Energy efficiency encourages a wiser use of Québec’s collective resources. It consists of using less energy to achieve an identical or similar service. In other words, for the same need, we use and waste less energy through measures designed to recover energy losses and by introducing more efficient equipment that uses less energy.
Companies that implement energy efficiency measures reduce their electricity bill, which helps to make them more competitive. They position themselves as agents of change for the benefit of society and improve their brand image. By consuming less and more wisely, the companies contribute to a healthy management of hydropower and participate in Québec’s energy transition. The energy savings achieved help postpone electricity generation, transmission and distribution investments. By avoiding significant additional supply and infrastructure costs, we are able to keep our electricity rates among the lowest in North America. Energy savings also promote the electrification of new uses, the decarbonization of companies located in Québec and exports of clean energy to neighboring systems.
With the Efficient Solutions Program, you can receive financial support to conduct an energy analysis of one or more buildings and implement energy efficiency measures as well as Demand Response measures, if applicable, that will reduce your electricity bill and improve your competitiveness. The program is tailored to the needs of different types of companies.
We encourage industry professionals (engineering consulting firms, contractors, companies specializing in energy, etc.) to promote the Efficient Solutions Program with their customers in order to find and implement energy efficiency projects. All the information is available on the Partners and aggregators page.
It’s easy to participate in the Efficient Solutions Program. For the Small Businesses component and the Simplified Option of the Medium and Large Businesses component, you can use the OSE tool to calculate financial support in just a few clicks. As for the Customized Option, which is designed for medium and large businesses, our team of experts can guide you through the process.
The Efficient Solutions Program is intended for all businesses that have one or more buildings used for commercial, institutional or industrial activities and that receive their electricity from the Hydro‑Québec grid or from an eligible off-grid, municipal or cooperative system. Please refer to the Participant’s Guides and the Conditions and Undertaking [PDF 133 kB - in French only] for a complete list of the requirements.
We listened to the requests from our business customers who were participating in the Efficient Solutions Program and improved certain aspects of the program to ensure it meets their needs and promotes increased energy savings for all the programs offered. These improvements are designed to encourage more customers to participate, namely small businesses that can make their projects more cost-effective.
Thanks to improvements in energy efficiency, Hydro‑Québec can delay or even eliminate certain investments in its system, which is designed to respond to winter peaks when the most demand is placed on the system and the equipment. Energy efficiency efforts can also help avoid the construction of more generating facilities in the future and therefore play the role of a “virtual dam.” They can also help maintain low rates. Electricity is a precious resource, and it is in everyone’s best interest to use it wisely and avoid wasting energy.
- On March 31, 2025, OSE 5.1 will replace OSE 5.0, which will no longer be available after that date.
- OSE 5.1 includes improvements and provides access to additional financial support, in particular for ENERGY STAR® certified heat pumps.
- For work beginning between October 7, 2024, and March 30, 2025, either the OSE 5.1 version or the OSE 4.1 version can be used.
The key changes in OSE 5.1 compared with OSE 4.1 are outlined below:
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New measures have been entered in the OSE tool
- ENERGY STAR® certified split system aerothermal heat pump (cold climate and regular)
- Aerothermal heat pump on an assembled air-conditioning unit
- Geothermal heat pump for space heating
- Automated demand response (DR) measures
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Increased financial support in the OSE tool
- Geothermal heat pump
- Aerothermal heat pump
- Hydronic heat pump
- Heat recovery
- Solar power
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Revised financial support in the OSE tool
- Standardized financial support for LED light fixtures with DLC Standard rating
- Standardized financial support for LED light fixtures with DLC Premium rating
- Modified financial support related to measures including single-stage and fixed-speed aerothermal heat pumps
- Modified financial support related to measures including air-source heat pumps with no heat recovery system
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The following measures are no longer eligible
- LED retrofit kit
- LED replacement lamps
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The obligation associated with certain measures has been removed
- A light fixture regulation measure may be submitted without necessarily having to be included in a project to convert existing light fixtures to LED light fixtures
- A measure associated with a thermal storage unit may be submitted without having to be included in a project with energy efficiency measures
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More options have been added to the measures in OSE
For additional precision when modifying the amount of financial support granted, certain options have been added to the OSE tool:
- Number of hours of activities (per week)
- Type of well
- Type of solar collector
- Type of compressor
- Heating option
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Certain terms and conditions have been modified
- Under the Small Businesses component, the minimum financial support amount for companies subject to Rate G was lowered to $500 (instead of $1,000)
- Under the Medium and Large Businesses component, the amount per eligible kilowatt-hour saved was raised to 45¢/kWh (instead of 30¢). In addition, the maximum amount of financial support was increased to $5 million per project (instead of $3 million)
- The OSE 1.0 version has been removed. Consequently, projects with a start date before June 9, 2020, are no longer eligible
- The partners’ role has been expanded to allow them to fill out and submit OSE files on behalf of their customers (participants)
Yes. To help customers and partners optimize the financial support they could receive, Hydro‑Québec is giving them the option to choose the version of the OSE tool that’s most advantageous for them (version 5.1 or 4.1), depending on the measures they want to implement as part of their projects. The offer applies to projects with a start date between October 7, 2024 and March 30, 2025.
In such cases, each request for financial support must include a separate OSE form and meet all applicable terms and conditions for the OSE tool selected, specifically those related to the project’s eligibility threshold.
A participant who’s submitted a project using OSE 5.1 may ask to withdraw their application and resend it using OSE 4.1, provided the payment has not yet been issued.
A number of factors influence the amount of financial support offered under the Efficient Solutions Program. The financial support available under the various measures can be adjusted based on, for instance, the fluctuation of market prices of equipment or the adoption rate of a certain type of equipment.
When the market adopts a type of energy-efficient equipment that becomes the standard or commonplace (LED lights, for example), the incentive offered is decreased, and then eventually withdrawn.
Conversely, if Hydro‑Québec wants to encourage its customers to adopt a more efficient technology that has not yet become a market standard (for example, geothermal energy), it will increase the financial support it offers for this technology in order to reduce the barriers to its purchase and thereby increase its adoption.
With an energy analysis, you can target potential projects involving the efficient use of electricity, demonstrate their feasibility and profitability and obtain financial support to help implement them. Once the energy analysis has been carried out, you could receive financial support to implement your selected measures. You will also receive support from Hydro‑Québec experts.
The Energy Analysis component is intended for businesses located in Québec that have one or more buildings used for commercial, institutional or industrial activities and that receive their electricity from the Hydro‑Québec grid or from an eligible off-grid, municipal or cooperative system. Please refer to the Participant’s Guide – Energy Analysis Component [PDF 184 kB - In French only] for a complete list of the requirements.
Simply contact our customer and partner support services at 1 800 463‑9900 for assistance. You can also call on an industry professional, who will be able to guide you through the process.
We encourage industry professionals (engineering consulting firm, company specializing in energy, contractor, etc.) to promote the program with their customers in order to find energy efficiency projects. All the information is available on the Partners and Project aggregators page.
As a small business, you will benefit from measures that are tailored to your reality and from additional financial support of up to 90% of eligible costs as well as a reduced eligibility threshold of $500. This will help you lower your electricity bill and improve your competitive edge.
Under the Small Businesses component, there’s only one offering, and it’s for the measures in the OSE tool. The Medium and Large Businesses component has two offerings: the Simplified Option for the measures in the OSE tool and the Customized Option for measures that aren’t in the OSE tool.
Bonus financial support is available to companies that participate in the Small Businesses component, and the minimum amount of financial support is lower.
Yes. The OSE tool can take different criteria into account when carrying out the calculation.
A project must be submitted to Hydro‑Québec once the work has been completed. However, with the OSE tool, you can obtain at any time an assessment of the financial support you may be entitled to if you implement a series of measures.
You could receive financial support of up to 75% of eligible costs in order to implement energy efficiency measures. These measures help improve your energy performance and reduce your electricity bill while directly contributing to your company’s profitability.
This component is intended for businesses that have one or more commercial, institutional or industrial buildings subject to a business rate other than Rate G or Flex G and located in Québec. The buildings must receive their electricity from the Hydro‑Québec grid or from an eligible off-grid, municipal or cooperative system. Refer to the Participant’s Guide – Medium and Large Businesses Component [PDF 284 kB - in French only] to learn more about the program requirements.
Under the Simplified Option, the project must be submitted to Hydro‑Québec once the work has been completed. However, with the OSE you can obtain at any time an assessment of the financial support you may be entitled to if you implement a series of measures. Under the Customized Option, you must contact us to validate your project’s eligibility.
As a project aggregator or partner, you’re helping business customers participate in the program. You’re also developing your company and playing a leading role in the energy transition. You can also receive incentive compensation or financial support.
A partner guides the customer through the Efficient Solutions Program and may receive incentive compensation but does not receive the financial support. An aggregator is a type of participant who submits the project(s) on behalf of their customers and is entitled to receive incentive compensation in addition to directly receiving the financial support.
You can contact our customer and partner support services at 1 800 463-9900.
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