Rate D | Hydro-Québec

A great rate for residential and farm customers

As shown in the table below on the rate structure, Rate D is made up of a fixed charge, the system access charge, and a variable amount reflecting your energy consumption, divided into two tiers. The first tier is billed at a lower price than the second tier.

More kilowatthours at the lower price

From 1978 to March 31, 2017, the 1st tier was set at 30 kWh a day, or 900 kWh a month. Between April 1, 2017, and April 1, 2019, it was gradually increased from 30 to 40 kWh a day. This is advantageous for consumers whose electricity consumption is relatively low, especially low-income households that use electricity for heating.

The 10 kWh a day that have been gradually added to the 1^st tier translate into:

Up to 300 kWh a month billed at a lower price
Up to almost 35% in savings

What’s a kilowatthour (kWh)?

Structure of Rate D

System access charge for each day in the consumption period: 46.154¢
Price applicable to energy consumed up to 40 kWh times the number of days in the consumption period (1^st tier): 6.905¢/kWh
Price applicable to remaining energy consumed (2^nd tier): 10.652¢/kWh

Rates in effect April 1, 2025. This table does not replace the Electricity Rates document in any way whatsoever.

How to read your Rate D bill

Understanding rates

Rates generally have three components that reflect the actual costs incurred by Hydro‑Québec to provide electricity service.

System access charge

Energy

Power demand

Electricity rates also include other components

Credit for supply at medium or high voltage

More information

To find out more about Rate D, consult Section 2 of Chapter 2 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 1.44 MB].

Other useful information

How to request electricity service

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.

System access charge

A set amount, expressed in dollars per month or cents per day depending on the applicable rate, that the customer must pay for the electricity service.

Beginning April 1, 2019, the term fixed charge was replaced with system access charge.

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).

Energy (kWh) = power (kW) x time used (h).

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).

Maximum power demand

Maximum power measured during a consumption period. It is the higher of the following two values: real power in kilowatts (kW), or a percentage (90% for domestic rates and small- and medium-power rates, or 95% for large-power rates) of the apparent power in kilovoltamperes (kVA).

Rate

Electricity rate effective April 1, 2025.

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).

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.