What to Expect From a Farm Energy Audit in Alberta

The term "energy audit" means different things from different companies. Some audits are essentially a walk-through with a clipboard. Others involve thermal imaging, blower door tests, and extensive equipment testing. QuotePath's farm energy audit is focused specifically on what matters most for Alberta agricultural and commercial operations — your utility bills, rate structure, and energy load profile. Here's exactly what we cover.

Before the Audit: What We Ask For

To do a thorough audit, we ask clients to have 12 months of utility bills available — either paper bills or online account access. This gives us your full annual consumption picture including seasonal variation, peak demand months, and year-over-year trends.

We also ask basic questions about your operation: what type of farming you do, what equipment you run, approximate square footage of buildings, and any specific energy concerns or goals you have going in.

Section 1: Utility & Rate Analysis

The first thing we look at is your rate structure. Many Alberta farm operations are on rates that made sense when they were set up but don't reflect how the operation has evolved. The difference between Fortis Alberta Rate 21 and Rate 22 can mean significant cost differences depending on your load profile — and many clients don't know which rate they're on, let alone whether it's optimal.

We also review your electricity retailer arrangement. Alberta has a deregulated electricity market where you can choose your retailer. Depending on whether you're on a fixed or floating rate, and what the current market looks like, there may be straightforward savings available without any capital investment.

Section 2: Demand Charge Review

For farms on agricultural or commercial rate structures, demand charges are often the most important and least understood line item on the bill. We review your demand charge history month by month, identify peak demand months, and calculate what percentage of your total bill is demand-driven versus energy-driven.

This analysis directly affects any solar recommendation — a solar system offsets energy charges but not demand charges, so understanding the demand charge component is essential for accurate ROI projections.

Section 3: Transformer & Service Capacity

We review your transformer size, service voltage, and main breaker capacity. This tells us the infrastructure available for any new equipment — whether that's a solar system, additional processing equipment, or EV charging. Understanding your service capacity also identifies whether any infrastructure upgrades would be required before certain projects can proceed.

Section 4: Panel Schedule & Load Assessment

A circuit-by-circuit review of your electrical panel identifies your largest loads and their operating patterns. This is where we identify which loads are driving your energy consumption and demand, and where the biggest savings opportunities are.

Section 5: 12-Month Billing History Analysis

With 12 months of data, we build a full picture of your energy profile: seasonal consumption patterns, peak demand months, year-over-year trends, and the relationship between production activity and energy costs. This is the foundation of any realistic ROI calculation.

Section 6: Solar & Lighting Assessment

If solar or LED is on your radar, we assess your site's solar generation potential and conduct a lighting inventory across your key buildings. The solar assessment covers roof and land orientation, shading, and incentive eligibility. The lighting inventory catalogs fixture types, wattages, quantities, and operating hours — giving you an accurate picture of your lighting energy cost and what LED retrofit would save.

What You Get at the End

After the audit, you receive a written summary covering your energy profile, the biggest cost reduction opportunities, what each opportunity would cost to implement, and what the payback period looks like. We give you straight answers — including when the numbers don't work, or when waiting makes more sense than acting now.

There is no obligation to proceed with any service after the audit. The analysis stands on its own. Book your free farm energy audit — it's the smartest first step before any energy investment decision.