An unpaid bill does not go away if you ignore it. If you cannot pay your electricity account, the worst thing to do is nothing. The good news: you have options, and in winter, an important protection. The reflex to have is simple — contact Hydro-Québec before the due date, not after a notice.
In winter, electricity is not cut off for non-payment. This is a protection many people don't know about: between December 1 and March 31, Hydro-Québec does not interrupt service for non-payment in a primary residence heated by electricity, per its Conditions of Service. If your service had already been cut, it is restored on December 1. So you will not spend the winter without heat because of a bill.
Careful: the debt is still owed. This protection prevents a winter cut-off, but it does not erase what you owe, and interruptions can resume in early April. Winter is therefore the right time to set up an arrangement — not to stop paying.
Set up a payment arrangement. If you expect difficulty, you can set up a payment arrangement online, from your Customer Space, or by phone (514-385-7252 in Montréal, 1-888-385-7252 elsewhere). The arrangement spreads the amount owed over several installments, up until your next bill — and sometimes longer. If your household is low-income, say so: Hydro-Québec can agree to more manageable installments.
How much time do you have before a cut-off? Outside the winter period, a cut-off does not happen overnight. You first receive a late-payment notice, then a notice of interruption; service is cut off only a minimum of 9 days after that last notice, unless you have paid or made an arrangement in the meantime. So you have time to act — as long as you don't let it drag on.
Where to find help. Family-economy cooperative associations (ACEF) offer free budgeting help and can support you in dealing with Hydro-Québec. To avoid the problem in the future, the Equalized Payments Plan smooths the bill across the whole year, with no big winter spike.
Good to know for newcomers. Remember three things: electricity is not cut off in winter in a home heated by electricity; a payment arrangement is easy to get and always beats silence; and an ignored bill ends up costing more. At the slightest doubt, call before the due date. Our guide to opening and managing your Hydro-Québec account covers the basics, and the ACEF can help.
