Rate G
A great rate for small-power customers
Rate G is generally made up of three components: a system access charge, energy consumption and billing demand. It is a monthly rate, which means it is based on a 30‑day period.
In general, the billing period is about 2 months, or about 1 month if there is a charge for billing demand.
Structure of Rate G
- System access charge for a 30‑day period, prorated to the exact number of days in the consumption period: $14.860
-
Price of energy for
a 30‑day period
- First 15,090 kilowatthours (kWh): 11.933¢/kWh
- Remaining energy consumed: 9.184¢/kWh
-
Price of power
demand for a 30‑day period
- First 50 kilowatts (kW): not billed
- Power demand exceeding 50 kW: $21.261/kW
If little or no electricity is used, a minimum charge is billed. It is $14.860 per month (30 days) when single-phase electricity is delivered or $44.581 per month when three-phase electricity is delivered.
Rates in effect as of April 1, 2025. This table does not replace the Electricity Rates publication in any way whatsoever.
How to read your Rate G billMore information
This information has been simplified. For more details about Rate G, consult Section 1 of Chapter 3 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 1.44 MB].
Additional rate offerings
If you have a Rate G contract, the Winter Credit Option or Rate Flex G may be of interest to you.
You could also sign up for the Net Metering Option if you have your own electricity-generating equipment.
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Separate metering
Method of measuring energy consumed with a separate meter for each residential or commercial unit in a building.
Bulk metering
Method of measuring energy consumed with a single meter instead of separate meters for an entire multiunit commercial or residential building. The building owner is responsible for dividing the costs between the occupants.
Power
Total amount of electricity supplied at a given time. Expressed in kilowatts (kW), power is the combined effect of voltage, expressed in kilovolts (kV), and current, expressed in amperes (A).
Minimum billing demand (minimum demand)
The minimum amount of power that customers must pay for each consumption period, regardless of their electricity use. The threshold is set so that customers pay their share of the costs Hydro-Québec incurs to meet their power needs at all times. The minimum billing demand is determined by the conditions of each rate, as indicated in the Electricity Rates.
- For all rates except Rate L, the minimum billing demand is automatically determined based on the previous winter’s maximum power demand.
- Rate L customers must set their own minimum billing demand, called “contract power,” based on their projected electricity use.
Power demand
Power a customer requires to meet energy needs at a given time. The higher the customer’s energy consumption at a given time, the higher the power demand.
Energy
Power used by electrical equipment over a given period of time. Expressed in kilowatthours (kWh), energy is calculated as power, expressed in kilowatts (kW), multiplied by the time during which the power is used, expressed in hours (h).
The formula for energy is as follows: energy (in kilowatthours) is equal to power (in kilowatts) multiplied by duration of use (in hours).
Load factor (LF)
Relationship between the energy (in kilowatthours) actually consumed and the amount of energy that can be consumed by using the entire maximum power demand throughout the consumption period. The load factor indicates the utilization rate of maximum power demand for a given consumption period.
Monthly periods
Period of 30 days, which may begin on any day of the month, established by Hydro‑Québec for billing purposes.
Minimum charge (minimum monthly bill)
Minimum amount billable for electricity service even if little or no electricity has been used in the billing period.
System access charge
A set amount, expressed in dollars per month or cents per day depending on the rate, to be paid monthly the electricity service itself.
The expression “fixed charge” has been replaced by “system access charge” as of April, 2019.
- Low voltage: Voltage of 750 volts (V) or less.
- Medium voltage: Voltage of more than 750 V, but less than 44 kilovolts (kV).
- High voltage: Voltage of 44 kV or more.
Voltage
Difference in electrical level between two points, expressed in volts (V).
Transformation
Operation that involves increasing or decreasing voltage through a transformer.
Rate
Electricity rate effective April 1, 2025.
Consumption period
Period during which electricity is delivered to the customer and which extends between the two dates used by Hydro-Québec for calculation of the bill.