Hydro-Québec - Business Customers





	Medium power (M)

	Small power (G)

	Rate G-9

	Rate GD

	Running-in for new equipment

	Interruptible electricity rate option

	Public lighting rates (in French)

	Rate BT


	Optimizing your billing demand

Understanding the Bill and Rates
Rate G-9

Reliable energy at stable prices

Hydro-Québec offers rate options suited to companies involved in a wide range of activities but with similar consumption and demand characteristics. The Limited-Use Business Rate (G-9) is designed for customers with a low load factor (less than 30%).

Who is eligible for the Limited-Use Business Rate (G-9)?

The Limited-Use Business Rate (G-9) is available to all customers whose maximum demand power has exceeded 65kW in at least one of the last 12 monthly billing periods. If you use the power at your disposal for only brief durations, this rate is probably well-suited to your consumption profile.

What is the load factor?

The load factor (LF) is the ratio between the energy you actually consume (in kWh) and the maximum energy you could use during a given period, based on your maximum demand power.

Load Factor =	Consumption during the period (in KWh)			x 100
	Maximum power demand	x	No. of hours in the period

Power Factor (PF)

Electrical equipment, whether belonging to a customer or Hydro-Québec, is designed to operate at a relatively stable voltage.

Through a financial disincentive, Hydro-Québec is reminding customers that a PF of at least 90% should be maintained at all times. A margin of up to 10% is tolerated.

The power factor is the ratio between real power and apparent power.

PF =	Real Power	x 100
	Apparent Power

What happens if your PF is below 90%?

Some Rate G-9 customers make less than optimal use of the electricity provided to them, which forces Hydro-Québec to supply them with additional power and correct the impacts on the power system.

To ensure that such customers pay the real cost of their electricity supply and thus ensure fair treatment for all customers, a new charge will be applied progressively on each kilowatt of apparent power demand beyond the limits set in their contract.

For any difference between maximum power demand and real power,

A charge of $3.12 per kilowatt (kW) will apply as of April 1, 2008
The charge will rise to $6.24 per kW as of April 1, 2009
It will reach $9.33 per kW as of April 1, 2010.

For more information, consult the brochure, The Real Cost of Electricity: New charge for power factor below 90% [PDF].

Comparison of bills calculated at Rates G-9 and M, based on
different LFs

The Limited-Use Business Rate (G-9) is usually more advantageous than Rate M when the LF is less than 30%.

Typical case
Billing demand of 140kW for a 30-day billing period with no discount for supply at medium or high voltage or adjustment for transformer losses (excluding taxes)

LF	kWh	Rate G-9	Rate M
10%	10,080	$1,479.91	$2,336.21
20%	20,160	$2,401.22	$2,790.82
30%	30,240	$3,322.54	$3,245.42
40%	40,320	$4,243.85	$3,700.03

A flexible rate

The Limited-Use Business Rate (G-9) is a monthly rate (30-day billing period) comprising one price for power based on billing demand (demand charge) and one price for energy.

Structure of the Limited-Use Business Rate (G-9)

Frais de puissance

Demand charge (kW) x $3.99/kW

Energy charge

Energy consumption (kWh) x 9.14¢/kWh

Rates effective April 1, 2009.
Under no circumstances may this table be used to replace the Distribution Tariff.