Ouvrir votre compte Hydro-Québec est l'une des toutes premières démarches après avoir signé un bail.
1. Why this step is urgent
In Quebec, electricity is never automatically included in a rental unit. As soon as you sign a lease, you must open your own account with Hydro-Québec — the only company that distributes electricity in the province. Without this account, the service won't be in your name, and you risk having no power on move-in day.
2. Who opens the account: you or the landlord
In Quebec, it's almost always the tenant who opens the Hydro-Québec account in their own name for their unit, unless the lease explicitly states that electricity is included in the rent — which is rare, but happens in some buildings with collective electric heating. Check the exact wording in your lease before assuming anything.
3. Information to prepare
To open your account, you'll need:
- The full address of the unit, including the postal code
- The exact date of your move-in
- Your contact details: legal name, phone number, email
- A payment method for future bills
No ID document is required to open the account itself — Hydro-Québec identifies you by your name and address.
4. Online or by phone: two ways to do it, at a different cost
You can open your account two ways:
- Online, through your Espace client (customer space) on hydroquebec.com — free, and usually the fastest
- By phone, with a customer service representative — a fee is then added to your first bill
Unless you have an emergency or a special situation, the online option is the simplest for a first account.
5. The security deposit: who pays it and why
If you have no consumption history in Quebec — which is the case for most newcomers — Hydro-Québec may ask you for a security deposit. The amount is calculated from your expected consumption for your unit. Hydro-Québec can hold this deposit for an extended period, with interest, then reimburses it. This isn't a penalty — it's standard practice for any new customer with no consumption record.
6. Your action list
Follow these concrete steps to open your Hydro-Québec account. Check each box as you go — your progress is saved if you're signed in.
7. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about a Hydro-Québec account: can you spread payments over the year, what to do if the meter is still in the previous tenant's name, and what happens if you move again later.
Can you pay the same amount each month instead of bills that vary by season?
Yes. Hydro-Québec offers an equal monthly payments option — once you have a few months of consumption history, you can ask to spread your estimated annual bill into equal monthly amounts instead of paying much more in winter and much less in summer.
This option is set up from your Espace client, under your billing preferences.
The meter is still in the previous tenant's name: what should I do?
Open your own account anyway, with your move-in date. Hydro-Québec closes the previous tenant's account and transfers the service to you — you don't need to contact the previous tenant or wait for them to cancel first.
Doing this before your move-in date avoids a gap where no one is billed and the service could theoretically be interrupted.
If I move again later, do I have to close my account and open a new one?
No — from your Espace client, use the “Moving” section to transfer your existing account to your new address instead of closing it. This keeps your consumption history, which can help you avoid a new security deposit at the new address.
Do this well before the new move-in date, same as for a first-time account.
8. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Signing a lease in Quebec — your lease determines who must open the Hydro-Québec account.
- Internet and television at home — another service to set up at your new address.
- Change of address and mail forwarding — the other organizations to notify at the same time as Hydro-Québec.
9. Official sources
For official, up-to-date information, see these pages:
You can also reach Hydro-Québec customer service at 1-800-790-2424.
Author's Note: Opening this account takes just a few minutes online, but do it early. A wrong move-in date or an account opened too late are the two most common causes of a unit with no power on moving day.
