Request a connection

The first stage in the process is requesting electrical service.

Ask a master electrician or consulting engineer to prepare the facilities to be connected to the grid, as follows:

• Perform an inventory of your electrical equipment (lighting, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, etc.) and estimate the maximum power demand by adding up the power draws of all systems and equipment to be used simultaneously.
• Ensure that your electrical installation meets that standards of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), manufacturers’ recommendations and Hydro‑Québec standards and regulations.

To open a file, we must receive an official application from a master electrician (member of the Corporation des Maîtres électriciens du Québec) or a consulting engineer on your behalf using the Régie du bâtiment du Québec form.

During this stage, Hydro‑Québec assigns a technician who will oversee the project until the connection has been completed.

You must provide the following in writing:

• Single-line diagram
• Layout plan
• Description of loads to be connected:
  • Under the Conditions of Service, three-phase medium-voltage electricity is supplied at a maximum of 260 A, which is equivalent to 5.6 MVA at 12 kV, 11.2 MVA at 25 kV and 15.5 MVA at 34 kV.
  • If the planned maximum amperage is greater than 260 A, Hydro‑Québec must conduct a special study to determine the voltage level and mode of supply.
  • Single-phase medium-voltage power is supplied by means of an overhead line at a maximum of 50 A.
• Any other technical information requested by the technician.

Based on that information, Hydro‑Québec will process your request and provide you with the following:

• Supply scenario
• Major work estimate (to within 30%)

The draft-design stage starts when you accept the estimate for major work. The technician will be able to give you details about the work to be done and the time it will take.

You must provide the following in writing:

• Your acceptance of the estimate for major work.
• An undertaking to repay costs incurred by Hydro‑Québec should you abandon the project
• Technical data and engineering plans requested by the technician or metering inspector

For connections at 260 A or over, you must sign a draft-design agreement and provide a financial guarantee covering the amounts incurred by Hydro‑Québec during the draft-design stage.

During this stage, the agreement for major work is signed, the connection work is done and your electrical installation is energized.

This agreement includes an adjustment charge, which means that you pay the difference between the power you have agreed to consume and your actual power demand over a five-year period.

For connections at 260 A or over, you must give us a financial guarantee covering the total amount of the allowance paid by Hydro‑Québec. You must also agree to consume a certain amount of power over a given period, at the end of which your financial guarantee will be returned, provided you have fulfilled your commitment.

Note: Hydro-Québec cannot begin work until the agreement for major work has been signed, the amount you have to pay for the work has been paid, the financial guarantees have been provided, the advance required by Hydro‑Québec for construction of the civil works has been received and the necessary environmental authorization certificates have been obtained. The costs are adjusted to reflect actual costs once the work has been completed.

Hydro‑Québec performs an exploratory study to determine the best option for supplying electricity to the site.

To request a study, write to Hydro‑Québec, providing the following information:

• Planned site
• Anticipated power demand, based on 10-year operations forecasts
• Type of facility and process
• Disturbance-producing equipment and sensitive equipment that will be used
• Anticipated number of years of operation, in the case of mining companies
• Any specific needs
• Desired time frame

Hydro‑Québec will then provide you with the following:

• Possible supply scenario for the site
• A very general cost estimate (to within 50%)
• Availability of grid to handle anticipated loads
• Typical timeframe

Estimated duration of this stage: Hydro‑Québec does its best to provide this information within six weeks of receiving your written request.

Hydro‑Québec performs a planning study to determine the best connection scenario.

In this step, we determine the optimal supply solution for all your loads, estimate the costs of the draft design and project, and draw up the completion schedules and technical requirements.

Send Hydro‑Québec a written request that includes the following for the selected site:

• Appendix A, Part 1, of the Technical Requirements for Customer Facilities connected to the Hydro‑Québec Transmission System [PDF 380 Kb], duly completed
• Information about any specific needs

Hydro‑Québec will then provide you with a summary of the planning study results, including the following:

• Baseline solution for the connection and options
• Estimated costs of the draft design and project (to within 30%)
• Completion schedule
• Preliminary draft-design agreement

Estimated duration of this stage: Hydro‑Québec does its best to provide this information within six months of receiving your written request.

Hydro‑Québec starts the draft design once you have decided to go ahead with your project. In this stage, technical aspects are detailed, a more precise timeframe and schedule are established and project costs are firmed up (to within 10%).

The environmental studies required to obtain government approvals are conducted at this time.

Send Hydro‑Québec a written request along with Appendix A, Part 2, of the Technical Requirements for Customer Facilities connected to the Hydro‑Québec Transmission System [PDF 380 Kb], duly completed.

You must also sign the draft-design agreement and provide financial guarantees to cover the cost of the draft design.

During this stage, you must carry out the studies required by Hydro‑Québec to demonstrate that the technical specifications are met and provide any additional information requested, all within the agreed-upon time frame. The studies must be approved by Hydro‑Québec.

At the end of this stage, Hydro‑Québec will provide you with the following:

• Summary of work to be done to connect your facilities
• Any special requirements
• Project cost (to within 10%)
• Draft contribution agreement

Estimated duration of this stage: Hydro‑Québec does its best to provide this information within 15 months of receiving your written request, including all the documents listed above, along with the financial guarantees required for the draft design.

Note: During this stage, you and Hydro‑Québec sign a draft-design agreement to make sure that the actual cost of the draft design will be covered should you postpone or abandon the project. Hydro‑Québec cannot begin the draft-design phase until you have signed the agreement and provided the financial guarantees.

Hydro‑Québec starts the work and energizes your electrical installation once you have signed the contribution agreement, put up the financial guarantees and paid your contribution in full.

While the project is being carried out, you must provide any information requested, perform any technical testing required and comply with any special requirements.

You must also agree to consume a certain amount of power over a given period, at the end of which, if you have met this commitment, your financial guarantee will be returned.

When the work is nearing completion, Hydro‑Québec will give you an operating agreement to sign.

Estimated duration of this stage: one to five years

Note: Hydro‑Québec cannot begin work until the contribution agreement has been signed, the requested contribution has been paid, the financial guarantees have been provided and the necessary environmental authorization certificates have been obtained. The costs and the required financial contribution will be adjusted to reflect the actual costs once the work has been completed.