A simple model with clear money flow.

The big picture

Canmore Legacy does not change how utilities are used. It explains and supports a model that changes how the system is funded and financed. Residents and businesses receive electricity and natural gas as usual. The difference is how energy is purchased, how administrative costs are managed, and how the membership fee is distributed.

Where UTILITYnet fits in

Guardian Utilities is the customer-facing retailer. Behind the scenes, the day-to-day operating platform is provided by UTILITYnet (Utility Network & Partners)—an Alberta-based organization that provides retail energy systems and services such as billing and settlement administration.

Who you’re actually dealing with: Guardian Utilities is the customer-facing brand, while UTILITYnet provides the operating platform behind the scenes.

Step by step

1. A resident or business chooses to switch to Guardian Utilities through Guardian's website.
2. Guardian manages the entire transition, including closing the current account and setting up the new one.
3. As part of joining, the participant provides a prudential security amount (a required form of financial security in Alberta’s retail market).
4. Electricity and natural gas service continues as normal.
5. The participant receives a regular utility bill.
6. The bill consists of usage charges (largely pass-through) plus a transparent monthly membership fee.
7. In Alberta's deregulated energy market, licensed retailers must maintain prudential security to help guarantee payment obligations to energy generators and distribution utilities.
8. Participant contributions support Guardian's ability to meet this prudential requirement while operating efficiently.
9. In return, participants receive a 3% per year bill credit, applied monthly as a reduction on their Guardian Utilities bill.
10. Guardian operates with a focus on efficiency, including one of the lowest administrative fee levels in Alberta.
11. 60% of membership fees are donated monthly to the Canmore Hospital Foundation.
12. The Foundation issues an official charitable donation receipt, and Guardian updates public donation totals monthly.

Roles and responsibilities

Prudential security: why participants contribute

In Alberta's deregulated electricity and natural gas markets, licensed retailers are required to provide prudential security to help guarantee payment obligations to energy generators (for the energy consumed) and to distribution utilities (for delivery charges).

In Alberta’s deregulated market, retailers with financial obligations must maintain financial security (often based on estimated obligations). Prudential is part of that security structure.

Why prudential exists in a deregulated market

In a deregulated retail energy market, retailers are responsible for paying for the energy their customers consume and for associated delivery charges billed by distribution utilities. Prudential security exists to help ensure those payment obligations can be met reliably.

Prudential requirements are a standard part of operating as a licensed retailer. Guardian's structure allows participants to support this requirement directly, while Guardian operates with a focus on low administrative overhead and applies a monthly bill credit to recognize the value participants provide.

Why low administrative costs matter

In many utility retailers, a meaningful portion of what customers pay goes to overhead. Guardian is structured to operate with one of the lowest administrative fee levels in Alberta, keeping overhead low and operational efficiency high.

Lower overhead supports competitive pricing, predictable operations, and more capacity for long-term community support.

Why the membership fee matters

In many models, profit is hidden inside rates. In this model, profit is primarily separated into a visible monthly membership fee.

The money flow (plain language)

Note: Community partners beyond registered charities may be supported in future through structures such as sponsorship or program support, depending on partner eligibility and accounting treatment.

Transparency and trust

The model is intended to be explainable. Donations are made monthly and publicly tracked, and charitable receipts are issued by the Canmore Hospital Foundation.