Hydro-Québec Calls for Energy Efficiency Measures

August 25, 2025

Hydro-Québec is reiterating various energy efficiency requests to the Régie de l’énergie. These measures include a residential program offering access to smart thermostats at $0, available to both homeowners and tenants.

Hydro-Québec also wishes to offer financial support for the purchase of solar panels of $1,000 for each kW installed, subject to a maximum of 40% of the total installation cost.

For an average-sized home, this could represent $5,000 in assistance. For a commercial building, the assistance could be as much as $40,500.

The annual rate increases submitted by Hydro-Québec to the Régie de l’énergie for 2026, 2027 and 2028 are as follows:

• Residential rates: 3%
• Commercial rates: 4.8%
• Industrial rates: 4.8%

Tools to reduce the bill  

“We will invest a record $2.5 billion in energy efficiency over the next three years. For residential customers, our $0 smart thermostats will significantly reduce the impact of the increase and even completely cancel it for a year. We will also work closely with commercial and industrial customers to support them, taking into account their different realities in the current economic context,” said Dave Rhéaume, Executive Vice President – ​​Commercial Operations and Chief Customer Officer.

Among the measures that will be put forward over the next few years:

• $0 residential smart thermostat access program, available to both homeowners and renters;
• investments of $75 million for tenants and owners in energy poverty; 
• collaboration with the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada to deploy a new energy renovation program to ensure the affordability of the bill for households in energy poverty, improve the energy efficiency of homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• measures tailored to businesses to enable them to save up to 20% on their electricity bills over time, including:
  • for small and medium-sized businesses, innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence to provide them with energy analyses that will enable them to optimize their consumption;
  • with regard to industrial companies, a financial and technical support service which will promote their productivity;
• adjustment of the bill for certain vulnerable sectors of activity in the current economic context;
• from 2026, new financial support for the purchase of solar panels which will be $1,000 for each kW installed, subject to a maximum of 40% of the total installation cost.
  • For an average-sized home, this could represent $5,000 in assistance.
  • For a commercial building, this could represent assistance of $40,500.

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