Why was my curtailment adjusted downward?

If your curtailment exceeded 40 kilowatt-hours (kWh), Hydro‑Québec may recalculate your baseline consumption, which can sometimes result in a downward adjustment.

During a peak demand event, Hydro‑Québec measures your reduction in electricity use compared to what you would have used had there been no peak event. This reduction is called “curtailment” and corresponds to the number of kWh you successfully avoided consuming during the event. 

If you are enrolled in Rate D with the Winter Credit Option, the amount corresponding to your curtailment is applied directly to your electricity bill as a credit. 

If your curtailment during a peak demand event exceeds 40 kWh, Hydro‑Québec will recalculate your baseline consumption — in other words, the amount of electricity you would normally have used that day. This may result in a downward adjustment to your curtailment. 

This measure is intended to ensure fairness among all participants and prevent situations where significant variations in electricity use, whether intentional or not, could artificially inflate the credit amount associated with a peak event.  

If you are enrolled in Rate Flex D, your actual electricity use during the peak demand event will be billed at the higher rate on your electricity bill. The amount of your reduction is shown only to help you better understand your electricity use during the event.

To learn more about how your baseline consumption is calculated, see this Help Center article.

To learn more about the “temperature adjustment,” see Section 8 of the 2026 Electricity Rates document.