MONTRÉAL, Aug. 1, 2024
/CNW/ - Hydro-Québec filed its rate application today with
the Régie de l'énergie, setting out rate increases effective
April 1, 2025. The proposed increases
are 3% for residential customers, 3.9% for business customers and
3.3% for large industrial customers.
These increases are the result of inflationary pressures
in recent years and are the same as the 2024 increases for
residential customers and large industrial customers. The rate
increase for business customers is lower than the 2024 increase of
5.1%.
For residential customers, the impact of the 3% rate
adjustment would amount to about $2.40 per month for an apartment, $4.50 for a small house, $6.00 for a midsize house and $7.40 for a large house.
New initiatives to encourage energy efficiency and lower
electricity bills
Hydro-Québec has adopted a global strategy that places
energy efficiency at the core of the energy transition. Today, the
company presented enhanced rate options that will help customers
lower their electricity bills despite the rate increase by taking
advantage of numerous incentives to reduce their electricity use.
These options take into account the fact that electricity is a
precious resource and that we need to change our ways of using
it.
These new initiatives are a first step. Hydro-Québec will
analyze the impact of the announced measures and propose additional
incentives over the coming years to further encourage its customers
to use less electricity, especially when it really
counts.
Hydro-Québec is tripling its energy efficiency
budget from $150 million in 2022 to
$500 million in 2025, to encourage
the installation of efficient heat pumps, among other things.
The company is also launching a voluntary incentive rate with
savings of up to $350 per year for
customers who shift their electricity use by charging their
electric vehicle overnight, for example.
Self-generation, including solar self-generation, will be made
easier for all customers as the maximum self-generation capacity
will increase from 50 kW to 1,000 kW. Hydro-Québec also plans to
offer a grant for the installation of solar panels beginning in
2026.
Some households use much more electricity than others. To combat
overconsumption, Hydro-Québec is proposing to charge households
that consume more than 50,000 kWh per year, i.e., about 1% of
residential customers, a higher rate encouraging them to use energy
more wisely. This rate would apply as of 2027, giving these
customers a few years to implement the energy efficiency measures
needed to bring their consumption below 50,000 kWh.
Large industrial customers will also need to install energy
management systems enabling them to continuously monitor their
electricity use.
Special consideration for low-income households
Hydro-Québec is continuing its efforts to support
low-income households. A $60-million
budget has been proposed, mainly to support bill and debt payment
for certain customers who have entered into payment arrangements
and to offer energy efficiency programs to help customers reduce
their electricity use. Hydro-Québec also plans to implement
measures to ensure that no low-income households are charged the
residential overconsumption rate.
Next steps
The Régie de l'énergie's review and public hearing will take
place from September to December. Its decision will be announced
next March at the latest, with the new rates coming into effect on
April 1, 2025.
SOURCE Hydro-Québec