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Dynamic
pricing

The Winter Credit Option and Rate Flex D are two dynamic rate offerings that could help you reduce your electricity bill when you lower or shift your consumption at our request during the winter period.

Running time: 1 minute 15 seconds.

Transcription textuelle de la vidéo La tarification dynamique

Video transcript Dynamic pricing

    On this page

    • Comparison of rate offerings
    • How does it work?
    • Sign up
    • Overall results
    • Frequently asked questions

    Reduce pressure on the grid

    When everyone uses a lot of electricity at the same time in the winter, it ties up the Hydro-Québec grid and puts it under the most pressure. This is referred to as a winter peak. To reduce the pressure on the grid, we ask our participants to help us spread out electricity demand.

    Two profitable rate offerings

    Find out more about our two dynamic pricing offerings and decide which one suits you best. To view your potential savings under each rate offering, log into your Customer Space.

    Winter Credit Option

    With this risk-free option, your bill can only get smaller.

    Rate Flex D

    Your potential savings are higher.

    The deadline to sign up for Rate Flex D was November 20.

    Comparison of dynamic rate offerings with the base rate

    If you can reduce or shift electricity use during winter peaks, you have two options: the Winter Credit Option and Rate Flex D.

    Rate D

    (base rate)

    • Summer periodBase rate price

    • Winter period, outside of peak demand events Base rate price

    • Winter period, during peak demand events (Max. 100 hours/winter) Base rate price

    Rate D

    with Winter Credit Option

    • Summer periodBase rate price

    • Winter period, outside of peak demand eventsBase rate price

    • Winter period, during peak demand events (Max. 100 hours/winter) Base rate price minus credit of 51.967¢ per kWh curtailed

    • Times when peak demand events may occur7 days a week
      Between 6 and 9 a.m. and between 4 and 8 p.m.

    • Potential for savingsRisk-free: your bill can only get smaller.

    Rate Flex D

     

    • Summer periodBase rate price

    • Winter period, outside of peak demand eventsPrice about 30% lower than base rate

    • Winter period, during peak demand events (Max. 100 hours/winter) Price higher than base rate: 51.967¢ per kWh consumed

    • Times when peak demand events may occurMonday to Friday
      Between 6 and 9 a.m. and between 4 and 8 p.m.

    • Potential for substantial savingsYour bill can increase if consumption is not reduced during peak demand events.

    How does it work?

    • You’ll receive a notification by email no later than 5 p.m. on the day before the peak demand event. The email will contain several tips to help you shift your electricity use.
    • You reduce your electricity use during the peak demand event or shift it away from the specified time period. For instance, you can delay your shower by a little bit or lower the thermostat setting at the beginning of the peak demand event.
    • The day after a peak demand event, you can view your savings in your Customer Space.

    Peak demand events are associated with a time period during which Hydro-Québec has determined that electricity demand will be very high.

    Peak demand events are associated with a time period during which Hydro-Québec has determined that electricity demand will be very high.

    Discover your potential savings and sign up

    In your Customer Space, you can compare the rates to find out how much you could save and sign up for the Winter Credit Option or Rate Flex D. If you don’t have a Customer Space, now’s the time to create one by going to this page.

    Sign up

    Tips from the specialists

    When you sign up for dynamic pricing, you join a growing community of Quebecers who want to take action. You’ll have access to a forum that gives members the opportunity to ask all their questions, find answers and share tips and advice for peak demand events. Hydro-Québec specialists are available to answer your questions!

    Discover the dynamic pricing community (in French only)

    We get results when we work together

    The equivalent of the average demand of 30,000 households
    per event

    Thanks to last season’s collective effort, dynamic pricing participants helped reduce electricity demand equivalent to the average consumption of 30,000 residential customers per event!

    See the overall results

    Frequently asked questions

    About dynamic pricing

    Why has Hydro-Québec come up with these rate offerings?

    With these offerings, everyone is a winner. If you can reduce or shift electricity use at Hydro-Québec’s request, you benefit, because your efforts translate into savings. Hydro-Québec benefits because of the lower electricity demand during peak periods.

    In addition to giving customers an opportunity to save on their bill, dynamic pricing reduces pressure on the power system during a hundred hours over the winter period. Everyone wins when we consume energy responsibly.

    Would Hydro-Québec consider extending dynamic pricing to the summer?

    No. In contrast to our Canadian and American neighbors, the demand for electricity in Québec is very strongly influenced by the use of electric heating systems in most homes. As a result, demand is much higher in winter than in summer. Even if air-conditioning use were to increase in Québec, it’s unlikely that demand would reach peak levels requiring the implementation of dynamic pricing in summer.

    Enrollment

    Am I required to sign up for the Winter Credit Option or Rate Flex D?

    No. It’s up to you whether you decide to take advantage of the dynamic rate offerings or not, and you can cancel anytime.

    Is enrollment limited?

    No. But for winter 2022-2023, our goal is to sign up 220,000 residential and agricultural customers. This number is based in part on our supply plan. We hope it increases gradually so that we can be sure to offer customers the best support possible. Dynamic pricing is now available to all eligible customers and is totally voluntary.

    I’m very interested in dynamic pricing. Can I sign up right away?

    Yes. You can sign up right away in your Customer Space. Go to the Billing tab, and then select “Compare rates.”

    What’s the difference between dynamic pricing and Hilo?

    Dynamic pricing and the Hilo smart home service both aim to optimize home energy use during peak periods so customers can save on their electricity bills. The actions you’re willing to take to be energy wise will help you decide between the two.

    The dynamic pricing options, the Winter Credit Option and Rate Flex D, help you save on your bill when you make simple changes to your energy consumption during peak periods using the devices that you already have at home.

    With its turnkey smart home service and connected devices, Hilo will help you save energy throughout the year and shift your consumption outside of peak periods.

    Peak demand events

    When do peak demand events occur?

    Peak demand events can take place from December 1 to March 31, from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. There may be 25 to 33 events per winter, at most, for a maximum of 100 hours in all.

    How cold does it have to be to trigger a peak demand event?

    There is no pre-established threshold, but the temperature is an important factor.

    Peak demand events are scheduled when we anticipate high demand for electricity in Québec in winter. That’s the main consideration. It’s true that on cold days everyone uses a lot of energy at the same time, so the temperature has an impact on demand forecasts. However, demand isn’t always the same for a given temperature. For example, if it is −10°C for several days in a row, demand for electricity will be greater on the last day than on the first.

    Other factors that affect the forecasted demand have to do with operating constraints related to electricity supply as well as power transmission and distribution. To manage power demand, Hydro-Québec diligently applies all the means at its disposal, including dynamic pricing.

    Why don’t peak demand events occur systematically every day during peak hours?

    By targeting fewer hours (maximum of 100 per winter), we can offer a more significant price difference between peak periods and off-peak periods, which optimizes your savings potential.

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