Groupe Robert Testimonial

A nearly $500,000

credit on their electricity bills

Document vidéo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jymjMij6CQM

Duration : 1 minute 43 seconds

The project

Sustainable development and the environment are top priorities for Groupe Robert. From electrifying its fleet of trucks to implementing energy efficiency measures and opting for sustainable construction methods in its expansion projects, this leader in trucking, logistics and storage in Canada makes every effort to limit its carbon footprint. Participating in the collective effort associated with the energy transition was simply the logical next step.

In 2016, when the Hydro‑Québec account representative assigned to the company told them about the Demand Response (DR) Option for their refrigerated warehouses, Groupe Robert’s management immediately welcomed the idea. This surprisingly simple measure costs nothing, requires no shutdown of the company’s activities, leads to significant savings and reflects the company’s desire to protect the environment as much as possible. It was an easy decision to make.

The DR Option: The logical choice

When it’s very cold out, Hydro-Québec’s power grid is under the greatest pressure. While homes and many companies in Québec try to stay warm, Groupe Robert’s refrigerated warehousing and storage division welcomes the cold. When Hydro-Québec sends the company peak demand event notifications to request they reduce their energy use, the company seizes the opportunity to not only contribute to the collective effort to reduce the pressure on the grid, but also to make significant savings.

How? Simply by shutting off the refrigeration system in its warehouses and keeping the doors closed for a few hours. It’s easy to do, costs nothing, and helps the company to lower its electricity bill. Even better, when winter is over, Groupe Robert receives a credit for the curtailed kilowatts. Currently, the company has a $500,000 credit that can be used for other projects.

“ For us and for our teams, the DR Option is the obvious choice. It’s part of a normal process and it’s an approach we intend to adopt in our current and future centers. ”
— M. Michel Robert, President and CEO of Groupe Robert