Robert Paterson, LJI Reporter
Quebec has the lowest residential electricity rates in North America. There are ways you can cut those prices even further. Hydro-Quebec offers two plans. The first, called Winter Credit, asks the householder to reduce demand on specific days during peak times. The second, for those who are more comfortable with electronics, is a Smart Home system, Hydro-Quebec calls Hilo, that enables a fine control of not only heating but of all power use in the home.
First the Winter Credit, which can save you several hundred dollars a winter season. Hydro-Quebec will send you a notice the day before a peak event asking you to reduce your demand between
6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and/or 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. In practice, this means reducing your heat temperature and not cooking or doing laundry during these periods.
The details for joining Winter Credit are found on the billing section of your Hydro-Quebec online account.
More complex to set up, but easier to maintain, is the Hilo program. Hilo is a computer-controlled service that helps to reduce demand during peak periods of the day by lowering the thermostats that control baseboard heaters. Here you install an electronic switch that can connect to many devices and also electronic thermostats. These are connected to a phone app that enables you to control heating at any time from any place. Once you sign up and chose your package, Hydro-Quebec will send a technician with all the equipment to set you up. In many cases there is a subsidy for this installation.
With Hilo you have direct and precise control of your electricity use. With this control, you can reduce your consumption without reducing your comfort. Hilo also offers “Challenge Days” to reduce peak load. These offer direct savings of about $140 a year like Winter Credit.
You can explore this further and sign up here:
https://www.hiloenergie.com/en-ca/our-service/