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.
Rates north of the 53rd parallel apply to the following municipalities:
See Dual Energy Domestic Rate – Inukjuak System [PDF 2.35 MB]
See general rates for business customers served by off-grid systems north of the 53rd parallel
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.
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.
To find out more about Rate DN, see Section 1 of Chapter 8 of the Electricity Rates [PDF 2.35 MB].
An “off-grid system” is a power system not connected to Hydro-Québec’s main grid.
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.
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).
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).
Period from December 1 through March 31 of the next year, inclusive.
Period from April 1 through November 30, inclusive.
Maximum power measured during a given period. It is the higher of the following two values:
These power demands are determined for integration periods of 15 minutes.
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).
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.
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.
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.