Energy Market Educators

A proven leader in Alberta’s energy market fueling growth

Founded in 1978, UTILITYnet has grown into a leader in Alberta’s competitive energy market, providing electricity, natural gas, and internet services across the province. With a foundation in billing validation and data management services, the company initially catered to oil and gas clients, some of whom remain customers. Over the years, UTILITYnet has expanded its reach, supporting 40 Community Energy Marketers under its umbrella, ensuring high-quality service, innovation, and customer empowerment.

The power of agility

Managing UTILITYnet’s growth has been a complex but rewarding journey. The company operates 40 Community Energy Marketers across Alberta, each acting as a retail brand with which customers interact directly. Darren Chu, Managing Director, explains that the primary challenge has been ensuring consistent, high-quality service across all brands. “We handle all the billing, invoicing, data management, and customer care for our retailers. Scaling while maintaining that level of service has been critical.”

Christie Murnaghan, Director of Operations, elaborates on the difficulty of training and supporting the expansive sales force. “It’s like running a classroom with 40 students. They must have the knowledge and confidence to represent the brand as we would. It’s challenging, but we take pride in our education efforts.”

These hurdles have pushed UTILITYnet to leverage its nimbleness as a small company to stay ahead of industry trends. Murnaghan emphasizes the company’s adaptability: “We don’t have layers of bureaucracy like the big players. We can walk down the hallway, discuss an idea, and implement it quickly.”

Chu agrees that competitors require extensive legal and managerial approvals before executing changes. “We know what we want to achieve and just get it done,” he says. “That allows us to be innovative and stay ahead of market shifts.”

Driving solar adoption in Alberta

One of UTILITYnet’s most significant advances is the Solar Club™, which was launched in 2019. This program was designed to help customers with rooftop solar maximize their return on investment. “We offer a flexible rate structure, allowing customers to switch between high and low rates depending on the season,” Chu explains. “This ensures they get the best value for their energy exports to the grid.”

The program has been a game-changer for UTILITYnet’s customers and Alberta’s solar industry. “Other retailers have copied this model,” Murnaghan says. “Anyone offering a solar-specific retail plan today is following our lead.”

The impact of the Solar Club is tangible. In 2024 alone, UTILITYnet distributed $180,000 in cash back payments to participating customers, with the overall value to members reaching $14.9 million. “For the first time our customers are collectively net positive based on exports alone,” Chu says. “Our program has made solar adoption affordable and viable in Alberta.”

Beyond financial incentives, the Solar Club also empowers consumers by providing greater control over their energy consumption. By allowing customers to move between different rates, the program ensures they can maximize their savings and return on investment. This flexibility has been a major driver of solar adoption across the province, encouraging homeowners, farmers, and businesses to invest in sustainable energy solutions.

Another key aspect of the Solar Club’s success is its ability to drive community-based environmental change. With more people opting for solar energy, Alberta has seen an increase in distributed generation, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. This shift benefits customers and strengthens the province’s overall energy resilience.

Looking ahead, UTILITYnet is expanding the cash back initiative to natural gas customers. “No one else in the industry is doing this right now,” Chu says. “By including electricity and natural gas, we’re staying ahead of the competition.”

Additionally, UTILITYnet is exploring new ways to integrate technology with solar energy. By leveraging advanced data analytics and real-time monitoring, the company aims to provide even more tailored energy solutions to its customers. “We want to help customers optimize their energy usage in real time,” Murnaghan explains. This means ensuring that every kilowatt of energy is put to its best possible use.”

As Alberta transitions toward renewable energy, UTILITYnet’s Solar Club is poised to play an even bigger role in shaping the future of distributed solar power. “This is just the beginning,” Chu says. “We’re committed to keeping solar energy accessible, affordable, and rewarding for Albertans.”

Carbon credits and consumer power

The Alberta energy market is evolving rapidly, and UTILITYnet plays a crucial role in shaping its future. One major trend is UTILITYnet’s Carbon Offset Credit Platform, which allows solar customers to sell their carbon credits to large emitters. “Alberta operates on a compliance market model,” Chu explains. “These credits help offset emissions for large industrial players, further incentivizing renewable adoption.”

Another significant trend is the rise of decentralized energy production. As more Albertans invest in rooftop solar, battery storage, and smart home technology, the traditional centralized power grid is being challenged. UTILITYnet is actively working to support this transition by providing energy solutions that integrate seamlessly with modern consumer needs, ensuring customers can manage their energy use efficiently while contributing to overall grid stability.

Alberta’s push to move customers off the Rate of Last Resort (ROLR) and onto competitive rates is reshaping the market. “There are still 400,000 Albertans on the ROLR, and the government wants to transition them to competitive plans,” Murnaghan says. “We’re seeing a scramble among competitors to attract those customers with low-rate offers.”

The deregulated market also increases volatility, as wholesale energy prices fluctuate more than ever. UTILITYnet addresses these challenges by offering pricing structures and rate plans that protect consumers from sudden price spikes, ensuring affordability and stability in an unpredictable market.

UTILITYnet has been a strong advocate for consumer-friendly reforms. “We were instrumental in pushing for changes to how the regulated rate is priced,” Chu says. “Without us, the competitive market would be drastically different.”

By continuously evolving and responding to industry shifts, UTILITYnet ensures that Alberta’s energy market remains competitive, transparent, and beneficial for consumers in the long run.

Knowledge is power

A key pillar of UTILITYnet’s philosophy is customer education. “We provide transparency through detailed invoices, blogs, and newsletters,” Chu says. “When there are major shifts in the industry, we ensure our customers understand what’s happening and why.”

The company also exposed high local access fees in Calgary, generating widespread media attention and prompting regulatory discussions. “Transparency is critical,” Murnaghan says. “We want our customers to be informed and in control of their choices.”

Beyond education, UTILITYnet is deeply committed to community engagement. Through its flagship brand, Spot Power, the company runs the Spot Cares Program, donating 10% of its profits to charities. In 2024, the Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society received $80,000, highlighting UTILITYnet’s dedication to making a tangible impact. “We’ve contributed about $800,000 to charities across Alberta,” Chu says. “We’re not just in business for profit—we believe in giving back.”

Solar Club members are also encouraged to contribute. “We ask customers to donate to a food bank or charity of their choice when they enroll,” Murnaghan says. “It’s about fostering a culture of giving and reinforcing the value of community support.”

By staying at the forefront of industry trends and consumer advocacy, UTILITYnet is not just keeping up with changes in Alberta’s energy market but actively shaping the future of energy consumption, accessibility, and social responsibility in the province.

Diversity, inclusion, and impact

As UTILITYnet approaches its 50th anniversary in 2028, its goals remain ambitious. “We want to expand to 50 Energy Marketers by then,” Chu says. “We will continue to be a consumer-first voice in the industry, advocating for fair competition and transparency.”

UTILITYnet’s journey is a genuine David vs. Goliath story in Alberta’s energy sector. Competing against multinational retailers, the company continues to focus on local, customer-first service. Operating everything from its small office in Calgary’s Inglewood neighborhood, UTILITYnet manages billing, data, customer care, and in-house marketing. “When customers call us, they’re speaking to someone in Alberta who understands what’s happening in the province—not an outsourced call center in another country,” Chu emphasizes.

The company remains a family business. “UTILITYnet was founded by my mother, Madeline Low, in 1978,” Chu says. “She was a pioneer in a male-dominated industry, operating independently for a long time before our second founder, Nick Clark, joined in 1994. As a racialized woman in an industry traditionally dominated by white men, she helped pave the way for greater diversity in the sector.”

That legacy of inclusion remains central to the company today. “Seventy-five percent of our staff are women, and 60% are from racialized backgrounds,” Murnaghan says. “We operate like a family, and that’s reflected in how we treat our team and our customers.”

UTILITYnet may be the “little guy” compared to its corporate competitors, but it continues to significantly impact Alberta’s energy landscape. “We’re not just keeping up—we’re leading the charge on fair competition, innovation, and customer empowerment,” Chu says.

At a Glance

Who: UTILITYnet
What: A provider of energy management and technology solutions, delivering electricity, natural gas, green energy, solar services, high-speed Internet, and portable WiFi to consumers and industries.
Where: Alberta, Canada
Website: www.UTILITYnet.net