Functional responsibility:
The department was responsible for two largely separate program areas: 1) policies and programs related to the development of natural gas and electric energy supply and distribution and 2) policies and programs related to communications, broadcasting, and telecommunications. The department was also responsible for oversight of Alberta Government Telephones. On February 13, 1986, responsibility for communications, broadcasting, and telecommunications was transferred to the new Department of Technology, Research, and Telecommunications. The remaining utilities functions continued as a separate department until dissolution three months later.

The minister was responsible for administration of the following Acts:

Alberta Government Telephones Act (1973-1979, 1982-1986)
AGT-Edmonton Telephones Act
Cooperative Associations Act (sections 42, 43, and 67)
Cooperative Marketing Associations and Rural Utilities Guarantee Act (sections 3, 10-23)
Department of Telephones and Utilities Act (except section 1, clauses (a) and (c) and section 2)
Department of Utilities and Telephones Act
Electrical Energy Marketing Act, Municipal Telephones Act
Natural Gas Rebates Act
Rural Electrification Long-Term Financing Act
Rural Electrification Revolving Fund Act
Rural Gas Act
Rural Mutual Telephone Companies Act
Rural Telephone Revolving Fund Act.

The Associate Minister of Telephones was responsible for administration of the Alberta Educational Communications Corporation Act (1981-1982) and Alberta Government Telephones Act (1979-1982).

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessor to the Department of Utilities was the Department of Telephones. In February 1986, communications, broadcasting, and telecommunications programs were transferred to the new Department of Technology, Research, and Telecommunications, and the remainder of the department was renamed the Department of Utilities. Later that year, the department was amalgamated with the Department of Transportation, which was then renamed the Department of Transportation and Utilities.

Administrative relationships:
The department reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Telephones and Utilities (1973-1975), Minister of Utilities and Telephones (1975-1982), Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications (1982-1986), and Minister of Utilities (1986). Three semi-independent agencies reported to the Legislative Assembly through the minister or the associate minister: Alberta Educational Communications Corporation (ACCESS) reported to the Associate Minister of Telephones (1981-1982); Alberta Government Telephones Corporation (AGT) reported to the minister (1973-1979, 1982-1986) and to the Associate Minister of Telephones (1979-1982); Electric Energy Marketing Agency reported to the minister (1981-1986).

Administrative structure:
From the time that the department was created until 1978, the department was made up of the Gas Distribution Division (responsible for rural gas distribution and utilities development, including establishing technical standards for design and construction of rural natural gas distribution systems and providing advisory services to rural gas cooperatives on business organization, financial, and economic analysis), Gas Alberta (responsible for acting as a broker in the acquisition of natural gas supplies required by the Rural Gas Program and customer billing for rural gas distributors), the Rebates Division (administering the Natural Gas Rebate Plan and the Natural Gas Price Protection Plan), the Electric Division (providing technical assistance to Rural Electrification Associations in support of the Rural Electrification Program), and Personnel Administration and Accounts (responsible for department administrative support services).

In 1978, the department was reorganized into a structure that would remain largely intact until 1986. During this time, the principal units of the department were the Finance and Planning Division, Administrative Services Division, Operations and Engineering Division, and Auditor's Office.

The Finance and Planning Division was made up of the Rebates Branch (former Rebates Division), Communications Branch, and Utilities Financial Services Branch (responsible for administering loans and grants to rural gas cooperatives and Rural Electrical Associations). The Operations and Engineering Division was made up of the Gas Alberta Branch, Electric Branch (former Electric Division), and Gas Distribution Branch (former Gas Distribution Division). The Administrative Services Division was made up of the Records Management, Personnel and Accounts, and Development and Training Branches.

The principal changes to the administrative structure came in 1980 and 1983. In 1980, the Operations and Engineering Division was renamed the Gas Utilities Division. At this time, the Business and Grants Section was created to provide financial and business management advisory services to distributors under the Rural Gas Program. In 1983, a new division was created when the department was made responsible for all financial assistance programs for municipal water and sewage facilities development. The new Municipal Facilities Division became responsible for administering the Alberta Municipal Water Supply and Sewage Treatment Grant Program, Regional Water and Sewer Systems Program, Phosphorous Removal Grant Program, and Northern Supplementary Fund.

Names of the corporate bodies:
Department of Telephones and Utilities 1973-1975
Department of Utilities and Telephones 1975-1983
Department of Utilities and Telecommunications 1983-1986
Department of Utilities 1986

Names of chief officers:
Ministers of Telephones and Utilities
Roy Alexander Farran 1973-1975
Allan Alexander Warrack 1975-1975

Ministers of Utilities and Telephones
Allan Alexander Warrack 1975-1979
Lawrence Ralph Shaban 1979-1982

Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications
Robert J. Bogle 1982-1986

Minister of Utilities
Robert J. Bogle 1986