Customer billing & rates

Rates & Regulations

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Understanding Rates & Regulations

The cost of electricity is made up of the cost to generate electricity at power plants (including fuel costs), the cost of transmitting electricity over long distances through power lines, the cost of distributing it locally to homes and businesses through smaller lines, and additional fees related to system and operation maintenance, regulatory costs, and customers service. 

NWT Energy Landscape

General Rate Applications

Our rates are regulated by the NWT Public Utilities Board (Board) to ensure they are fair and reasonable. Rates are determined through a General Rate Application (GRA) process. A GRA contains information on our company’s assets, operations and financial affairs. We are required to provide this information to the regulator in order to explain why it needs to change its rates.

Learn more about our current GRAs for Naka Power Utilities (NWT). 

Naka-YK 2024-25 Naka-NWT 2024-25

Current Rates & Riders

Naka Power Utilities (NWT) is regulated by the Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board, in accordance with the Public Utilities Act. The NWT Public Utilities Board (PUB) is an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Depending on what rate zone you reside in determines your rates. Naka Power Utilities (NWT) has seperate rates for customers who reside in Yellowknife and N'Dilo and other rates for our customers in Sambaa K’e, Kakisa, Dory Point, Fort Providence, Wekweeti, Enterprise and Katl'odeeche First Nation.

Yellowknife & N'Dilo Outside Yellowknife

 

Naka Power Utilities (NWT) - Yellowknife & N'Dilo Customers

We serve customers who have home or businesses within the City of Yellowknife and N'Dilo.

  • Terms & Conditions

    Terms and Conditions

    We conduct our business in compliance with the following Terms and Conditions. The Terms and Conditions of Service and any subsequent amendments come into force on the date approved by the Board and supersede any previous Terms and Conditions of the Company.

  • Rates

    Rates

    Power rates in Yellowknife are outlined in the following Rate Schedule and organized by customer type. Listed in the Schedule are the current changes from the most recent Board Decisions. 

  • Riders

    Riders - Yellowknife (Snare Zone)

    Rider Name Effective Date Rate End Date (if known)

    Rider E - Temporary Refund/Surcharge

    March 1, 2026

    0.0%

    Rider F - Purchase Power Cost Adjustment

    March 1, 2026

    10.32 ¢/kWh

    Rider G - Global Adjustment Rider

    February 1, 2026

    0.74 ¢/kWh

    June 1, 2026

    Rider H - Cost Recovery/Refund Rider

    May 1, 2025

    -0.878%

    May 1, 2026

    Rider R - Revenue Adjustment

    January 1, 2025

    4.999%

    Franchise Tax

    January 1, 2026

    2.464%
  • Historical Rates

    Historical Rates

    June 2019, June 2022, June 2023, January 2024, June 2024, August 2024, November 2024, January 2025, March 2025, May 2025, January 2026, February 2026

Yellowknife (Snare Zone) Rider FAQs

  • Rider E - Temporary Refund/Surcharge

    • What is Rider E?
      Rider E is used to either refund money to customers or collect extra costs when past rates didn’t match actual expenses.

    • Why does it happen?
      Sometimes rate changes don’t line up perfectly with their approval dates. Rider E helps “true up” those differences so you only pay what you should.

    • Is Rider E permanent?
      No. It’s temporary and only used for a set period.

    • Is Rider E active right now?
      No. Rider E is not currently in effect in the Snare Zone.

  • Rider F - Purchase Power Cost Adjustment
    • What is Rider F?
      Rider F adjusts your bill to reflect the real cost of purchasing wholesale power from NTPC in Hydro communities within the Snare Rate Zone.

    • Why does it change?
      Wholesale power prices can go up or down. Rider F ensures your bill stays aligned with those actual costs.

    • Is Rider F always on?
      Rider F is usually active, but the amount may change depending on power prices and cost balances.
  • Rider G - Global Adjustment Rider

    • What is Rider G?
      Rider G helps recover costs related to the transition of Hay River’s electricity services from Naka Power Utilities to NTPC.

    • Who pays Rider G?
      Both Naka customers and NTPC customers.

    • How long will Rider G be in place?
      Rider G will apply from February 1 to June 1, 2026.

  • Rider H - Cost Recovery/Refund Rider
    • What is Rider H?
      Rider H is used to either collect or refund money based on certain costs approved by the regulator.

    • Is Rider H temporary?
      Yes. It is only in place for a specific, approved period.

    • How long is the current Rider H active?
      The current Rider H is in place until May 1, 2026.
  • Rider R - Revenue Adjustment

    • What is Rider R?
      Rider R adjusts your bill during and after the General Rate Application (GRA) process—this is when the regulator reviews and approves new electricity rates.

    • What happens during a GRA?
      Temporary changes may be applied until the regulator makes a final decision. Once rates are finalized, Rider R reflects the approved increases or decreases.

    • How long does the final Rider R stay in place?
      It remains until the next General Rate Application is completed.

  • Franchise Tax

    • What is the Franchise Tax on my bill?
      The Franchise Tax collects the fee that the utility pays to the City of Yellowknife for the right to operate within city limits.

    • Why is it on my bill?
      Utilities are allowed to recover these municipal fees through customer bills.

 

Naka Power Utilities (NWT) - Outside Yellowknife

We serve customers who have homes or businesses in Sambaa K’e, Kakisa, Dory Point, Fort Providence, Wekweeti, Enterprise, Riverwoods subdivision and Katl'odeeche First Nation.

As of March 1, 2025, we no longer serve the Town of Hay River. Please refer to NTPC for rate information.

Outside Yellowknife (Taltson and Thermal Zone) Rider FAQs

  • Rider A – Fuel Cost Adjustment Rider
    • What is Rider A? 
      Rider A adjusts your bill when the actual cost of diesel fuel used to generate electricity is higher or lower than what was built into base rates.

    • Why does it happen? 
      Fuel prices change throughout the year. Rider A makes sure your bill reflects the real cost of fuel—either as a charge or a credit.

    • How often is Rider A used? 
      Rider A is usually active, but the amount may change as fuel prices and cost balances change.
  • Rider E – Temporary Refund or Surcharge Rider
    • What is Rider E? 
      Rider E is used to either refund money to customers or collect extra costs when past rates didn’t match actual expenses.
       
    • Why does it happen? 
      Sometimes new rates take effect before the regulator (the Board) has finalized all approvals. Rider E helps “true up” those timing differences so customers only pay the correct amount.
       
    • Is Rider E permanent? 
      No. It is temporary and only applied for a specific, approved period.
  • Rider F – Purchase Power Cost Adjustment
    • What is Rider F?
      Rider F adjusts your bill to reflect the actual cost of wholesale power purchased from NTPC.

    • Who does Rider F apply to?
      Customers in the Hydro communities in the Taltson Rate Zone (Enterprise and K’atl’odeche First Nation).

    • Why does Rider F change?
      Wholesale power prices can fluctuate. Rider F ensures your bill reflects those real costs.

    • How often is Rider F used?
      It is usually active, but the rate may change based on power prices and cost balances.
  • Rider G – Global Adjustment Rate Rider
    • What is Rider G? 
      Rider G helps recover approved costs related to the transition of electricity services from Naka Power Utilities (NWT) to NTPC in Hay River, through the Transitional Costs Deferral Account.

    • Who pays for Rider G? 
      Both Naka customers and NTPC customers.

    • How long will Rider G last? 
      This is temporary and will be in place from February 1 to June 1, 2026.
  • Rider H – Cost Recovery/Refund Rider
    • What is Rider H?
      Rider H is used to collect or refund certain costs that have been approved by the regulator.

    • How long does Rider H last?
      It is temporary and only used for a set, approved period.

    • What is the current status of Rider H?
      Rider H is not currently in effect in the Taltson or Thermal zones.

     

  • Rider R – Revenue Adjustment Rider
    • What is Rider R?
      Rider R is used during and after the General Rate Application (GRA) process, when new electricity rates are being reviewed and approved.

    • How does Rider R work?
      • Temporary (interim) changes:
        Rider R may apply temporary increases or decreases while the Board reviews the rate application. These are refundable once the final decision is made.
      • Final approved rates:
        Once the Board makes a final decision, Rider R reflects those approved changes until the next rate application.
  • Territorial Power Subsidy Program (TPSP)
    • Who is eligible for the TPSP?
      Non‑Government residential customers.

    • What does the TPSP do?
      TPSP lowers the energy rate for eligible customers so that the first part of their monthly electricity use matches the rate paid in Yellowknife (the Snare Zone reference rate).

    • How much does the TPSP cover?
      • Up to 1,000 kWh per month in winter
      • Up to 600 kWh per month in summer
  • GNWT Rate Equalization Program (GREP)

    • Who is eligible for GREP? 
      Non‑Government residential and general service customers in the Thermal Zone.

    • What does GREP do? 
      GREP reduces customer bills by aligning charges with NTPC’s Thermal Zone rates, helping make power more affordable in communities where electricity is generated using diesel.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a GRA?

    A GRA (General Rate Application) is a document that contains information on a public utility company’s assets, operations and financial affairs. The public utility company (in this instance, Naka-YK) is required to provide this information to the regulator (NWT Public Utilities Board) in order to explain why it needs to change its rates.

  • Who regulates Naka Power Utilities (NWT) rates?

    Our rates are regulated by the NWT Public Utilities Board (Board) to ensure our rates are fair and reasonable. The rates (tariffs) we charge are all approved by the Board in an open, public process. Our costs are fully transparent and any changes to our rates are subject to a formal process which includes scrutiny by customers, municipalities, and other users.

  • What is a Rate Rider?

    A Rate Rider is a temporary credit or charge that may appear on utility bills in some communities. The Board approves rate riders to enable firms to recover actual operational costs that are not included in the approved rates. 

  • What is the decision-making process for the Public Utility Board?

    Under the rate base/rate of return method of regulation, used by the Board, a GRA is usually handled in two phases. 

    The first phase, known as the “Revenue Requirement”, examines the utility company’s revenues and expenses. The purpose of Phase I of a GRA is to determine the amount of revenue that the utility company needs to earn in a year to cover its costs in providing service to its customers and to earn a fair return on its investment. 

    Once the Board issues a decision on the Phase I revenue requirement, the utility company may file a Phase II Application, in which it proposes how it is going to collect its annual revenue requirement from each of its various types of customer groups (e.g. residential, commercial, streetlights etc.). The main purpose of a Phase II filing is to determine the specific rates that each type of customer group will be charged and to demonstrate that these rates will enable the utility company to collect its annual revenue requirement.

Independent Report Highlights Need for Electricity Reforms in the NWT

In June 2025, London Economics International LLC (LEI), a globally respected economic consultancy with extensive utility experience, conducted an independent review of the electricity system in the Northwest Territories. 

The report identifies systemic issues in the current rate design, including cross-subsidization, regulatory inefficiencies, and the erosion of Indigenous economic participation. It also highlights risks facing Naka Power Utilities (NWT) and the broader implications for energy policy in the North.

Learn More