Alberta's ethics commissioner has been asked to decide whether interim PC leader Ric McIver broke conflict of interest rules this week when he asked a question about the electricity market in the legislature.

In question period Tuesday, McIver challenged the government on changes being made to electricity regulations.

McIver's wife, Christine McIver, disclosed dividend income she had earned from a residential electricity retailer called Brighter Futures Energy, according to the NDP..

NDP caucus chair Heather Sweet wrote a letter Tuesday to ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler, asking Trussler to look into the situation, which Sweet suggested "may be a real or perceived conflict of interest."

In the letter, Sweet said Christine McIver operates Brighter Futures Energy and is a shareholder in the company.

"This is about the fact that we all have to abide by the same code of conduct and the same rules," Sweet said. "So we wanted to make sure that while we're entering into debate in the house and doing press releases, that that information is not breaching any type of conflict of interest."

According to the Conflicts of Interest Act, an MLA is not allowed to "influence or seek to influence a decision of the Crown to further a private interest of the member (or) … a person directly associated with the member."

McIver said he spoke to the ethics commissioner's office on Wednesday.

"I wouldn't have asked any question, if I didn't think it was right," he said. "But the NDP has the right to complain, which they've done. So we'll have to see what the ethics commissioner says."

McIver said until the issue is resolved, he'll likely stay away from asking further questions in the house about electricity.