Rate DN
Rate DN applies to domestic use, that is, electricity use in a dwelling, when the electricity is supplied by an off-grid system located north of the 53rd parallel, except for the Schefferville system.
Other cases in which Rate DN applies
- Apartment buildings
- Community residences
- Rooming houses
- Bed and breakfasts (9 rooms or less)
- Tourist homes
- Foster families or foster homes (9 people or less)
- Residential outbuildings, that is, any buildings or installations belonging to premises
used for habitation purposes,
- used exclusively by the persons occupying the dwelling or apartment building;
- used exclusively for purposes related to those of the dwelling or apartment building
- Portion of electricity used for purposes other than habitation (installed capacity 10 kW or less)
- Farms: Land, buildings and equipment used to raise crops or livestock, excluding any
dwelling or any facility used for commercial activity or industrial activity
See the eligibility criteria regarding domestic rates for farms [PDF 693 kB]
North of the 53rd parallel
Rates north of the 53rd parallel apply to the following municipalities:
- Akulivik
- Aupaluk
- Inukjuak
- Ivujivik
- Kangiqsualujjuaq
- Kangiqsujuaq
- Kangirsuk
- Kuujjuaq
- Kuujjuarapik
- Puvirnituq
- Quaqtaq
- Salluit
- Tasiujaq
- Umiujaq
- Whapmagoostui
See additional rates or options
- Rates for residential customers whose service address is in a region served by an off-grid system south of the 53rd parallel
-
Rate for residential customers whose service address is in a region served by the Inukjuak off grid system
See Dual Energy Domestic Rate – Inukjuak System [PDF 2.35 MB]
-
Rates for business customers whose service address is in a region served by an off-grid
system north of the 53rd parallel
See general rates for business customers served by off-grid systems north of the 53rd parallel
- Net Metering for Rate DN customer-generators whose electricity is supplied by an off-grid system – Option III
Energy-efficiency incentive rates
Off-grid systems usually run diesel generators to meet the electricity needs of the communities they serve. The technology used by these generating stations, their need for fuel and their remoteness translate into high generation costs.
In these regions, it’s more efficient and cheaper to heat rooms and water directly with fuel (oil or propane) than with electricity.
Why?
Because it takes a generating station a lot more fuel to generate the electricity required to heat a home’s rooms and water than it does a fuel-fired heating and hot-water system installed in the home.
That’s why, north of the 53rd parallel, Hydro-Québec has a rate structure designed to encourage customers to heat their homes and water directly with fuel, while enabling them to enjoy the same low cost of power as customers south of the 53rd parallel for all other uses, such as lighting or electrical devices.
Residential customers in Nunavik who don’t have any government grants are eligible for the Efficient Energy Use Program (EEUP). Under the Program, they end up paying 30% less than what it would cost them to heat with electricity, no matter how the price of fuel fluctuates.
And if they are eligible for the EEUP, Hydro-Québec pays the maintenance and repair costs for their heating systems.
More information
To find out more about Rate DN, see Section 1 of Chapter 8 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 2.35 MB].
How to request electricity service
Off-grid system
An “off-grid system” is a power system not connected to Hydro-Québec’s main grid.
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).
Winter period
Period from December 1 through March 31 of the next year, inclusive.
Summer period
Period from April 1 through November 30, inclusive.
Maximum power demand
Maximum power measured during a given period. It is the higher of the following two values:
- the highest real power demand, expressed in in kilowatts (kW)
- 90% or 95% (depending on the rate applicable) of the highest apparent power demand in kilovoltamperes (kVA)
These power demands are determined for integration periods of 15 minutes.
Real power
Amount of electricity consumed in a useful manner to operate equipment, such as a motor or a heating or lighting system. Real power is expressed in kilowatts (kW).
Apparent power
Amount of electricity that Hydro-Québec supplies to a customer, expressed in kilovoltamperes (kVA). When it is used, apparent power breaks down into real power (kW), which runs devices, and reactive power (kVAR), which produces magnetic fields and which is not useful power for the customer.
Minimum billing demand (minimum demand)
The minimum amount of power that the customer must pay for each consumption period, regardless of electricity use. The threshold is set so that you pay your share of the costs Hydro-Québec incurs to meet your 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 the amount of electricity they expect to use.
Rate
Electricity rate effective April 1, 2022.
Low voltage: Voltage of 750 V or less.
Medium voltage: Voltage of more than 750 V, but less than 44 kV.
High voltage: Voltage of 44 kV or more.