FAQ

The word Hilo comes from Hydro-Québec, with the “h” and the “o” echoing the parent company. It is a reference to “îlot” (“island” in English), which is a nod to the autonomy that comes with managing your own energy. More specifically, it refers to a space where energy gets smart, which is a core concern of our residential and business customers.

To develop innovative, value-added products and services in the energy and energy-related sectors, and position a major player in new energy services in Québec.

• Peace of mind: turnkey energy-related products and services to simplify your life and help you concentrate on what matters most.
• Tips and support to encourage smarter energy consumption.
• The potential to save money and earn rewards.

• Affordable smart products that you can use to program your home and simplify your life.
• Tips and support to help you consume energy better.
• A smart home service that reflects Quebecers' needs.
• New smart energy solutions that will be implemented in phases over the next few years, including energy services for businesses, electric mobility, smart storage and self-produced solar energy.

Hilo is 100% owned by Hydro-Québec. It is a subsidiary company that will be operated independently of Hydro-Québec.

By offering smart solutions to help us all consume energy better, Hilo will give Hydro-Québec the opportunity to export more hydroelectricity—an energy source that is more than 99% clean—and to accelerate the electrification of Québec's economy.

Yes. You will have two separate bills.

Hilo is free for the full duration of the test phase. We’ll lend you the smart devices and install them free of charge (which represents $400 in installation savings). Once the test phase is over, if you want to continue using Hilo, you can take advantage of an exclusive offer: up to $500* off the total price of your smart devices. That adds up to a total savings of up to $900. And if you decide Hilo’s not for you after the test phase? We’ll reinstall your old thermostats free of charge and take the smart devices back. Simple as that. 

Hilo smart home service final offer is currently under development.  More details to come in 2020.

*For the installation of 12 thermostats and on the condition of participating in Hilo challenges in intrepid mode and answering short surveys.

• A smart home is a house that has several connected devices that can be configured, managed and controlled with the use of mobile apps.
• In the case of Hilo, the offer will initially focus on features related to the energy sector.

Our offer will evolve over time, but Hilo is above all a turnkey smart home service that combines high-performing devices, support to help our customers consume energy better and challenges to help them save.

Here are the smart products that will be offered:

• A hub
• Smart thermostats
• Smart light bulbs
• Smart plugs
• Smart dimmers
• A smoke detector
• A weather station

Hilo smart home service final offer is currently under development.  More details to come in 2020.

• Only if you've given your consent. All our offers are strictly on a voluntary basis according to your wishes.
• With our smart home service, there will be voluntary offers that enable us to manage the consumption of certain devices remotely for a limited number of hours during peak periods in the winter.
• If you take part in the program, you'll earn rewards. You may also refuse or cease to participate and reclaim the full control of your equipment at any time.
• We'll be outlining detailed offers to our customers in the coming months.

Smart home features require a high-speed connection. We will outline our eligibility requirements in the coming months.

Hilo and Hydro-Québec are two distinct entities. Their data is confidential and cannot be shared.

If Hydro-Québec customers want Hilo to access their data, they will have to authorize it.

Energy consumption is a significant expense for businesses. That's where smart solutions can help optimize costs and improve energy management for buildings. Hilo will roll out various services over time that will help customers lower their electricity bills and improve their energy efficiency.

Yes. Hilo aims to offer a turnkey service to help customers self-generate energy using solar panels. This new service will be part of the gradual development of Hilo’s activities and could be offered to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers in the next few years.

At this time, Hydro-Québec rates are more advantageous, because installing solar panels to self-generate energy is more expensive. However, because the price of solar panels is continuously dropping, this type of solution could become more profitable in the next few years.