Hydro-Québec proposes higher rates for top 5% of residential consumers
The utility wants to charge 13 cents/kWh for households exceeding 35,000 kWh annually, a move rejected two years ago by regulators.
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Hydro-Québec has proposed charging higher prices for the top 5 percent of residential consumers as electricity demand continues to rise across the province.
The new three-tier structure would add a premium rate of 13 cents per kilowatt-hour for households consuming more than 35,000 kWh annually—roughly double the provincial average. The first two tiers would remain at 7 cents/kWh for basic consumption under 15,000 kWh per year and 12 cents/kWh for usage between 15,000 and 35,000 kWh per year.
According to Hydro-Québec, the proposal targets households with heated pools, hot tubs, heated driveways, or very large living spaces. The utility says the new tariff will discourage excessive consumption and help manage upward pressure on rates for all customers as residential electricity demand is expected to increase significantly in coming years.
The exemptions include farms, modest-income households, and multi-unit buildings with a single meter. This is the second time Hydro-Québec has made the proposal; the Régie de l'énergie rejected a similar plan two years ago.
