ENMAX

In 1904, The City of Calgary built its own electric plant when its contract with a private supplier ended. The City of Calgary Electric System began operating on December 2, 1905. In 1996, City Council approved a proposal to make The City of Calgary Electric System a wholly owned subsidiary Enmax Corporation commencing on January 1, 1998. This subsidiary and an affiliated retailer, "Enmax Energy", was incorporated on January 1, 1998. January 1, 2001, Enmax Energy entered the restructured, deregulated electric marketplace in Alberta.

Enmax Energy provides the "Easymax" option for residential and small business customers. Easymax is an electricity and gas energy plan for residential and small business customers.

Enmax Encompass Inc., a subsidiary of Enmax Corporation, provides billing and customer care services to residential and small commercial customers. Enmax Encompass is also contracted to perform customer service, water meter reading and billing services to The City of Calgary and other municipalities across the province.

Enmax Envision Inc., a subsidiary of Enmax Corporation, provided commercial high-speed data and internet services primarily in Calgary. Enmax sold its Envision subsidiary to Shaw Communications Inc. in April 2013 for $225 Million.

ENMAX Corporation and Emera Inc. announced a definitive agreement on March 25, 2019 in which Emera agreed to sell to ENMAX its interest in Emera Maine, its regulated electric transmission and distribution company in Maine. The purchase completed March 25, 2020. Emera Maine was renamed and rebranded Versant Power in May 2020.

Enmax Power regulated operations

ENMAX Power Corporation (EPC), owns and operates electricity transmission and distribution assets that serve the Calgary area.

It also delivers project execution for customer infrastructure in areas such as power infrastructure, light rail transit and commercial and residential development.

Enmax Power is regulated by the Alberta Utilities Commission. Covering 1,089 square kilometers in Calgary and surrounding areas, ENMAX Power’s system consists of approximately 335 km of transmission wires and 8,629 km of distribution lines in Calgary and surrounding areas, with 40 high voltage and three lower voltage distribution substations powering residences and businesses within Calgary city limits.

The Regulated Rate Option (RRO)

The RRO is the default option if households and small businesses in Calgary do not choose an energy plan with a retail supplier. Prior to 2006 the price of electricity with the RRO would fluctuate quarterly or yearly. In July 2006 the Province of Alberta introduced new provincial regulations that meant that the Regulated Rate Option (RRO) for Calgary would fluctuate monthly.

"Prices change with the energy market, depending on changing weather, seasonal consumption demands and fuel costs such as natural gas prices. A new price for the RRO will be announced each month as these variations are incorporated in the price."

Controversy

In 2011, the CEO of Enmax, Gary Holden, resigned after controversial handling of travel expenses that violated the company's ethical guidelines.