Hydro-Québec faces hearing over proposed data centre electricity rate

HydroQuébec is defending a proposed electricity rate change for large data centres at a public hearing in Montreal. The case puts the provincial utility against technology companies and other industry groups, including Google. The utility wants the Régie de l’énergie, Quebec’s energy regulator, to approve a new rate for data centres that use more than five megawatts of capacity. Under the proposal, the average price of electricity would rise to about 13 cents per kilowatt hour, roughly double what these customers pay now as largepower users. HydroQuébec says the higher rate would help manage rising electricity demand from data centres and limit pressure on residential rates. The hearing is scheduled to run until Oct. 9, with participation from several industry groups, and the regulator will decide whether the new pricing structure is fair and sustainable.