Hydro-Québec filed its request with Quebec’s energy regulator, the Régie de l’énergie, on 19 February 2026 (file R-4333-2026). It wants a new rate class for data centres, Rate CD, and a higher rate for cryptocurrency mining (Rate CB). The Régie held the first part of the hearing from 1 to 9 October. Intervenors present their evidence and argument from 7 to 11 December and 15 to 18 December.

What Hydro-Québec is asking for

  • Who it covers: any data centre whose authorized demand is 5,000 kW (5 MW) or more. In 2025 that was 20 accounts using 1,270 GWh with a 187 MW peak, according to the application.
  • The price: the proposed rate text (revised 4 August) sets $32.704 per kW of billing demand plus 8.710 ¢/kWh. The current large-power rate LG is $16.571/kW and 4.324 ¢/kWh. Hydro-Québec puts the all-in price at “of the order of 13 ¢/kWh” in 2026 dollars, against an estimated average of 6.82 ¢/kWh under today’s rates.
  • Penalties for over- and under-use: 17.42 ¢/kWh for consumption in hours when demand exceeds 110% of the customer’s committed ramp-up, and a charge of $92.28/kW if a customer’s peak stays below 60% of what it projected.
  • Bill impact and phase-in: the February application says an existing customer’s bill would rise 91% at the full rate, and proposes a five-year transition for centres allocated power before 2026, starting at a 38% discount (8.06 ¢/kWh) and reaching 13 ¢ in 2030.
  • Crypto mining: Hydro-Québec’s 1 October hearing presentation says the blockchain rate would be set 50% above the data-centre rate, with a three-year transition, because the sector brings “lower economic spin-offs.”

Why, in Hydro-Québec’s words

Its hearing slides say large data centres have 700 to 1,000 MW allocated (6 to 9 TWh), that new supply costs 12 ¢/kWh for energy and $166/kW-year for capacity against an average supply cost of 4.8 ¢/kWh, and that this puts upward pressure on rates for all customers. The application quotes Quebec’s Order in Council 89-2026: the rate for this class should reflect “the cost of new supplies, rather than the average cost of supplies.” Separately, any new project or added load of 5 MW or more already needs the Quebec economy and energy minister’s approval before it can connect.

“A price signal like this guides siting decisions and prevents these costs from being shifted to all customers.” — Hydro-Québec hearing presentation, R-4333-2026, 1 October 2026 (our translation)
Citizen impact: Quebec’s existing supply is cheap: Hydro-Québec puts its average supply cost at 4.8 ¢/kWh. Its case is that if data centres keep paying close to the average cost while their demand forces it to buy power at roughly 12 ¢/kWh, the gap lands on everyone else’s bill. Who pays if the Régie agrees: data-centre operators, and crypto miners more. Who gains: residential and other customers, if the cost shift Hydro-Québec describes is avoided. Who is opposing parts of it: the record lists Google, crypto-mining companies, the CFIB and environmental groups among intervenors.

What this piece refuses

Do not write that Quebec has “doubled” data-centre rates. This is Hydro-Québec’s proposal; the Régie has not ruled, and intervenors have not yet put in their evidence. We have not reported intervenors’ positions beyond their participation, because their written evidence and December testimony are still to come.

Bottom line

Verified on the Régie de l’énergie record for R-4333-2026: Hydro-Québec is asking for a data-centre rate of about 13 ¢/kWh for loads of 5 MW and up, versus about 6.82 ¢ today, citing a 12 ¢/kWh marginal supply cost. Hearings resume in December; no decision has been made.