The Winter Credit Option and Rate Flex D are two dynamic rate offerings that could help you reduce your electricity bill when you lower or shift your consumption at our request during the winter period.
When everyone uses a lot of electricity at the same time in the winter, it ties up the Hydro-Québec grid and puts it under the most pressure. This is referred to as a winter peak. To reduce the pressure on the grid, we ask our participants to help us spread out electricity demand.
Find out more about our two dynamic pricing offerings and decide which one suits you best. To view your potential savings under each rate offering, log into your Customer Space.
If you can reduce or shift electricity use during winter peaks, you have two options: the Winter Credit Option and Rate Flex D.
(base rate)
Summer periodBase rate price
Winter period, outside of peak demand events Base rate price
Winter period, during peak demand events (Max. 100 hours/winter) Base rate price
with Winter Credit Option
Summer periodBase rate price
Winter period, outside of peak demand eventsBase rate price
Winter period, during peak demand events (Max. 100 hours/winter) Base rate price minus credit of 53.526¢ per kilowatthour (kWh) curtailed
Times when peak demand events may occur7 days a week
Between 6 and 9 a.m. and between 4 and 8 p.m.
Potential for savingsRisk-free: your bill can only get smaller.
Summer periodBase rate price
Winter period, outside of peak demand eventsPrice about 30% lower than base rate
Winter period, during peak demand events (Max. 100 hours/winter) Price higher than base rate: 53.526¢ per kWh consumed
Times when peak demand events may occurMonday to Friday
Between 6 and 9 a.m. and between 4 and 8 p.m.
Potential for substantial savingsYour bill can increase if consumption is not reduced during peak demand events.
The email will contain several tips to help you shift your electricity use.Peak demand events are associated with a time period during which Hydro-Québec has determined that electricity demand will be very high.
Peak demand events are associated with a time period during which Hydro-Québec has determined that electricity demand will be very high.
When you sign up for dynamic pricing, you join a growing community of Quebecers who want to take action. You’ll have access to a forum that gives members the opportunity to ask all their questions, find answers and share tips and advice for peak demand events. Hydro-Québec specialists are available to answer your questions!
The equivalent of the average demand of 29,400 households
per event
Thanks to last season’s collective effort, dynamic pricing participants helped reduce electricity demand equivalent to the average consumption of 29,400 residential customers per event!
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 period. Everyone wins when we consume energy responsibly.
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.
No. It’s up to you whether you decide to take advantage of the dynamic rate offerings or not, and you can cancel anytime.
No. But for winter 2022-2023, our goal is to sign up 220,000 residential and agricultural customers. This number is based in part on our supply plan. We hope it increases gradually so that we can be sure to offer customers the best support possible. Dynamic pricing is now available to all eligible customers and is totally voluntary.
Yes. You can sign up right away in your Customer Space. Go to the Billing tab, and then select “Compare rates.”
Dynamic pricing and the Hilo smart home service both aim to optimize home energy use during peak periods so customers can save on their electricity bills. The actions you’re willing to take to be energy wise will help you decide between the two.
The dynamic pricing options, the Winter Credit Option and Rate Flex D, help you save on your bill when you make simple changes to your energy consumption during peak periods using the devices that you already have at home.
With its turnkey smart home service and connected devices, Hilo will help you save energy throughout the year and shift your consumption outside of peak periods.
Peak demand events can take place from December 1 to March 31, from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. There may be 25 to 33 events per winter, at most, for a maximum of 100 hours in all.
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.
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.
