The Average SaskPower Electricity Rates in Saskatchewan
How Does Electricity (SaskPower) Work in Saskatchewan?
The way electricity works in Saskatchewan is that 83% of electricity in Saskatchewan is produced from fossil fuels – 43% from natural gas, 40% from coal, and a small fraction of petroleum used in remote off-grid communities. Only 17% is produced from renewables, primarily hydroelectricity.
The Saskatchewan electricity market is much more heavily regulated than those of other provinces. Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel regulates the prices proposed by the energy retailers.
If the rate hikes are authorized, how much extra would I have to pay?
Typical residential customers will receive monthly hikes of $5 in 2022–2023 and $5 in 2023–2024, but typical agricultural customers will see monthly increases of $12 in 2022–2023 and $12 in 2023–2024.
There are four regulated energy providers in the province:
- SaskPower
- SaskEnergy (Natural Gas)
- Saskatoon Light & Power
- Swift Current Electricity Services
SaskPower generates most electricity in Saskatchewan, 80% of the total production. SaskPower bill has two components:
- Basic Monthly Charge: Costs of metering, distribution, and billing administration. It is a fixed regardless of how much electricity you consume.
- Energy Charge: Will vary depending on how much kWh electricity you consume.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of a SaskPower Electricity Bill?
There are two types of rate options available in Saskatchewan:
- Standard Rates: For individually metered residential premises, including apartment units, resort cottages, and domestic outbuildings. Standard SaskPower rates apply to these consumers.
- Diesel Rates: These rates are for individually metered residential premises, including apartment units and resort cottages supplied by diesel generation. You can use a certain amount of energy each month at a lower price. Once you exceed the threshold, the price goes up accordingly.
Here are some other factors that affect the cost of a SaskPower electricity bill:
- Threshold (In case of Diesel Rates)
- Type of property (Residential, Farm, Business, or Oil Fields)
- Transmission and distribution system
- Power plant costs
- Fossil fuel prices
- Weather conditions
- Regulations
- Seasons and location
- Load factor
- Power factor
- Cost of electricity itself
- Regulatory costs
- Taxes
What Are the Average Monthly SaskPower Electricity Rates in Saskatchewan?
The standard rates for city, town, village, and urban areas are different from rural areas. These rates are for individually metered residential premises, including apartment units, resort cottages and domestic out-buildings. Here’s the complete breakdown of SaskPower residential rates:
| Standard Rates
Effective January 1, 2024 |
City, town, village, and urban areas | Rural areas |
| Basic monthly charge | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| Energy charge (¢/kWh) | 14.895¢ | 14.895¢ |
| Federal Carbon Charge (¢/kWh) | 1.0736¢ | 1.736¢ |
*The rates herein defined are net and do not include any taxes or surcharges, which may lawfully be imposed by or at the request of any municipal, provincial or federal authority.
These rates are for individually metered residential premises, including apartment units and resort cottages supplied by diesel generation.
| Diesel Rates
Effective January 1, 2024 |
Cost |
| Basic monthly charge | $29.99 |
| First 650 kWh/month (¢/kWh) | 14.895¢ |
| Balance (¢/kWh) | 58.148¢ |
| Federal Carbon Charge (¢/kWh) | 1.0736¢ |
*The rates herein defined are net and do not include any taxes or surcharges, which may lawfully be imposed by or at the request of any municipal, provincial or federal authority. The minimum bill is the basic monthly charge. These do not include any taxes or surcharges.
Average Monthly SaskPower Electricity Rates Based on Usage in Saskatchewan
| Consumption (kWh) /month | Standard Rates (Urban) | Standard Rates (Rural) | Diesel Rates |
| 600 kWh | $95.81 | $95.81 | $95.81 |
| 750 kWh | $119.76 | $119.76 | $163.01 |
| 1000 kWh | $159.69 | $159.69 | $311.08 |
The Average Rates for Saskatchewan Water Bills
How Does Water Work in Saskatchewan?
The way water works in Saskatchewan is that the local water utilities deliver safe domestic water to your home and take care of the wastewater too. In return for these services, you pay an amount proportional to the usage in a month.
Different water utilities operate in the cities of Saskatchewan. SaskWater is Saskatchewan’s commercial Crown water utility that serves 68 communities and 10 rural municipalities. SaskWater provides water delivery service to municipalities and rural pipeline groups who then manage distribution and relationships with their residents and customers.
SaskWater’s rates are based on the costs of service for each different system. In Saskatoon, the rate structure consists of charges based on service and volume (volumetric charges).
You can expect to see the following two charges on your water bill:
- Service Charges: It is based on meter size and type of property. It also covers costs of billing, meter maintenance, and future meter replacement.
- Volumetric Charges: They are based on consumption and are designed to encourage conservation. It caters capital replacement of the water distribution and wastewater collection systems, roadway damage associated with the utility, and water and wastewater upgrades to serve redevelopment in existing core areas.
In addition to water charges, you also pay sewerage and infrastructure costs too.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Water?
Here are a few factors that affect the cost of water:
- Type of property (Residential, Multi-Unit Residential, or Commercial)
- Meter size
- Household members
- Seasonal usage
- Appliances
- Water treatment plant costs
- Cost of drawing water from the lakes
- Maintenance and upgrades to the water system
Average cost of water bill per month in Saskatchewan
| Meter Size | Monthly base charges for water & wastewater | Water charge per m3 | Sewer charge per m3 | Total cost
Based on monthly water consumption of 10.59m3 |
| 15mm (5/8″) & 20mm (3/4″) | $52.50 | $2.40 | $2.12 | $100.36 |
Most residential households have 15mm or 20mm meters.
Regina.ca (Feb 2024) & Saskatchewan.ca (Feb 2024)
The Average Natural Gas Rates in Saskatchewan
How Does Natural Gas Work in Saskatchewan?
The way natural gas works in Saskatchewan is that you can buy it from SaskEnergy or any other regulated natural gas retailer. Also, Saskatchewan is the third-largest natural gas producer in Canada. The market is becoming more competitive as new gas retailers are entering the market.
As Saskatchewan’s natural gas market has been deregulated for the last several years, customers have a choice in who supplies natural gas for their homes.
Here are some natural gas retailers in Saskatchewan:
- SaskEnergy
- Future Now Energy
- Just Energy
SaskEnergy oversees maintaining natural gas infrastructure and delivering natural gas to your home, regardless of your energy retailer. A natural gas retailer (or energy supplier) charges you for natural gas you use each month, or the natural gas supplied to you every month.
Still confused about how the supply and delivery thing works?
- Gas Delivery Service: Covers the cost of storing, transporting, and distributing natural gas to your home or business. It does not account for the actual cost of gas, just the cost of delivering the gas to you.
- Gas Supply Service: This is the cost of natural gas (or the Commodity Rate). You can buy it from SaskEnergy or any other 3rd party retailer.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Natural Gas?
Natural gas is traded in a competitive market where the sellers put gas on sale and the buyers (gas utility companies) bid for purchase. The prices vary throughout the year.
SaskEnergy and other natural gas retailers buy gas from the competitive market and supply it to you. But SaskEnergy alone transports and distributes it to the end consumer. If you choose SaskEnergy as your supplier, it does not mark up the cost of natural gas – you pay the same amount they pay.
Here are a few other factors that affect the cost of natural gas in Saskatchewan:
- Transmission and distribution service area
- Municipality
- Season (winter or summer)
- Delivery charge
- Usage
- Plan (Fixed or quarterly rate service)
What Are the Average Monthly Natural Gas Rates in Saskatchewan?
| Full Service
SaskEnergy |
Cost |
| Basic Monthly Charge | $26.50 |
| Delivery Charge | $0.1113 per m3 |
| Commodity Rate | $0.1264 per m3 ($3.20/GJ) |
| Delivery Service
SaskEnergy |
Cost |
| Basic Monthly Charge | $26.50 |
| Delivery Charge | $0.1113 per m3 |
| Commodity Rate | Gas Retailer Contract Price |
Average Monthly Natural Gas Rates Based on Usage in Saskatchewan
| Usage Per Month (m3) | Average Monthly Cost (@13.23¢/m3) |
| 250 | $87.40 |
| 400 | $123.94 |
| 550 | $160.47 |
*The following rates apply if your annual gas consumption is less than 10,000 m3.
The Average Internet Prices in Saskatchewan
How Does the Internet Work in Saskatchewan?
The way the internet works in Saskatchewan is that several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the province provide internet to the residents. You are charged based on the type of connection, internet speed, and bandwidth.
There are four popular types of internet connections available in Saskatchewan:
- DSL (5-45 Mbps)
- Cable (20-200 Mbps)
- Fiber-optic (50-1000 Mbps)
- Satellite (5-25 Mbps)
SaskTel is the leading full-service communications provider in Saskatchewan, with over 1.4 million customer connections, including 553,825 wireless accesses, 543,585 wireline network accesses, 225,125 Internet accesses, and 77,831 Max™ (TV) subscribers.
Other popular ISPs like VMedia also provide services through various mediums in some cities of Saskatchewan. 91% of the Saskatchewan residents use DSL, cable, and fiber, and only 2% use satellite internet.
As of June 2023, 81.5% of Saskatchewan households have high-speed internet—a 26.8% increase over four and a half years. Saskatchewan still has the lowest connectivity among the provinces, but there has been clear progress.
According to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Saskatchewan has the largest price disparity between urban and rural internet prices. The prices start from $50 and go up to $140 in the rural areas.
You can use the National Broadband Internet Service Availability Map by the Government of Canada to see which ISPs operate in your area.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of the Internet?
Here are the factors that affect the cost of internet in Saskatchewan:
- Location (urban or rural)
- Service provider (ISPs)
- Type of connection (DSL, cable, fiber-optic, or satellite)
- Speed and bandwidth
What Is the Average Cost of Internet Bills per Month in Saskatchewan?
According to the CRTC, the average person in Saskatchewan pays an average of $69.00 per month for a 50/10 Mbps service with unlimited monthly data transfer. Here are the average Internet costs in Saskatchewan based on type of connection and speed.
| Type of Internet | Mbps | Average Cost |
| DSL | 150 Mbps/ 75 Mbps | $70/month |
| Cable | 750 Mbps/ 100 Mbps | $85/month |
| Fiber-optic | 940 Mbps/ 500 Mbps | $105/month |
| Satellite | 10 Mbps | $44.97/month |
VMedia (Feb 2024) & Sasktel (Feb 2024)
The Average Cost of Cable TV in Saskatchewan
How Does Cable Work in Saskatchewan?
We all grew up watching our favorite shows on cable TV. But today, Saskatchewan cable companies are working harder to keep customers tuned in after a new CRTC report shows subscriptions flat lining and people moving towards IPTV and other streaming services.
The younger generation is more inclined towards the trending shows on Netflix, but for some millennials and generation x, legacy cable TV is still a thing. International channels rarely cover local news, and this is where cable TV comes in.
You can get a sneak peek into what’s happening in town by just turning on your TV. From local sports to breaking news, cable TV has a lot in store for you.
And it’s not that expensive, either.
SaskTel offers the cable package for as low as $40.00/month when bundled with Internet & wireless!
Many local cable TV operators are operating in Saskatchewan, offering various packages, prices, and features. Typically, you are charged based on how many basic and exclusive channels you opt for. If you want the channels to be in high definition (HD), the price will go up accordingly.
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Cable?
Legacy cable TV heavily depends on the physical hardware and infrastructure for uninterrupted services. Both can affect the cost of cable. Here are a few other factors that determine how much you’re going to pay for your favourite channels:
- Area of service
- External factors (local competition, downturn in the cable market, etc.)
- Local or state taxation and fee laws
- Costs of shows and broadcasts
- Cable prices
- Number of channels
- Type of channels (sports, international, local, news, entertainment, etc.)
- HD Channels
- VOD (Video on Demand) availability
What Are Some Affordable Alternatives to Cable?
Legacy cable means “cables,” and lots of them. If you don’t want to get into the hassle, here are a few affordable alternatives to cable:
- IPTV
- Satellite TV
- YouTube TV
- FuboTV
- Shaw TV
- CipherTV (AEBC)
- VMedia TV
- Telus Optik TV
Average Cost of Cable Bills per Month in Saskatchewan
Here are the average cable costs in Saskatchewan based on their type of plan:
| Type of cable plan | Average Cost |
| maxTV Standard
Over 50 channels and 1 set-top box with HD & PVR A variety of entertainment, news, music, and sports channels, including TSN and Sportsnet. |
$70/month |
| maxTV Must Haves
Over 80 channels and 1 set-top box with HD & PVR Everything from Standard and more, including Disney, HGTV, History, CNN, and The Golf Channel. |
$85/month |
| maxTV Next Level
Over 125 channels and 1 set-top box with HD & PVR Everything from Standard and more, including Disney, HGTV, History, CNN, NBA TV Canada, PBS Seattle, and The Golf Channel. |
$100/month |
| maxTV Fully Loaded
Over 165 channels and 1 set-top box with HD & PVR Everything from Standard and more, including Disney, HGTV, US Superstations, History, CNN, Nat Geo Wild, TLC, Discovery Science, and The Golf Channel. |
$145/month |
The Average Cost of Home Phones in Saskatchewan
How Do Home Phones Work in Saskatchewan?
The way home phones work in Saskatchewan is that many popular names like SaskTel, Primus, and Access offer home phone service. There is no Internet connection required to use a landline, and it even continues to work flawlessly in a power outage.
Many households have elderly who are more familiar with landlines than the all-new tech-savvy smartphones. It’s easier for them to make and receive calls. Some hearing aids, heart monitors, and home security systems also work directly with your phone line.
Although, more Saskatchewan residents are choosing to use mobile phones as their primary means of communication. 48.7% of the households in the providence still have landline telephone service.
Here are a few features you should look for in a home phone plan:
- Caller ID with name
- Remote voicemail access
- Call waiting with caller
- Caller ID block
- Voicemail
- Long-distance calling
- Smart Ring
What Are the Factors Affecting the Cost of Home Phones?
Home phones are still in the game as they offer perks that a digital phone or VoIP cannot match. The added features decide how much the service provider is going to charge you. Here are some of the factors that affect the cost of home phones:
- Number of countries included in the plan
- Added taxes or fees
- Added features like (Long-distance calling, 3-way calling, caller ID block, online account management, etc.)
- Voicemail
- Call waiting
What Is the Average Cost of Home Phones per Month in Saskatchewan?
Here are the average home phone costs in Saskatchewan based on their type of plan:
| Company Name | Plan and Inclusions | Rates |
| Sasktel | Unlimited local calling
A central point of contact for the whole household + Add-on Anytime North America bundle Unlimited free calling all across Canada and the US International rates Straight rate North America bundle Low per-minute calling all across Canada and the US International rates |
$21.54/mon.
As low as $0.03/min As low as $0.05/min |
| Primus.ca | Home Phone Plan – Unlimited local calling with 9 calling features included | Starting at $18.00/mo.* |
*** Phone activation, connection fees and other one time charges are not included in the rates above.
SaskTel (Feb 2024) & Primus.ca (Feb 2024)
The Average Utilities Cost in Saskatoon
| Utility | Average Monthly Cost |
| Electricity
1000 kWh/month |
$159.69 |
| Water
20 m3 |
$70.58 |
| Gas
400 m3 |
$123.94 |
| Internet
50/10 Mbps service with unlimited monthly data transfer |
$69.00 |
| Cable | $70.00 |
| Home Phone | $21.54 |
| Total average utilities cost in Saskatoon Gas not included |
$390.81 |
The Average Cost of Utilities Across Canada
| Province | Electricity | Water | Gas | Internet | Cable | Home Phone | Total Monthly Cost |
| Quebec | $199.74 | Included in hydro | $61.66 | $69 |
$30.24 |
$24.98 | $323.96 (gas not included) |
| Ontario | $102.09 | $90.40 | $328.93 | $64.00 | $49.00 | $34.00 | $339.49 (gas not included) |
| Alberta | $106 | $78 | $39.41 | $74 | $35 | $40 | $266.41 (electricity not included) |
| British Columbia | $187 | $244 | $86.48 | $75 | $23 | $43 | $572 (gas not included) |
| Manitoba | $113.00 | $66.40 | $98.00 | $67.00 | $89.00 | $47 | $382.40 (gas not included) |
| Saskatchewan | $210.15 | $97.06 | $123.94 | $69.00 | $70.00 | $21.54 | $467.75 (gas not included) |
| PEI | $147 | $105 | $363 | $72 | $35.95 | $23 | $382.95 (gas not included) |
| New Brunswick | $120 | $79 | $130 | $70 | $52 | $23 | $344 (gas not included) |
| Nova Scotia | $195 | $108 | $179 | $71 | $25 | $21 | $420 (gas not included) |
Conclusion
Utilities ensure that your household functions properly and remains comfortable, but the cost is recurring and variable. Knowing average household utility costs can help you reduce your usage and save tons of money at the end of the year.
The good level of life in Saskatchewan is one of the factors luring immigrants to the province. Are you moving to Saskatchewan soon? Check out 7 things to know when moving to Saskatchewan.
