Request for work

Are you planning a project that requires work on an electrical installation to be carried out by an electrical contractor? Or do you have a project for which Hydro‑Québec will need to conduct work on its system? Discover on this page the different steps, the expected lead times and the costs associated with a work request.

Find the information you need before making a request for work

Learn more about your responsibilities and those of each stakeholder as well as the steps involved and the lead times to expect.

Do you have a work request in progress?

Track the progress of your request and view the activities carried out by each person involved.

Track a request

Use the tab key or the left and right arrows to navigate from one item to another. Then press Enter to open a topic.

The key: Being prepared!

Finding an electrical contractor or an engineering consulting firm

The first thing to do to get your project project to connect or modify your electrical installation started is to contact an electrical contractor and, if necessary, an engineering consulting firm .

Make sure that the electrical contractor you hire is a member of the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ) [in French only].

Please note: Electrical contractors and engineering consulting firms must comply with certain laws and regulations.

Gathering the required documents

Make sure you have all the documents you need to carry out your project so you can provide the information when necessary. For instance:

  • Layout plan
  • Plot plan (land register excerpt)
  • Subdivision plan
  • Copy of servitudes
  • Single‑line diagram
  • Description of loads to be connected
  • Photos

In some cases, an engineering consulting firm will be able to help you provide the required documents.

Information about the standards

Connection work must be carried out in compliance with the safety standards and regulations in effect.

Learning about the contractor’s or the engineering consulting firm’s responsibilities

Electrical contractor

Article 1.1.3 in the Blue Book (standard E.21-10) [PDF 7,4 MB – in French only] outlines the electrical contractor’s responsibility toward the customer. Their responsibilities include the following:

  • Checking the availability of electrical service and the applicable conditions
  • Informing the customer of the steps to take to ensure that their installation is supplied on the requested date
  • Informing the customer of all possible costs (connection, line extension or modification)
Engineering consulting firm

Engineering consulting firms provide solutions and services such as:

  • Prefeasibility studies
  • Business cases
  • Environmental impact assessments
  • Designing construction or engineering projects
  • Monitoring and inspecting construction projects and managing on‑site projects
  • Assistance and technical advice

A connection project can include up to 10 steps

Identify the steps below for which you, your electrical contractor or the engineering consulting firm are responsible.

  1. 1 ‒ Hiring an electrical contractor or an engineering consulting firm CUSTOMER

    The customer hires an electrical contractor and, in some cases, an engineering consulting firm.

  2. 2 ‒ Preparatory work ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM

    Electrical contractor:
    • The electrical contractor assesses what needs to be done before HydroQuébec can carry out its work, carries out the work in question and sends the connection request to Hydro‑Québec.
    • When the electrical contractor’s work is finished and compliant, they send a request to Hydro‑Québec stating that Hydro‑Québec can begin its work.
    Engineering consulting firm (if necessary):
    • The engineering consulting firm can provide, for instance, civil engineering plans, a protection curve study and, if necessary, harmonic studies and flicker analyses.

    Note: Engineering consulting firms may be called upon several months before a customer hires an electrical contractor.

  3. 3 ‒ Processing and following up on the request HYDRO‑QUÉBEC

    • Hydro‑Québec records the request.
    • Hydro‑Québec provides the electrical contractor and the customer with the confirmation number  .
    • Hydro‑Québec contacts the electrical contractor, if necessary.
    • If required, Hydro‑Québec requests any necessary information to process the request.

  4. 4 ‒ Follow-up and preparatory work ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM

    • The electrical contractor informs Hydro‑Québec of the status of the work assigned.
    • The electrical contractor provides any requested clarifications, when necessary.
    • At the customer’s request, the electrical contractor carries out the activities related to planting private utility poles  .

  5. 5 ‒ Assessment and costs HYDRO‑QUÉBEC

    • Hydro‑Québec assesses the scope and cost of the work, if applicable.
    • Hydro‑Québec sends the customer the agreements regarding the work.

  6. 6 ‒ Documentation and payment CUSTOMER

    If necessary, the customer provides Hydro‑Québec with the following documents before the work begins:

    • Required servitudes
    • Signed agreement documents (mandatory before engineering work can begin) 
    • Amount due (mandatory for the work to be carried out)

  7. 7 ‒ Vegetation control, clearing or installation of poles HYDRO‑QUÉBEC

    • Hydro‑Québec assesses the scope and cost of the work, if applicable.
    • Hydro‑Québec acts as a liaison with the companies responsible for the work, if needed.
    • Hydro‑Québec can provide support (standards, validation of field work), if necessary.

  8. 8 ‒ Confirmation – Work completed ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM

    The electrical contractor provides Hydro‑Québec with a “Déclaration de travaux” form, which confirms that all the work that needs to be carried out before Hydro‑Québec can conduct its work is complete and that the installation is ready to be connected to the power grid.

  9. 9 ‒ Project completion and commissioning HYDRO‑QUÉBEC

    • Hydro‑Québec carries out its work, where appropriate.
    • Hydro‑Québec installs the metering equipment  and any other required equipment.
    • Hydro‑Québec commissions the equipment.

  10. 10 ‒ Payment CUSTOMER

    The customer pays all applicable fees.

Determining the approximate lead time for a connection request

Understanding the charges before beginning a project

If you would like a cost estimate for the work, please fill out this questionnaire.

Note: Due to the technical nature of certain questions, you may have to ask an electrical contractor for assistance in completing the questionnaire. The estimate provided has been calculated according to the terms set out in the Conditions of Service.

In the case of a discrepancy between the information on this site and the Conditions of Service, the latter shall take precedence.

Process for certain electricity supply projects and changes in electricity use

In some cases, authorization from the government of Québec is required. Before submitting a request for work, check whether your project is subject to specific requirements and find out what steps to take on the Government of Quebec website.

Projects requiring 5,000 kW (5 MW) or more

Projects involving cryptographic use applied to blockchains – 50 kW or more

Changes in electricity use

Other types of requests for work