Rate DT – Dual Energy
Structure of Rate DT
Electricity prices at Rate DT vary with the temperature. Learn how.
- System access charge per day in the consumption period, times the multiplier:
- Price of energy consumed when the temperature is above or equal to −12°C or −15°C: /kWh
- Price of energy consumed when the temperature is below –12°C or –15°C: /kWh
- Charge for power demand exceeding the greater of 50 kilowatts (kW) or 4 kW times the multiplier: /kW
Rates effective April 1, . 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
A fixed amount you pay for electricity service. For Rate DT, the amount is expressed in cents per day.
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 during the year 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.
Calculating billing demand
Power demand is another component that affects your electricity bill. Learn how.
If the power demand exceeds 50 kw (or 4 kW times the multiplier), the demand charge is applied to the greater of these two billing demand values:
- Maximum power demand, i.e., the higher of the following two values:
- Real power
- 90% of apparent power
- Minimum billing demand.
For Rate DT, the minimum billing demand is set at 65% of the maximum power demand during a consumption period that falls wholly in the winter period included in the 12 consecutive monthly periods ending with the consumption period in question.
Multiplier
Under Rate DT, a multiplier is applied to the system access charge and the base billing demand.
The multiplier is generally equal to 1, except when there is bulk metering that includes the consumption of the dual-energy system and when the contract was subject to Rate DT or eligible for Rate DM on May 31, 2009.
If the multiplier is not equal to 1, it is determined by the type of residence, as follows:
- Apartment building or community residence having multiple dwellings:
- Number of dwellings in apartment building or community residence
- Community residence having multiple dwellings and rooms:
- Number of dwellings in community residence, plus
- 1 for the first 9 rooms, plus
- 1 for each additional room
- Rooming house or community residence with 10 rooms or more:
- 1 for the first 9 rooms, plus
- 1 for each additional room
How to read your electricity bill
Electricity rates also include other components
Credit for supply at medium or high voltage
Hydro‑Québec grants a supply credit of per kilowatthour (kWh) to Rate DT customers to whom it supplies electricity at a voltage of 5 kilovolts (kV) or more.
Hydro‑Québec’s rates assume that electricity will be supplied at low voltage. Customers who have equipment to step down the voltage of the electricity they are supplied or who use electricity at medium or high voltage represent reduced costs for Hydro‑Québec. In return, they are granted a monthly credit.
More information
To find out more about Rate DT, consult Section 5 of Chapter 2 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 2.31 MB].
During most of the year
When the temperature is above or equal to −12°C or −15°C, depending on the region.
During a cold spell
When the temperature goes below −12°C or −15°C, depending on the region.
First tier
Your energy consumption is divided into two tiers. The first tier (1st tier), which is set at 40 kWh per day, or 1,200 kWh per month, is billed at a lower price than the second tier (2nd tier).
Rate
Electricity rate effective April 1, .
Oil
Estimated cost of oil: /litre.
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Electricity – Rate D
Consumption billed at the first‑tier price of Rate D at April 1, , for consumption associated with central air‑conditioning, and the second‑tier energy price of Rate D for pool heating.
Dual-energy – Rate DT
Consumption billed at lowest Rate DT price, as at April 1, .
Distribution service loop
Any portion of a power line, not located along a public highway, extending the Hydro-Québec system to the connection point.
See the eligibility criteria regarding domestic rates for farms[PDF 693 Kb]
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.
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.
Multiplier
A factor that is applied to the system access charge, to the consumption at the various energy price tiers and to the base billing demand, as applicable depending on the rate.
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).
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).
Consumption period
Period during which electricity is delivered to the customer and which extends between the two dates used by Hydro‑Québec for calculation of the bill.
Monthly periods
Period of 30 days, which may begin on any day of the month, established by Hydro‑Québec for billing purposes.
Winter period
Period from December 1 through March 31 of the next year, inclusive.
Summer period
Period from April 1 through November 30, inclusive.
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.
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 customers must pay for each consumption period, regardless of their electricity use. The threshold is set so that customers pay their share of the costs Hydro‑Québec incurs to meet their 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 their projected electricity use.
Electricity as the main source
The dual-energy system in electrical mode uses an electric forced-air system, an electric boiler, a traditional central heat pump or a geothermal heat pump.
Fuel as the auxiliary source
“Fuel as the auxiliary source” refers to a fuel such as natural gas, oil, propane or wood pellets that is used as a second source of energy to heat your home.
Dual-energy system in fuel mode
The dual-energy system in fuel mode must be able to keep your home warm during cold spells without the electrical mode being used at the same time.
Automatic switch
A dual-energy heating system eligible for Rate DT automatically switches from one energy source to the other when it receives a signal from the outdoor-temperature sensor: electricity when the temperature is above or equal to –12°C or –15°C, depending on the region; fuel when the temperature goes below that critical threshold.
Off-grid systems
“Off-grid system” refers to a system that is not connected to Hydro‑Québec’s main grid. In this particular case, it refers to the systems in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Clova, Obedjiwan or Île-d’Anticosti or one of the Nunavik systems. Rate DT (dual energy) is not available to homes and farms located in those regions.
Electricity as the main source of energy
The dual-energy system in electrical mode uses an electric forced-air system, an electric boiler, a traditional central heat pump or a geothermal heat pump.
Fuel as the auxiliary source
“Fuel as the auxiliary source” refers to a fuel such as natural gas, oil, propane or wood pellets that is used as a second source of energy for your farm’s heating needs.
Dual-energy system in fuel mode
The dual-energy system in fuel mode must be able to keep the farm premises it serves warm without the electrical mode being used at the same time.
Comments:
- The installed capacity of each dual-energy system must be no less than 50% of the installed capacity of the premises it serves.
- The installed capacity of all premises that are not served by a dual-energy system must not exceed 10 kilowatts.
Off-grid systems
“Off-grid system” refers to a system that is not connected to Hydro‑Québec’s main grid. In this particular case, it refers to the systems in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Clova, Obedjiwan or Île-d’Anticosti or one of the Nunavik systems. Rate DT (dual energy) is not available to homes and farms located in those regions.
Voltage
Difference in electrical level between two points, expressed in volts (V).
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.