The cost to run a NAS in Alberta
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated Running a 4-bay NAS 24/7 in Alberta costs about CA$53 a year at a representative 15¢/kWh — but Alberta is the province where that number moves. Its electricity is market-priced, so the energy rate can swing from roughly 9¢ to 30¢, and Alberta is typically the highest-cost place in populated Canada to run always-on gear.
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Calculator pre-set to Alberta (rate ~15¢/kWh, as of 2026-01, Alberta RRO / competitive market) — editable.
156 kWh/year · 18 W average at the wall
The same NAS costs about CA$11.21/year more here than in Quebec (7.8¢/kWh) — the cheapest place in Canada to run it.
A UPS adds a few percent loss but protects against the far costlier unclean shutdown. Annual figures use your current rate, drive count and active hours.
Why Alberta's cost swings
Unlike a flat or regulated rate, Alberta's energy price is set by the market — either the Regulated Rate Option (RRO), which is reset monthly, or a competitive retailer plan you choose. The energy portion has ranged widely, and on top of it sit fixed delivery and rider charges that don't move. For a 24/7 NAS, that means the same box can cost CA$32 one year and CA$70+ another, depending on where the market and your plan land. The calculator defaults to ~15¢/kWh all-in as a representative figure — but in Alberta more than anywhere, edit it to your actual rate.
Fixed vs floating — the Alberta decision
Alberta households choose between a fixed-rate plan (a locked ¢/kWh for a term) and a floating/market plan (you pay the monthly market price). For an always-on load like a NAS, a fixed rate makes its running cost predictable — useful if you dislike surprises — while a floating plan can be cheaper in soft-market years and painful in tight ones. The NAS is a small, constant load, so the choice matters more for your whole bill than for the NAS alone; but if you want a stable NAS running-cost figure, a fixed plan is the way to get one.
The highest-cost framing, and how to soften it
Alberta and the Maritimes trade the title of priciest place to run a NAS. At 15¢, a ~40 W four-bay box is about CA$53 a year; a six-bay array with more drives can pass CA$80. The levers matter more here: fewer, larger drives (each spinning drive is ~CA$6–7/year at Alberta rates), a genuinely efficient box, and — where the NAS truly idles — drive spin-down, which is worth more in dollars here than in cheap-rate Quebec. Model your own rate and configuration in the calculator above.
Compare with other provinces
Frequently asked questions
How much does a NAS cost to run in Alberta?
About CA$53 a year for a typical 4-bay NAS at ~40 W (~350 kWh) and a representative 15¢/kWh — but Alberta's market pricing means it can range from roughly CA$32 to CA$70+ depending on the year and your plan. Enter your actual rate in the calculator for a real figure.
Why does my Alberta power cost change so much?
Alberta's energy rate is market-priced rather than flat or regulated-stable. On the Regulated Rate Option it resets monthly with the market; competitive plans vary too. A constant load like a NAS pays whatever the market and your plan land at, so its annual cost swings more than in flat-rate provinces.
Should I get a fixed or floating electricity plan for a homelab?
A fixed-rate plan makes a NAS's running cost predictable, which suits always-on gear; a floating/market plan can be cheaper in soft years and costlier in tight ones. The NAS is a small constant load, so the decision matters most for your whole bill — but fixed is the way to get a stable NAS figure.
Is Alberta the most expensive place to run a NAS in Canada?
Often, yes — Alberta and the Atlantic provinces are the priciest of the populated regions, roughly double Quebec's rate. Drive count matters most here: fewer, larger drives and an efficient box noticeably soften the bill.
Devin Chua works out which drives, RAM and NVMe cache fit which NAS model at nasdrives.ca, and what the RAID choice means for usable capacity, checked against what is in stock on Amazon.ca.
Data checked by Owen Nakamura, Technical editor (data checking)