The Winter Credit Option and Rate Flex D are two dynamic rate offerings that could enable you to save money if you use less electricity at our request during peak demand events.
It’s a way of rewarding you for helping spread out electricity demand during the winter period.
You’ll be notified about peak demand events by email and, if you wish, through our mobile app, no later than 5 p.m. the day before.
Running time: 1 minute 15 seconds.
Video transcript Dynamic pricing
See how much you could save and sign up!
In your Customer Space, see how much you could save with the Winter Credit Option and sign up.
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Create my Customer Space
Click for more information on the Customer Space
What will you need?
Contract holder: Your most recent bill.
Proxy holder or account manager: A recent bill of the account you manage.
Two profitable rate offerings
Comparison of dynamic rate offerings with the base rate
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- Rate D (base rate) Base rate price
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Rate D
with Winter Credit Option Base rate price - Rate Flex D Base rate price
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- Rate D (base rate) Base rate price
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Rate D
with Winter Credit Option Base rate price - Rate Flex D Price lower than base rate
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- Rate D (base rate) Base rate price
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Rate D
with Winter Credit Option Base rate price minus credit of 50¢ per kWh curtailed - Rate Flex D Price higher than base rate: 50¢ per kWh consumed
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- Rate D (base rate) -
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Rate D
with Winter Credit Option 7 days a week - Rate Flex D Monday to Friday
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- Rate D (base rate) -
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Rate D
with Winter Credit Option Potential for savings Risk-free: your bill can only get smaller -
Rate Flex D
Potential for substantial savings
Your bill can increase if consumption is not reduced during peak demand events
We get results when we work together.
Since December 1, the actions taken by all participants reduced demand by 157 megawatts per peak demand event. That’s the equivalent of the average demand of 30,000 households per event!
Frequently asked questions
About dynamic pricing
Why has Hydro‑Québec come up with these rate offerings?
With these offerings, everyone is a winner. If you can reduce or shift electricity use at Hydro‑Québec’s request, you benefit, because your efforts translate into savings. Hydro‑Québec benefits because of the lower electricity demand during peak periods.
In addition to giving customers an opportunity to save on their bill, dynamic pricing reduces pressure on the power system during a hundred hours over the winter during extreme cold. Everyone wins when we consume energy responsibly.
Would Hydro‑Québec consider extending dynamic pricing to the summer?
No. In contrast to our Canadian and American neighbors, the demand for electricity in Québec is very strongly influenced by the use of electric heating systems in most homes. As a result, demand is much higher in winter than in summer. Even if air-conditioning use were to increase in Québec, it’s unlikely that demand would reach peak levels requiring the implementation of dynamic pricing in summer.
Enrollment
Am I required to sign up for the Winter Credit Option or Rate Flex D?
No. It’s up to you whether to take advantage of dynamic rate offerings or not, and you can cancel anytime.
Is enrollment limited?
For winter 2022-2023, a maximum of 300,000 residential and farm customers can sign up. We’ve chosen to roll out our dynamic rate offerings gradually, and therefore to limit the number of participants, so that we can provide optimal customer support. Dynamic pricing is being offered to all eligible customers, who are able to opt in if they wish, subject to eligibility criteria.
I’m very interested in dynamic pricing. Can I sign up right away?
Yes. You can sign up right away in your Customer Space. Go to the Billing tab, and then select “Compare rates”.
Peak demand events
When do peak demand events occur?
Peak demand events can take place from December 1 to March 31, from 6 to 10 a.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. There may be 30 events per winter, at most, for a maximum of 120 hours in all.
How cold does it have to be to trigger a peak demand event?
There is no pre-established threshold, but the temperature is an important factor.
Peak demand events are scheduled when we anticipate high demand for electricity in Québec in winter. That’s the main consideration. It’s true that on cold days everyone uses a lot of energy at the same time, so the temperature has an impact on demand forecasts. However, demand isn’t always the same for a given temperature. For example, if it is -10°C for several days in a row, demand for electricity will be greater on the last day than on the first.
Other factors that affect the forecasted demand have to do with operating constraints related to electricity supply as well as power transmission and distribution. To manage power demand, Hydro-Québec diligently applies all the means at its disposal, including dynamic pricing.
Why don’t peak demand events occur systematically every day during peak hours?
By targeting fewer hours (maximum of 100 per winter), we can offer a more significant price difference between peak periods and off-peak periods, which optimizes your savings potential.
Peak demand event
A time period during which Hydro‑Québec has determined that electricity demand will be very high. There may be 30 events per winter, at most, for a maximum of 120 hours in all.
Winter period
Period from December 1 through March 31 of the next year, inclusive.
Summer period
Period from April 1 through November 30, inclusive.