Equipment testing
by medium‑power customers
If you have to run short tests after adding new equipment or modifying or optimizing existing equipment, your power demand may rise temporarily, pushing up the cost of the kilowatthours you consume.
Flexible terms and conditions
To benefit from these conditions, you must notify Hydro‑Québec in advance of the testing start date and duration. You’ll need to specify the nature of the new equipment, modifications or optimization work, as well as the power rating of the equipment to be tested.
The maximum power demand during the test period(s) must be at least 500 kW.
The conditions for equipment testing apply for a minimum of one hour and a maximum of one consumption period.
Calculation of billing amount
Rate M or G9, as the case may be, is applied to the billing demand recorded outside the test period(s), as well as to the energy of the consumption period in question.
In addition, for each 15-minute integration period of actual hours in the test period(s), an amount of per kilowatthour is applied to the excess of real power over the billing demand for periods with no testing.
More information
If you have any questions about this rate option, contact your commercial officer or designated agent. You can also reach our Business customer services by phone at 1 800 463‑9900 or by email at business@hydro.qc.ca.
This information has been simplified. For more details about the equipment testing conditions for medium-power customers, consult Section 5 of Chapter 4 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 1.44 MB].
Power demand
Power a customer requires to meet energy needs at a given time. The higher the customer’s energy consumption at a given time, the higher the power demand.
Consumption period
Period during which electricity is delivered to the customer and which extends between the two dates used by Hydro-Québec for calculation of the bill.
Power
Total amount of electricity supplied at a given time. Expressed in kilowatts (kW), power is the combined effect of voltage, expressed in kilovolts (kV), and current, expressed in amperes (A).
Energy
Power used by electrical equipment over a given period of time. Expressed in kilowatthours (kWh), energy is calculated as power, expressed in kilowatts (kW), multiplied by the time during which the power is used, expressed in hours (h).
The formula for energy is as follows: energy (in kilowatthours) is equal to power (in kilowatts) multiplied by duration of use (in hours).
Maximum power demand
Maximum power measured during a consumption period. It is the higher of the following two values: real power in kilowatts (kW), or a percentage (90% for domestic rates and small- and medium-power rates, or 95% for large‑power rates) of the apparent power in kilovoltamperes (kVA).
Real power
Amount of electricity consumed in a useful manner to operate equipment, such as a motor or a heating or lighting system. Real power is expressed in kilowatts (kW).
Rate
Electricity rate effective April 1, .