Structure of Rate DP
- Price of energy for the first 1,200 kWh per month (1st tier): 6.294¢/kWh
- Price of energy for the remaining consumption (2nd tier): 9.570¢/kWh
- Charge for power demand in excess of 50 kW, in the winter period: $6.649/kW
- Charge for power demand in excess of 50 kW, in the summer period: $4.914/kW
If little or no electricity is used, a minimum charge is billed. It is $13.039 per month (30 days) when single-phase electricity is delivered or $19.559 per month when three-phase electricity is delivered.
Rates effective April 1, 2023. This table does not replace the Electricity Rates document in any way whatsoever.
Understanding rates
Rates have three main components that reflect the actual costs incurred by Hydro‑Québec to provide electrical service.
System access charge
Rate DP does not have a system access charge, but the bill is never lower than the applicable minimum charge.
Energy
The amount billed for energy varies based on your consumption.
Power demand
Hydro‑Québec must be able to meet its customers’ maximum power demand at all times. Even if power demand is variable and consumption is sometimes minimal, Hydro‑Québec’s rates still have to cover the cost of operating and maintaining the power system. For this reason, it’s important that rates for large electricity consumers include billing for maximum power demand. This reflects the costs associated with meeting power demands of varying size and duration.
If you are a Rate DP customer and your maximum power demand was below 65 kW during the last 12 monthly periods, it might be advantageous for you to switch to Rate D.
Calculating billing demand
The demand charge is applied to the greater of these two billing demand values.
- The maximum power demand corresponding to the greater of the two following values:
- Real power
- 90% of apparent power
or
For Rate DP, the minimum billing demand is set at 65% of the maximum power demand during a consumption period that falls wholly within the winter period included in the last 12 monthly periods.
Minimum charge
Rate DP contracts also include a minimum charge. Customers pay the minimum charge when they consume little or no electricity during a billing period. This charge is set so that you pay your share of the costs Hydro‑Québec incurs to meet your power needs.
For Rate DP, the minimum charge (for 30 days) is $13.039 when single-phase electricity is delivered or $19.559 when three-phase electricity is delivered. It is prorated to the number of days in the consumption period if it is not 30 days.
When does the minimum charge apply?
For Rate DP contracts, the minimum charge applies only when it is greater than the cost of electricity used during a given consumption period.
Example of a Rate DP bill with minimum charge
Electricity rates also include other components
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, Hydro‑Québec’s costs are reduced. In return, you receive a monthly credit on your demand charge. The credit is determined according to the supply voltage.
- Credit for supply at medium or high voltage
- Voltage of 5 kilovolts (kV), but less than 15 kV $0.6538/kW
- Voltage of 15 kV, but less than 50 kV $1.0478/kW
- Voltage of 50 kV, but less than 80 kV $2.3393/kW
- Voltage of 80 kV, but less than 170 kV $2.8616/kW
- Voltage of 170 kV or more $3.7814/kW
Rates effective April 1, 2023. This table does not replace the Electricity Rates document in any way whatsoever.
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 18.971¢ per kilowatt (kW) on the billing demand.
More information
To find out more about Rate DP, consult Section 3 of Chapter 2 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 2.35 MB].
Other useful information
How to request electricity service
Separate metering
Method of measuring energy consumed with a separate meter for each residential or commercial unit in a building.
Bulk metering
Method of measuring energy consumed with a single meter instead of separate meters for an entire multiunit commercial or residential building. The building owner is responsible for dividing the costs between the occupants.
System access charge
A set amount, expressed in dollars per month or cents per day depending on the applicable rate, that the customer must pay for the electricity service.
Beginning April 1, 2019, the term fixed charge was replaced with system access charge.
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).
Energy (kWh) = power (kW) x time used (h).
Winter period
Period from December 1 through March 31 of the next year, inclusive.
Summer period
Period from April 1 through November 30, inclusive.
Voltage
Difference in electrical level between two points, expressed in volts (V).
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).
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).
Apparent power
Amount of electricity that Hydro-Québec supplies to a customer, expressed in kilovoltamperes (kVA). When it is used, apparent power breaks down into real power (kW), which runs devices, and reactive power (kVAR), which produces magnetic fields and which is not useful power for the customer.
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.
Low voltage: Voltage of 750 V or less.
Medium voltage: Voltage of more than 750 V, but less than 44 kV.
High voltage: Voltage of 44 kV or more.
Rate
Electricity rate effective April 1, 2023.
Monthly periods
Period of 30 days, which may begin on any day of the month, established by Hydro‑Québec for billing purposes.
Transformation
Operation that involves increasing or decreasing voltage through a transformer.