The Complete Guide to Setting Up Utilities After Moving to Calgary

Moving to a new home is stressful enough without scrambling to figure out which utility companies to call. Calgary's setup is a bit different from other Canadian cities — your electricity, water, sewer, and waste collection all appear on a single ENMAX bill, while natural gas goes through a separate distributor. Here's the complete guide to getting everything connected, with exact phone numbers, costs, and timelines so nothing falls through the cracks.

ENMAX: Your One Bill for (Almost) Everything

ENMAX is Calgary's primary utility provider, and here's the unique part: your ENMAX bill is a consolidated bill that includes electricity, City of Calgary water, wastewater (sewer), stormwater drainage, and waste/recycling cart fees. One bill, one company to call, one payment. This is different from many other cities where you'd set up separate accounts for each service.

How to set up your account:

• Online: enmax.com/sign-up/res-new-service

• Phone: 310-2010 (toll-free in Alberta) or 1-877-571-7111 (outside Alberta)

• Hours: Monday–Friday 8 AM to 8 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 4:30 PM, closed Sunday and statutory holidays

• Notice required: At least 3 days before move-in. You can open your account up to 60 days ahead.

Deposit: There's no activation fee. ENMAX runs a credit check — if you pass or sign up for pre-authorized payment, no deposit is needed. If you're new to Canada or have no credit history, expect a deposit of approximately 3x your estimated monthly bill ($300–$600 for a typical Calgary home). A letter from a previous utility showing 12+ months of on-time payments may reduce or waive the deposit.

Electricity rate: The default Rate of Last Resort is currently 12.06 cents/kWh, fixed through December 2026. ENMAX also offers EasyMax plans with the unique ability to switch between fixed and floating rates at any time and cancel with just one month's notice — unusual flexibility in Alberta's energy market.

Water, Sewer & Stormwater: Included on Your ENMAX Bill

Here's something that confuses many newcomers: the City of Calgary owns and operates the water system, but ENMAX handles all the billing. When you set up your ENMAX account, water, wastewater, and stormwater are automatically added. You do NOT need to set up a separate water account.

A typical monthly water/sewer bill in Calgary is about $119.21 (2026 rates, up 3.76% from 2025). For water-specific issues like water quality or infrastructure concerns, contact the City of Calgary through 311 rather than ENMAX.

This is different from Edmonton, where EPCOR directly operates both electricity and water services. In Calgary, ENMAX is the billing agent, but the City retains ownership of water infrastructure.

ATCO Gas: Natural Gas Is Separate

Natural gas in Alberta has two separate companies involved: a distributor (who owns the pipelines) and a retailer (who you buy gas from and pay). In Calgary:

• ATCO Gas is your distributor — they maintain the gas lines and infrastructure. You can't choose your distributor; it's based on location.

• Your retailer (the company you pay) can be ENMAX, ATCO Energy, Direct Energy, or another licensed provider. Most Calgarians choose ENMAX to keep everything on one bill.

If you choose ENMAX as your gas retailer, gas setup is handled when you open your ENMAX account. ATCO recommends 5 days' notice for transferring gas service. For new gas line connections (new construction), contact ATCO directly at 310-5678.

Important: Unlike electricity, there is no default regulated rate for natural gas through ENMAX. You'll need to choose a competitive plan (fixed or floating rate) when you sign up.

Internet & TV: Telus vs. Rogers (Formerly Shaw)

Calgary has two main internet providers, and your choice usually comes down to whether Telus fibre is available at your address:

Telus PureFibre is available in many Calgary neighbourhoods but not all — availability is address-specific. Where available, it's the fastest option with speeds up to 2.5 Gbps. Check availability at telus.com/en/internet/fibre. Installation typically takes 1–2 weeks after ordering.

Rogers (which acquired Shaw in April 2023) uses the inherited cable network throughout Calgary. Plans range from $60/month (10 Mbps) to $175/month (1.5 Gbps). Self-install kits are often available within 3–7 business days.

Budget alternatives: Oxio (highest customer satisfaction, no contracts), TekSavvy, and VMedia all operate in Calgary using Rogers' cable network, often at lower prices. Allow 5–14 business days for setup.

Pro tip: Book your internet 2–4 weeks before your move date. Technician availability is the bottleneck, especially in new communities where Telus fibre is still being installed.

Canada Post Mail Forwarding

Don't skip this one — mail forwarding catches everything from bank statements to government notices that still go to your old address.

• Within Alberta: ~$55.50 for 4 months, ~$98 for 12 months

• Between provinces: ~$69.05 for 4 months, ~$106.55 for 12 months

• Set up online: canadapost.ca/mailforwarding or at any post office

• Timing: Takes effect 5 business days after online purchase. Set it up before you move.

Alberta Driver's Licence & Vehicle Registration

If you already have an Alberta licence: You're legally required to update your address within 14 days of moving. Visit any authorized registry agent (AMA, Alberta One Stop, etc.) in person — this can't be done online. Cost: $28. You'll get a temporary paper licence on the spot; your new card arrives by mail in about 21 business days. If your licence is near renewal, ask for an early renewal and the address change is included at no extra charge.

If you're moving from another province: You have 90 days to exchange your out-of-province licence. Bring your valid licence, proof of Alberta residence, and proof of Canadian residency to any registry agent. No testing is required for Canadian licence exchanges (Classes 1–7). Your old licence is surrendered and won't be returned. Vehicle registration must also be transferred within 90 days.

City of Calgary Waste Collection

Calgary uses a three-cart system that's automatic for all single-family homes — no registration required. The carts stay with the property, and fees appear on your ENMAX bill:

• Blue Cart (recycling): $2.17/month — paper, cardboard, plastics, metal, glass. Collected biweekly.

• Green Cart (compost): $10.63/month — food scraps and yard waste. Collected weekly April–October, biweekly November–March.

• Black Cart (garbage): $7.71/month — everything else. Collected biweekly.

Total: $20.51/month. Find your collection schedule at calgary.ca/cartschedule or download the My Garbage Day App.

Alberta Health Care Card

If you're already an Alberta resident, update your address by completing a Notice of Change form at any registry agent or mailing it to Alberta Health. There's no fee.

If you're new to Alberta, you must apply for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) within 3 months of arriving if you plan to stay 12+ months. Your previous province's card remains valid until your Alberta coverage begins. In 2026, Alberta is rolling out an integrated driver's licence and health care card, which should simplify things going forward.

The Full Address Change Checklist

Beyond utilities, here's everything else that needs your new address:

• CRA (Canada Revenue Agency): Update through My Account at canada.ca — processed almost immediately. Critical for GST/HST credit and Canada Child Benefit.

• Banks and financial institutions: Update through online banking or visit a branch.

• Employer/HR: For payroll, T4 mailing, and benefits.

• Auto and home insurance: Your address change can affect premiums, especially if you're moving between neighbourhoods.

• Elections Canada: Can be updated through CRA or at elections.ca.

• Pet licence: City of Calgary requires pet licensing ($54 for altered dogs, $84 for unaltered).

• Subscriptions: Gym memberships, streaming services, loyalty programs (Air Miles, Aeroplan), and any delivery subscriptions.

Quick-Reference Setup Timeline

Here's when to do what, counting back from your move date:

• 2–4 weeks before: Book internet installation (Telus or Rogers)

• 1 week before: Set up ENMAX account (electricity + water + gas retailer). Set up Canada Post mail forwarding.

• 5 days before: Confirm ATCO gas transfer if using a non-ENMAX gas retailer.

• Move day: Verify all utilities are active. Check your collection schedule for waste carts.

• Within 14 days: Update driver's licence at a registry agent ($28). Update CRA, bank, employer, insurance.

• Within 90 days: Exchange out-of-province licence and vehicle registration (if applicable). Apply for Alberta Health Care card (if new to AB).

Planning your move to Calgary? Get a free moving quote from Two Small Men and let us handle the heavy lifting while you tackle the paperwork.

For more Calgary-specific moving information, visit our Calgary movers page for neighbourhood guides, bylaw details, and pricing information.