Hydro-Québec gives away free smart thermostats, but comes with strings attached
The utility is offering free Hilo thermostats and installation to manage winter power demand, though users must commit to a rate plan that charges steep prices during peak hours.
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Hydro-Québec is handing out free smart thermostats with installation as part of a $10-billion energy-efficiency push toward 2035, but accepting one means committing to a variable rate plan that can charge up to 46 cents per kilowatt-hour during winter peak periods.
The utility estimates users save around $200 a year, or up to 20% on their electricity bill over winter. The Hilo-brand thermostats control heating remotely and adjust automatically based on weather. To get one, residents request it through Hydro-Québec's smart-home site; the utility handles ordering and installation.
The catch: a mandatory 12-month commitment to the Flex D rate and agreement to cut electricity use during winter peak periods, mainly mornings and evenings. In exchange, Hydro-Québec offers rewards for sticking to the program.
The Flex D rate is a trade-off. For more than 95% of winter, users pay less than the standard D rate—about 4.886¢/kWh from December 1 to March 31 outside peak periods, compared to the regular 7.065¢/kWh year-round. But during peak events, which make up at most 5% of the season, the rate jumps to about 46.463¢/kWh. The rate rewards shifting heavy usage like laundry or cooking away from those morning and evening windows.
Other compatible smart thermostats exist on the market, but using Hilo means Hydro-Québec manages the entire process. As part of its 2035 plan, the utility aims to hand out a million smart thermostats across Quebec.
