Mountain View Power Blogs

Although it is early in 2021, the cost of electricity in Alberta has gone up. Understanding the dynamics of the electrical market in Alberta is complex with many ‘players’ involved.  Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is a not-for-profit entity with no financial investment in the industry. On behalf of Albertans, AESO works with industry partners and the government to make sure reliable power is available when needed.  The Alberta Minister of Energy appoints the members of AESO’s board. The 8-member Board’s governance strategy is founded on balancing the interests of a diverse set of stakeholders, while at the same time providing benefit for the overall industry stakeholder needs.  In Alberta, for-profit companies own generation, transmission and distribution facilities. AESO dispatches the power sold by generators, using the lowest-priced electricity first and then the next lowest until the need for power has been satisfied.  Alberta’s electricity market consis...

  Why make  Mountain View Power your retailer of choice for electricity and natural gas? Competitive rates  100% of net income reinvested in the community 100% focus on community sustainability initiatives By supporting local, your dollars remain in the community Managed by a volunteer board which minimizes costs and overhead expenses  No costly management/owner/principle salaries  Mountain View Power has supported several  programs and initiatives including: Community Lifestyles/Age Friendly; Uptowne Olds; Fair Trade Olds; National Indigenous Peoples Day; Olds Community Connected Network. In 2021, Mountain View Power will continue to support agencies, events and activities in areas that our customers reside that promote community development and improve the health, wellness, lifestyle and quality of life of area residents.  Switching to Mountain View Power is easy with no service interruption. Call  customer care @ 1 877 403 0259 and they wil...

In the early years, volunteers made presentations and responded to customer inquiries. From 2013-2019 sales efforts were supported by the staff of Olds Institute, a casual/contract employee as well as Customer Care thru Utility Net.  In the past, you may have seen Mountain View Power at local Farmers Markets,  TradeShows and/or heard our advertisements on the radio or received a mailout.  Today….. Mountain View Power continues to be supported by the efforts of the volunteer board of Olds Institute and day-to-day management is by a volunteer sub-committee of the board.  Social media is currently managed by a part time contractor recently graduated from university. Utility Net continues to be a valued partner providing billing, invoicing and customer care support. We continue to offer electricity, natural gas and green electricity alternatives to families, multi dwelling structures, agriculture and industrial/commercial customers.  By striving to keep the cost s...

The trade name Mountain View Power was registered in 2010 when the Olds Institute signed a service agreement with Utility Network and Partners Inc. to market retail electricity. A volunteer committee evaluated the opportunity and was formed to oversee Mountain View Power as a social enterprise. The goal of this social enterprise was to generate a revenue stream that would enable Olds Institute to re-invest in community development and programs.  As a competitive energy marketer, Mountain View Power offers floating and fixed rates for electricity and natural gas. Hedges of electricity and  natural gas supply contracts are secured by Utility Network and Partners Inc. which also manages all billing as well as the customer call centre on behalf of 23 energy marketers located throughout Alberta.  In the early years, profits were generated by selling electricity a kilowatt at a time at a 1 cent margin. Mountain View Power was able to market to 5 or 6 distribution areas in the...

Mountain View Power was registered in 2010 by the Olds Institute for Community and Regional Development as a locally owned not-for-profit energy marketer and is part of the Utilitynet family. Utilitynet secures the electricity hedges and natural gas supply contracts and assists with customer care support and billing.  Most importantly, 100% of the profits earned by Mountain View Power from the margins and fees from marketing electricity, natural gas, green energy, and related products are returned to the community.  The same principles that have guided Mountain View Power in the past continue to shape and influence current day business and operating decisions: Offer competitive rates; premium customer care; no hassle administration 100% of profits support and grow our community and region Committed to re-investing in our communities to enhance the quality of life Managed by a volunteer board Minimize costs and overhead to maximize profit for reinvestment No costly management s...

    The deal is done. Direct Energy has been sold to NRG Energy Inc, an American company, headquartered in New Jersey. The finalization of the purchase was announced on January 5, in a very low-key notice posted on the NRG Energy website. With such a quiet announcement, we wonder if most of Direct’s customers have been left in the dark about the deal. Why the secrecy and what does this mean for Direct Energy customers?   As a Regulated Rate Option (RRO) customer buying electricity or natural gas at AUC government regulated retail prices, your account has also been sold as part of this deal.   Why does this matter? In time, more and more Alberta jobs will be leaving the province. We asked the government why they approved the sale of the Alberta government-regulated utility to an American company. Why didn’t they stop it?   Direct Energy has a long history of outsourcing and offshoring jobs. Customer Care call center; billing processing and key technical systems ...