Rates and Bills

Lexicon of Electrical Terms

Apparent power

Apparent power is the power supplied by Hydro-Québec. When it is used, it is broken down into real power (kW), which runs equipment, and reactive power (kVAR), which results in the creation of magnetic fields.

Available power

The maximum power for a given contract that the customer may not exceed without the Distributor's approval.

Bulk metering

Method of measuring consumed energy with a single meter instead of separate meters for an entire multi-unit commercial or residential building. The building owner is responsible for dividing the costs between the occupants.

Contract power

For Hydro-Québec, contract power represents the customer-selected power level it must be ready to supply at any time in response to customer demand. For the customer, it is the minimum power they have to pay for.

Rate M customers

Since April 1, 2011, contract power has been replaced, for all Rate M customers, by the automatically calculated minimum demand.

Current

Current is the number of electrons carried by a conductor in one second.
It is expressed in amperes (A). It is a function of the voltage expressed in volts and the resistance expressed in ohms (Ω).

Current (A) =    voltage (V)     
 resistance (Ω)     

Demand

Expressed in kilowatts (kW), power demand is the total amount of electricity required by equipment at a given time. In more technical terms, it is the combined effect of voltage and current.

Demand (kW) = voltage (V) x current (A)
1,000

Energy

Expressed in kilowatthours (kWh), energy is the power used by electrical installations over a given period of time. It is calculated as the power multiplied by the time during which it is used.

Energy (kWh) = power (W) x time used (h)
1,000

Load factor

Load factor (LF) is the relationship between the real power consumed (in kWh) and the maximum power that can be used in a given period, as a function of the use of the maximum power demand. It is used to evaluate the use of maximum power demand for a given billing period.

LF = Consumption during the period (in kWh)
Maximum power demand x number of hours in the period

x 100

Minimum billing demand

This is the minimum amount of power the customer must pay for. The threshold is set so that the customer pays its share of the costs incurred by the Distributor to meet its power needs during peak periods. The minimum billing demand is determined by the conditions of each rate, as indicated in the Distribution Tariff.

Minimum demand

Minimum demand is the minimum amount of power billed, and is automatically based on your previous winter consumption.

Since April 1, 2011, minimum demand replaces contract power for all Rate M customers.

Multiplier

Unlike Rate D, Rate DM has a multiplier that applies to the fixed charge and to consumption at the various energy prices. The amount of the multiplier depends upon the type of dwelling:

• 1 multiplier for each dwelling in an apartment building or community residence
• 1 multiplier for the first 9 rooms in a community residence
• 1 multiplier for each additional room in a community residence.

Power factor

The power factor is the ratio between real power and apparent power.

PF = Real Power
Apparent Power

x 100

Real power

Real power is the component of apparent power that operates equipment that produces heat (lighting equipment, radiators, etc.) and is expressed in kilowatts (kW).

Separate metering

Method of measuring consumed energy using a separate meter for each residential or commercial unit in a building.

Summer period

The summer period runs from April 1 through November 30, inclusively.

Voltage

Voltage is the difference in electrical potential between two points.
It is expressed in volts (V) and is a function of power expressed in watts (W).

Voltage (V) = power (W)
current (A)

Winter period

The winter period runs from December 1 through March 31 of the next year, inclusively.