August 2026 at 8760 Expense Management: Energy, Business & Community Updates

August brought a bit of everything for 8760: higher Alberta home electricity rates, a busy phone launch season, new resources for business energy buyers, a dealership payments project, and several days on Alberta golf courses supporting local causes.

For business leaders watching costs, the month had a clear theme. Energy, payments, and technology decisions are still moving fast, and small choices can have a real impact on budgets. Here’s what changed in August 2026, what 8760 shared, and what’s coming next.

Alberta home electricity rates moved higher in August from 8760 Expense Management

On the Home Energy side, electricity rates saw modest increases across most fixed terms compared with July.

The 1-year fixed electricity rate increased by 0.30¢, reaching 7.38¢/kWh. The 5-year fixed electricity rate increased by 0.70¢, reaching 9.78¢/kWh.

That’s not a dramatic jump, but it’s enough to matter for households and small operators that keep a close eye on monthly bills. It also shows why rate timing still deserves attention, especially when fixed-term decisions can affect costs well beyond the current billing cycle.

For larger organizations, rate movement on the residential side can also be a useful signal. It doesn’t tell the full story for commercial contracts, but it does point to broader price pressure and the value of reviewing usage, contract renewal dates, and exposure to market swings.

8760 continued to share rate updates through 8760.ca so customers could track changes and compare available options. The main takeaway from August was simple: fixed prices moved up, and waiting can change the math.

This content is for general information only and should not be treated as financial advice. Energy buying decisions should be assessed against usage, contract terms, risk tolerance, and current market options.

Tech season picked up with Samsung, Google, and Apple

August was also a busy month for mobile technology.

Samsung had already launched its latest foldable lineup, including the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8. Google followed with the new Pixel 11 lineup. Apple was also set to announce its latest devices on September 9, 2026, making late summer a key window for device planning.

For consumers, new phones are often about cameras, screens, and battery life. For businesses, the conversation is more practical.

A device refresh can affect:

• Field team productivity

• App compatibility

• Security updates

• Mobile device management policies

• Repair and replacement costs

• Carrier plan usage

• Employee downtime

  
  

The big question isn’t whether a new phone looks impressive. It’s whether the upgrade makes sense across a fleet.

For example, a business with staff using older phones may be dealing with shorter battery life, slower performance, weaker support for newer apps, or more frequent repair tickets. In that case, a planned refresh can reduce friction. By contrast, a team already using recent devices may get limited value from replacing hardware too soon.

8760 published a full breakdown of Google’s new lineup for teams weighing that exact decision: Unboxing the new Google Pixel 11 lineup and whether it’s worth the upgrade.

The timing matters because tech launches tend to create a short planning window. Once new models arrive, older models may drop in price, carrier offers may change, and internal support teams may need to update approved device lists.

That’s where business planning comes in. A smart review looks at the full cost of the device, not just the upfront price. It includes accessories, protection plans, support time, trade-in value, warranties, and the cost of staff using outdated equipment.

For August, the practical point was clear: with the Samsung Galaxy foldables already out, Google’s Pixel 11 lineup now on the table, and Apple’s announcement coming in September, businesses had good reason to review mobile device upgrades before fall procurement decisions locked in.

8760 Expense Management shared a new guide for Alberta’s deregulated energy market

8760’s Energy Management team also published a guide for Alberta business owners navigating the deregulated energy market.

The guide focuses on how to choose the right electricity retailer, secure competitive pricing, and protect against market swings. It’s especially relevant for organizations with high usage, multiple locations, or renewal dates coming up in the next several months.

Alberta’s deregulated market gives businesses choice, but choice can also create confusion. Retailers may offer different contract lengths, fixed and floating products, risk options, and terms that look similar on the surface but behave very differently over time.

For CFOs and owners, the issue often comes down to predictability.

A fixed rate can make budgeting easier, but it may not always be the lowest-cost path. A floating rate can track market movement more closely, but it can also create more bill volatility. Some organizations may prefer layered purchasing or a blend of products, depending on load profile and risk appetite.

8760’s guide covers what to review before signing, including:

• Contract start and end dates

• Retailer fees and pass-through charges

• Usage patterns across sites

• Fixed versus floating exposure

• Renewal timing

• Exit clauses

• Billing clarity

• Risk management options

  
  

The guide also speaks to hedging against market volatility. That can be a major topic for businesses where energy is a large operating cost, especially in manufacturing, agriculture, industrial services, hospitality, and multi-site retail.

Readers can view the full article here: Deregulated Alberta energy market guide for choosing the right electricity retailer.

For teams working on annual budgets, August was a useful reminder to check contract dates early. Waiting until a renewal deadline can limit negotiating time and leave fewer options on the table.

This is where 8760 Expense Management fits into the bigger picture. Energy contracts, telecom plans, merchant fees, and other recurring costs can quietly drift over time. A regular review helps catch those changes before they become part of the baseline.

Payments work with Bannister Automotive Group focused on dealership fees

8760’s Card Acceptance team also worked with Bannister Automotive Group, one of Western Canada’s well-known automotive networks, on payment processing across 20 dealerships.

The project focused on reducing transaction fee pressure and upgrading point-of-sale infrastructure using Clover POS systems.

For dealerships, payment acceptance can be more complex than it looks from the outside. Vehicle deposits, service work, parts purchases, warranty transactions, and finance office payments can all flow through different parts of the business. Different transaction types can also carry different costs.

That makes merchant fees easy to overlook. A dealership may focus on sales volume, gross margin, inventory turns, and financing terms, while processing fees sit quietly in the background. Over time, those fees can add up.

8760’s related article explains how dealerships can avoid overpaying and what to review in merchant processing statements: Credit card processing for dealerships and how to avoid overpaying on fees.

The article is built around a practical point: processing statements can be hard to read, and small differences in pricing structure can lead to meaningful cost changes at scale.

A typical review may look at:

• Effective processing rate

• Card mix and transaction types

• Interchange and assessment charges

• Monthly fees

• Terminal and software costs

• Chargeback handling

• Batch and gateway fees

• Contract terms

  
  

For multi-location groups, consistency matters too. When locations use different terminals, fee structures, or reporting setups, finance teams can spend more time piecing together what’s happening.

The Bannister Automotive Group work gave 8760 a strong real-world example of how Card Acceptance Services can support dealerships with payment infrastructure and cost review. For automotive groups, the bigger lesson is to treat merchant processing like any other major supplier category. It should be reviewed regularly, measured clearly, and matched to how the business actually takes payment.

Community support continued across Alberta golf events

Away from rate charts, phones, and payment terminals, 8760 also spent part of August on the course supporting community initiatives across Alberta.

The team took part in the Tim Hortons Children’s Ranch Golf Tournament in Canmore, the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton, and the 32nd Annual Spirit of Caring Golf Classic.

Each event supported causes tied to the community, including pediatric healthcare, youth development, and women in sports.

Golf tournaments can be easy to view as simple summer outings, but these events often play a real role in fundraising. They bring together local businesses, donors, volunteers, athletes, and community groups in a setting where support can turn into funding and awareness.

For 8760, the August events reflected values that show up outside day-to-day service work. The company’s news page includes more on its community involvement and values: 8760 news and values.

The causes supported in August were broad but connected by a common thread: helping people access better opportunities, care, and support close to home.

What August’s updates mean for the months ahead

August’s roundup points to a busy fall.

Energy rates moved higher in Alberta, which makes contract timing and usage review more important. Major phone makers pushed new devices into the market, giving businesses a reason to revisit mobile fleet plans. 8760 released guidance for companies buying energy in a deregulated market. Its Card Acceptance team worked with a major automotive group to improve payment infrastructure and fee visibility. The team also supported Alberta community events tied to healthcare, youth, and sport.

For leaders planning Q4 and 2027 budgets, the common thread is cost control. Not cost cutting for the sake of it, but careful review of the recurring expenses that sit inside everyday operations.

That includes Large Commercial Energy, Electricity and Natural Gas Rates, Card Acceptance Services, and technology planning around the Pixel 11, Samsung Galaxy devices, and future device upgrades.

The best next step is a simple one: review what renews soon.

Check energy contract dates. Look at mobile fleet age and support status. Pull merchant processing statements. Compare what changed over the summer with what’s planned for the fall.

August showed that small rate increases, new device launches, and payment fee structures can all carry budget impact. Catching those details early gives businesses more room to make calm, informed decisions before year-end pressure sets in.