Utility Network and Partners Inc. (UTILITYnet) was launched by Madeline Low in 1978 as an electricity data management company focused on providing services to Alberta Oil and Gas companies. Since then, the company has seen over four decades of Alberta’s energy market. Together, Madeline and business partner Nick Clark have combined their skills and passions to make UTILITYnet the successful business it is today.
The growth and success of UTILITYnet has been based on innovation, accuracy in the data management process and the willingness to continue to invest in new customer retail ideas, products and self-retail services.
When Alberta’s electricity and natural gas markets deregulated, we created an Energy Marketer program which offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and municipalities to enter the market to offer Albertans simple, local, and fairly priced energy.
The core belief of our company is simple. “Be different”. When we entered Alberta’s deregulated market, we knew we wanted to be different than the large Regulated Rate Utilities that dominated the market. We knew we wanted to be better.
Here’s the difference - it is all about being innovative, competitive, independent, and responsible. We do not rely on government subsidies nor guaranteed profit margins which some Alberta utilities have become comfortably reliant on. Most importantly, profits on the sale of energy are kept and re-invested in local communities across the province.
We are focused on empowering individuals, businesses as well as community ventures all over Alberta to become Energy Marketers. With UTILITYnet providing all the tools necessary to compete in the market, our Energy Marketers have been able to focus on what they do best, selling electricity, natural gas, and green energy service to consumers at prices often below what the big utilities are offering.
Collectively, these Energy Marketers have become the People’s Utility. They are offering more than just lower prices, they are focused on customer care, on education, on unique, innovative services, and on uncomplicating the complexities of buying energy.
Here in Alberta, buying energy should be simple, hassle free and priced fairly. We understand the market and we have taken a different approach to providing retailing services.
Made for Albertans by Albertans: UTILITYnet has roots in Alberta dating back to 1978. Each Energy Marketer is locally owned and operated and has its own unique story of why they chose to sell energy. They all have one thing in common - a commitment to Albertans.
Fair Energy Prices: Our goal is simple: to offer fair prices and pass savings directly to our customers. You will find our prices are often well below the Regulated Rate Option (also called the RRO). We believe in honesty and transparency. Through education and communication, we help customers understand the market and when to buy on the floating rate or move over to a fixed guaranteed price.
Offering More: We offer unique services that help our customers maximize their benefits and be in control of their purchases. Budget Billing, Pick-a-Date, Senior Discounts, Duel Fuel, Supporting PV Solar Micro Gen customers, green energy options, allowing pre-payments using Paytm, and much more. This is what separates us from the big utilities.
Community Focused: Your local Energy Marketer is your neighbour and giving back to the communities in which we live and work is extremely important to us. Our network currently supports Kid Sport Calgary, The Calgary Public Library Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Camrose, Calgary Pride, the Boys and Girls Club of Strathcona County, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, and many more.
Customer Care: Everyone offers customer call center services, so why are we different? Consumers have told us repeatedly that they enjoy dealing with people who understand the market and are local. We didn’t ship our customer care jobs out of the country like others have. Our customer care team is not reading off of a prepared script, the team truly understands the Alberta market and issues that impact consumers.
Stronger Together: There is strength in numbers. Our co-operative strategy pulls together the strengths of various Energy Marketers and together we are able to offer consumers the best price and great services that no small business could match on their own. By being entrepreneurial we have developed a number of innovative, customer centric services and products that the big utilities have ignored.
Choosing local independent business for your services, shopping, dining, and other needs has many benefits, including, strengthening your local economy, creating a healthier environment, creating jobs and opportunities, giving back to your community, and more.
What does it mean when we say the Energy Marketers in our network are local? It means we will never outsource customer care, information technology, or customer invoicing jobs to countries overseas just to save a couple bucks.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the Regulated Rate Utilities operating in Alberta. Billions of dollars in investments and jobs have been shipped out of the province by companies such as ENMAX, ATCO, EPCOR, and Direct Energy.
As a consumer you have a choice. We hope you put your money where your heart is and choose a local Energy Marketer for your electricity and natural gas.