Hydro-Quebec rate hikes: here’s how much more residents, businesses could pay

Hydro-Quebec is proposing annual rate increases of three per cent for residential consumers and 4.8 per cent for commercial and industrial customers over the next three years.

The Crown corporation presented its rate requests for 2026, 2027, and 2028 on Thursday, which must be approved by Quebec’s energy board, the Régie de l’énergie.

For the residential sector, the proposed increase would raise the average electricity bill by approximately $2.40 per month for an apartment and $6.70 for an average-sized house.

Hydro-Quebec’s request is part of François Legault’s government’s energy reform, adopted under closure last June.

It aims to limit residential electricity rate increases to a maximum of three per cent.

In addition, the corporation has announced an increase in its budget for measures to help consumers reduce their bills, including the smart thermostat program, up to $2.5 billion for the next three years.

In the business community, the proposed 4.8 per cent increase is already drawing criticism, though Hydro-Quebec denies that it is hurting small and medium businesses.

“Rates in Quebec remain significantly lower than in other jurisdictions,” said Dave Rhéaume, executive vice president of commercial operations and head of customer relations, at a press conference.

The Régie de l’énergie is expected to render a decision in March 2026.

The new rates would then be scheduled to take effect on April 1 that year.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 31, 2025.