Hydro-Québec is asking Quebec’s regulator to approve a new electricity rate for large data centres, arguing that the rapid growth of the sector is driving up costs for households. In a public hearing in Montreal, the utility presents a proposal that could substantially increase the price of electricity paid by data-centre operators, with some analyses indicating it could double energy costs.
Industry actors, including major technology companies such as Google, are preparing to challenge Hydro-Québec’s request. Outlets report that the hearing is effectively a back-and-forth between the utility’s case for urgent action to limit the impact of data-centre expansion and the industry’s expected rebuttal about the fairness and implications of the proposed rate. The regulator’s decision will determine whether the revised pricing structure for data centres moves forward.
