Where Does Your Electricity Come From?

Written By Brittini H

Understanding Edmonton’s Power Grid and Energy Sources

Every time you plug in your phone or switch on the lights, power flows into your home with clockwork precision. However, that power takes a long journey to reach its destination. At MMi Electrical, we believe knowing where your electricity comes from helps you make smarter decisions about your home’s electrical system.

So, let’s explain it in a way that makes sense. Think of Alberta’s power grid like a highway system. Electricity is the traffic. Power plants are on-ramps. Your home is the final destination.

How Electricity Gets to Your Edmonton Home

Imagine Alberta’s power grid as a series of highways and roads. Electricity starts its journey at power plants across the province. These power plants act like major shipping hubs. From there, high-voltage electricity travels along long-distance “freeways” called transmission lines. This electricity moves quickly and covers a lot of ground.

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) oversees this traffic. AESO directs where electricity flows, balancing what is being produced and what people are using in real time.

As electricity approaches Edmonton, it exits the freeway and enters smaller city streets. These smaller lines are part of the distribution system. EPCOR manages these lines in Edmonton. They reduce the voltage, route the power through substations, and bring it right into your neighbourhood. From there, electricity enters your home through your service panel and powers everything from your fridge to your furnace.

Where Is This Power Coming From?

The electricity that reaches your home can come from several sources. Alberta has a diverse mix of energy production methods, which continues to evolve.

Here is how it looks today:

  • Natural gas is the primary energy source in Alberta. Over 70 percent of our electricity comes from natural gas. It is steady and available across the province.

  • Wind: Wind power now makes up about 12 percent of the grid. Alberta has a strong wind capacity, especially in the southern regions.

  • Solar: Alberta is one of the sunniest places in Canada. Solar panels are becoming more common, especially in homes. Solar currently supplies around 2 percent of the electricity.

  • Hydroelectric and Biomass: These provide additional support and help maintain stability in the grid.

  • Coal: Coal used to be a major source of power. That is no longer the case. In mid-2024, all coal-fired power plants in Alberta shut down or switched to cleaner fuels, such as natural gas.

Edmonton’s Grid Is Changing

EPCOR is investing in Edmonton’s local grid to make it smarter and more efficient. Some of the changes include:

  • Installing smart meters to track energy use

  • Adding infrastructure for home EV chargers

  • Supporting rooftop solar panel installations

  • Building a Virtual Power Plant in the Blatchford neighbourhood. This project enables homes to collaborate in storing and sharing electricity.

These upgrades help Edmonton homes become more energy-independent and ready for future needs.

What This Means for Your Home

Think of your home’s electrical system like a driveway. As you add more vehicles, such as EV chargers, hot tubs, or air conditioners, the driveway needs to handle the extra load. Your electrical panel needs to be wide enough and strong enough to support the traffic.

That is where MMi Electrical comes in. We help Edmonton homeowners prepare for the future with upgrades that match modern energy needs.

We provide:

  • Electrical service upgrades & panel upgrades

  • Electrical Vehicle (EV) charger installation

  • Solar-ready wiring

  • Micro-generation setup so you can feed energy back into the grid

  • Home safety electrical evaluations

Get Ready for What’s Next

If you plan to add an EV charger, install solar panels, or upgrade your electrical system, MMi Electrical is here to help. We make sure your home is ready, reliable, and efficient.

📞 Call us for a free estimate 780.265.5057

🔗 Visit our website to learn more

MMi Electrical – Your Trusted Local Electrician Serving Edmonton.

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Brittini H
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