The Quebec Energy Board has announced that residential customers of Hydro-Québec will see the same increase in the 3.6 percent rate as its commercial clients, despite a three percent limit promised by Prime Minister last year.
He Régie de l’Ernéngie He says that the increase, ready to go on April 1, is due to the growth of demand and inflation.
Prime Minister François Legault said in a publication to social networks that the increase was “out of discussion,” and added that he will work in a solution with members of the Government and Hydro-Québec, who for his part is also disputing the walk.
“While I am the main residential rate, they will not increase by more than three percent per year,” Legault wrote.
In a press release, Hydro-Québec announced that it will appeal the decision, saying that it is not consistent with the current social, economic and political context of the province.
Industrial clients will see that their rates increase by 1.7 percent, which is almost half of the increase of 3.3 rates that Hydro-Québec had asked.
In its decision, the Energy Board says that a three percent limit in residential tariffs will create a deficit of $ 60 million in 2025. Calls the promise of “informal” Legault since the government never embedded the limit in a decree.
The decision of the Energy Board follows a series of hearings that he held in early December 2024, where he heard of interest groups of consumers, energy and businesses.
In particular, Consumer Guardian Dog Option consompations Said the deficit created by the limit could lead to greater increases in the line.
With the increase in the rate, the Board estimates that the energy invoice for a five-bedroom house will increase by $ 2.90 per month versus $ 2.42 at the rate proposed by Hydro-Québec.
The public services company is investing billions of dollars in the coming years to double its generation capacity for 2050.
This had generated concerns that energy rates could double in the next ten years.
