Meta announced a $13-billion AI data center project in Sturgeon County, just northeast of Edmonton. A new report by the Pembina Institute projects that between 2027 and 2031, residential electricity bills in Alberta could rise by $267 to $462 per year (a 15% to 25% increase) due to grid pressures. For at least its first year of operation, the data center will draw power directly from the Alberta electricity grid—using almost as much power as the city of Calgary.

As summer winds down, 8760 Expense Management looks back at an August filled with energy market updates, technology news, business insights, and community involvement across Alberta. Here's a quick look at what happened this month.

Many Albertans pay more than they need to on their electricity bills without realizing it. If you see terms like "Regulated Rate" or “Rate of Last Resort” on your power bill, you might be stuck paying a minimum of 12.01¢ per kWh. This rate is often higher than what you could get by switching to other natural gas and electricity providers in Alberta.