(Quebec) Hydro-Quebec wants to increase its rates by 3% starting on 1er April 2025 for residential customers. But from 2027, it wants to make large electricity consumers pay more, and in return wants to subsidize the installation of solar panels and reward customers who reduce their consumption.
“These increases are the result of inflationary pressure in recent years and are the same as those in 2024 for residential customers and large industrial customers,” Hydro-Québec said in a press release.
On Thursday, it submitted its tariff request to the Energy Board for increases applicable from 1er April 2025. These would be 3% for residential customers, 3.9% for commercial customers and 3.3% for large industrial customers.
At the same time, Hydro-Québec emphasizes that it will triple its energy efficiency budget, “which will increase from $150 million in 2022 to $500 million” in 2025. It wants to encourage the installation of heat pumps, and will launch a “voluntary incentive rate allowing savings of up to $350 per year for customers who shift their consumption, for example by recharging their electric vehicle at night.”
Solar panels
Another new feature: to reduce the pressure of energy demand, the state-owned company wants to encourage its customers to self-produce energy. The maximum self-production capacity will be multiplied by 20, and Hydro-Québec, starting in 2026, wants to subsidize the acquisition of solar panels.
The state company is also targeting households that consume “much more electricity than the average” and wants to “control overconsumption”.
From 2027, it wants to charge households that consume more than 50,000 kWh per year, or “around 1% of residential customers”.
“This measure would apply from 2027, which would give them a few years to implement the energy efficiency measures necessary to reduce their consumption below 50,000 kWh,” says Hydro-Québec.