Rate M
Structure of Rate M
Billing for Rate M includes the following:
- An amount for the energy in kilowatthours (kWh) consumed during the period in question. Two different prices apply depending on the amount of energy consumed:
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- A price for the first 210,000 kWh
- A lower price for the remaining consumption
- An amount for the billing demand in kilowatts (kW).
Rate M is a monthly rate, which means the first-tier consumption limit, and the amount billed as demand, and the minimum charge are based on a 30‑day period.
If applicable, the following may lower your bill:
Credit for supply at medium or high voltage
Hydro‑Québec’s rates assume that electricity will be supplied at low voltage. If you have equipment to step down the voltage of the electricity delivered to you or if you use electricity at medium or high voltage, that means reduced costs for Hydro‑Québec. In return, you receive a monthly credit on your demand charge. The credit is determined according to the supply voltage.
Adjustment for transformation losses
Hydro‑Québec bills you only for the electricity you use, regardless of where it is metered in relation to the transformer substation. If metering occurs before transformation, the electricity billed will include transformation losses. So that you do not pay for losses, Hydro‑Québec grants an adjustment of per kilowatt (kW) on the billing demand.
Rate M prices in effect
Breakdown of billing
Applicable in certain cases
- Credit for supply at medium or high voltage
- Voltage of 5 kilovolts (kV) to less than 15 kV /kW
- Voltage of 15 kV to less than 50 kV /kW
- Voltage of 50 kV to less than 80 kV /kW
- Voltage of 80 kV to less than 170 kV /kW
- Voltage of 170 kV or more /kW
- Adjustment for transformation losses /kW
If little or no electricity is used, a minimum charge is billed. It is per month (30 days) when single-phase is delivered or per month when three-phase is delivered.
Rates in effect as of April 1, . This table does not replace the Electricity Rates document in any way whatsoever.
More information
This information has been simplified. For more details about Rate M, consult Section 1 of Chapter 4 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 1.44 MB].
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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).
Monthly periods
Period of 30 days, which may begin on any day of the month, established by Hydro‑Québec for billing purposes.
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).
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).
- Low voltage: Voltage of 750 volts (V) or less.
- Medium voltage: Voltage of more than 750 V, but less than 44 kilovolts (kV).
- High voltage: Voltage of 44 kV or more.
Voltage
Difference in electrical level between two points, expressed in volts (V).
Difference in electrical level between two points, expressed in volts (V).
Transformation
Operation that involves increasing or decreasing voltage through a transformer.
Load factor (LF)
Relationship between the energy (in kilowatthours) actually consumed and the amount of energy that can be consumed by using the entire maximum power demand throughout the consumption period. The load factor indicates the utilization rate of maximum power demand for a given consumption period.
Minimum billing demand (minimum demand)
The minimum amount of power that the customer must pay for each consumption period, regardless of electricity use. The threshold is set so that you pay your share of the costs Hydro‑Québec incurs to meet your power needs at all times. The minimum billing demand is determined by the conditions of each rate, as indicated in the Electricity Rates.
- For all rates except Rate L, the minimum billing demand is automatically determined based on the previous winter’s maximum power demand.
- Rate L customers must set their own minimum billing demand, called “contract power,” based on the amount of electricity they expect to use.
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.
Winter period
Period from December 1 through March 31 of the next year, inclusive.
Minimum charge (minimum monthly bill)
Minimum amount billable for electricity service even if little or no electricity has been used in the billing period.
Rate
Electricity rate effective April 1, .