second page of your power bill, listed direction directly under the Site ID. Your Account Number can be found in the top right corner of your power bill.

It may be helpful to have these written down in an accessible place or stored on your phone as we may request your Land Location or Account Number when you call to report a power outage.

Your main breaker is the on/off switch for the electricity in your entire home. If your meter is located on the outside of your home, this breaker will be found in your breaker panel.

If your breaker continues to trip after being reset, please call us at 310-POWR (7697).

There are several factors involved in determining the cost of a new service. Blue Mountain Power Co-op can provide a quote for your specific project with the most effective pricing. Contact us for a free quote or visit the Install Power page to get started.

Every electric service is given a unique 13-digit site ID number, which is required to install a meter. It can be found on your electric power bill at the top of the second page.

There are several factors that may influence the fluctuations on your power bill, including:

• Weather: Fluctuations in weather conditions can put significant demands on our homes’ heating and cooling systems. Hours of sunlight a day, temperatures, wind, and humidity can all affect how much power your home requires.
• Electrical Appliances and Devices: Have you recently purchased or upgraded any of your appliances? The number and type of appliances in your home can impact the amount of power you use. Knowing what to look for when purchasing appliances and how to use them efficiently can save you money in the long run.
• Living Habits: Small changes in living habits such as working from home, decorating for holidays, renovating or having house guests could be affecting your power bill. There are many ways you could also save on your power consumption.
• Your Home’s Characteristics: Depending on the age of your home, you may be losing more power to fluctuations in weather than you should be. Visit our Energy Savings page for tips on how to save on your energy consumption.

Transmission charges are associated with the cost of operating and maintaining the Alberta transmission system and cover the cost of moving electricity over high-voltage transmission lines to substations. The transmission charge on your power bill is a flow-through charge, meaning that Blue Mountain Power Co-op collects the payment on behalf of other parties.  

Within the province, transmission rates are set by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) and administered by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO). Distribution companies collect transmission charges by passing the costs on to retailers. Retailers, in turn, pass these transmission charges on to their customers or members.  

The transmission charge on your power bill is based on your consumption. It typically constitutes somewhere between 14% and 24% of your total bill. While Alberta has steadily increased transmission charges since 2004 to account for infrastructure expansion, you’re able to reduce your transmission charge by reducing your consumption. Visit our Energy Savings page to discover everyday tips to help lower your power bill. 

Distribution charges cover the cost of moving electric energy from transformers through local, lower-voltage lines that carry electricity to our members’ meters. Blue Mountain Power Co-op is responsible for building and maintaining these lines.

Distances between farms and homesteads in the country can be quite extensive. This requires maintenance on many miles of line and infrastructure to ensure the safe and efficient supply of energy to our members. 

Rural Electrification Associations have the unique advantage of setting our own distribution rates; our Board of Directors sets these on behalf of our members. Given that Blue Mountain Power Co-op is a member-owned cooperative, we have a long-standing history of significantly lower distribution rates than our investor-owned competitors.