Alberta Gas Reference Price
The Alberta Gas Reference Price is a monthly weighted average of an
intra-Alberta consumers' price and an ex-Alberta border price, reduced by
allowances for transporting and marketing gas (Gas Royalty Guidelines 1994).
The Gas Reference Price is effective beginning with 1994.
Select Prices
The Crown Royalty regime for natural gas is price
sensitive. The Crown achieves price sensitivity using a base rate and a higher
marginal rate as components of the royalty formula used to determine the
Crown’s royalty share of natural gas. In the royalty formula, the select price
is the price threshold above, which the higher marginal royalty rate applies. A
separate select price is prescribed for each of old gas, new gas, and pentanes.
To account for inflation, the department adjusts the select price each year based on the GDP Implicit Price Index. The department calculates the select price by multiplying the previous years select price by the inflation factor. This price is published in the annual March edition of the Gas Royalty Calculation Information Bulletin.
Average Market Price (AMP)
Alberta Energy published a monthly Alberta Average Market Price (AMP) for
natural gas/residue gas. The AMP is given in units of $/1000 3 and
$/GJ. The AMP in $/1000 m3 is used in the royalty rate formula to
calculate the Crown's royalty volumes. The AMP in $/GJ is used in the
valuation price test. This test specifies that the minimum valuation price
that may be applied to the Crown's royalty share of production is 80% of the
AMP ($/GJ) in effect during the month of sale.
The AMP was effective for the production years 1988 to 1993.