Record consumption peaks - The coldest January since 2004: Tools to help customers

Given the cold spell experienced in January 2022, Hydro-Québec wishes to highlight various means that are available to help customers pay their electricity bills:

• Hydro-Québec invites customers who are having difficulty paying their bills to enter into a payment arrangement without delay. Various options are available and customers experiencing payment difficulties can make a payment arrangement on our website at any time or by calling customer services at 1 888 385-7252 during business hours. 
• Because of the health crisis, Hydro-Québec will continue to waive administrative charges for unpaid bills, provided the customer has entered into a payment arrangement.
• Hydro-Québec reminds customers that they can sign up for the Equalized Payments Plan (EPP). Under the plan, they pay the same amount each month. Customers can sign up and make changes to their installments directly from their Customer Space at any time.
• Dynamic pricing provides rate offerings that allow participating customers to reduce their energy consumption during winter peaks and accumulate a credit on their electricity bill. Last year, average savings were between $40 and $50 depending on the option selected.
• The Hydro?Québec subsidiary Hilo offers a turnkey smart home service and cash rewards for customers who reduce their consumption during Hilo challenges that take place during winter peaks. In January alone, Hilo customers who participated in the 23 challenges received an average cash reward of $130.

The colder the outdoor temperature, the more energy it takes to heat a home: even if you don’t turn up your thermostats, your bill will be higher because you will use more electricity to keep your home at the temperature you are used to. Obviously, the precise increase depends on the home, including insulation quality, household size and the habits of family members.

Hydro-Québec recorded Québec’s all-time highest peak in demand – 40,510 MW – on January 27, 2022, amid frigid temperatures. In fact, that was the third historic peak recorded in the month of January.

Electricity bills could be expected to go up by some $20 for a two-bedroom apartment and $66 for an average-sized house (158 m2).

How can customers save on their electricity bill?

To have a real impact, customers must understand their electricity use. Heating accounts for almost 55% of electricity costs, and water heating for 20%, so customers should focus on these two factors. The following tips can help:

• Lower the thermostat by one or two degrees at night, and at all times in unoccupied rooms.
• Caulk and weatherstrip drafty windows and doors. If replacing the weatherstripping is not feasible during the heating season, install a removable, heat-shrink plastic film on windows with noticeable air leaks that will remain closed.
• Reduce hot water use by taking shorter showers and doing laundry in cold water.
• Use energy-efficient lightbulbs. LED bulbs are about 85% more efficient than traditional incandescents and last 25 times longer.