Interruptible Electricity Rate Option

By signing up for the interruptible electricity option, you agree not to exceed a predetermined demand level when Hydro-Québec so requests. In return, you receive a guaranteed fixed credit of $1.50/kW per month and a variable credit of 7¢/kWh for the actual electricity interrupted by Hydro-Québec.

Fixed credit

• Paid even if Hydro-Québec does not request any interruptions during the term of the agreement
• Equal to $1.50/kW, applicable to the difference between the average hourly power demand during useful hours and the base power
• Applied on a monthly basis
• Prorated to the number of days you are signed up for the option

Variable credit

• Depends on the amount of load shaved during interruption periods
• Equal to 7¢/kWh of effective hourly interruptible power for each hour of interruption
• Applied on a monthly basis
• Only granted for hours not subject to a penalty

Penalties

• A penalty of 30¢/kW applies for each overrun. An overrun is the difference between your real power demand and 105% of your base power in any 15-minute period of interruption.
• The total penalties applied to a given interruption period cannot exceed the fixed credit paid for the consumption period in question.
• The total penalties applied during the term of an agreement cannot exceed the total amount paid in fixed credits. In other words, at the end of the agreement period, the total penalties applied will always be less than or equal to the total amount paid in fixed and variable credits.
• Hydro-Québec reserves the right to cancel the agreement if penalties are applied four times during the winter period.

Case studies

See the documents below (in French only) for examples of how the option applies to two specific types of buildings:

• CÉGEP [PDF - 391 Ko - In French only]
• Centre hospitalier [PDF - 688 Ko - In French only]