Hydro-Québec to expand its no-cost smart thermostat program to water heaters

Montréal - Hydro-Québec has launched a new solution for electric water heaters that’s free of charge. After focusing on space heating with its “$0 smart thermostats” offer, the company is now turning its attention to water heating—the second biggest draw on home electricity, accounting for up to 20% of household electricity bills. The initiative aims to shift electricity consumption during winter peaks without compromising comfort.

Under the program, Hydro-Québec will temporarily switch off the water heaters of participating households, with their consent, during peak demand events. This measure won’t affect comfort or safety, since the tanks hold a large volume of very hot water, but it could help participants save up to $45 per year. What’s more, it has the potential to shift up to 300 MW of demand, thereby easing pressure on the grid during winter peaks.

The proposed solution builds on the expertise developed by the company in recent years and incorporates Québec-made smart devices to reduce the risk of running out of hot water when the heaters are temporarily switched off.