Hilo is your smart home
An even more flexible solution
Discover the affordable smart home service you can tailor to your needs to maximize your energy savings throughout your home.
Solutions for better home energy management
Certain conditions apply. Taxes are additional.
1. Offers are subject to change at any time without notice from Hilo.
2. To take advantage of the Hilo smart home service and its offers, the participant must satisfy the following conditions:
(i) commit to participating in Hilo challenges for a period of one (1) year;
(ii) be a Hydro-Québec customer who is a holder, co-holder or mandatary of a Rate D (basic) contract for residential use, such as a tenant or owner of a residence where the Hilo smart home service will be installed;
(iii) own connected devices acquired from Hilo, or devices that are compatible with and approved by Hilo; and
(iv) own a smart mobile device onto which the Hilo mobile application can be downloaded and used (visit the hiloenergie.com website for details on compatible devices).
Note: The aforementioned device is not included in the Hilo smart home service. Standard text and data fees apply to all notifications and to remote access via the Internet or a mobile network.
3. To take advantage of the Hilo smart home service and its offers, the participant must ensure their residence satisfies the following conditions:
(i) be equipped with a Hydro-Québec smart meter;
(ii) be equipped with electrical installations that comply at all times with electrical standards and applicable laws currently in effect;
(iii) have a high-speed Internet connection, a wireless network (such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi or others) and a free, functional Ethernet port on a modem or router;
(iv) be a single-family, semi-detached or row house-type home, or be located in a building of two or more units; and
(v) be located in a city where the Hilo smart home service is offered (visit the hiloenergie.com website for details).
4. A Hilo offer may be accompanied by a credit. In such a case, this credit corresponds to the difference between (a) the total amount of the sale price of connected devices and the hub (if applicable) and (b) the amount invoiced to the participant (before any discount is applied, if applicable). In cases where the agreement is terminated, if there is a credit balance in the participant’s account, this balance becomes immediately due and payable by the participant. The credit balance is calculated on a pro-rata basis and covers the portion of the thirty-six (36) month contract that remained unfulfilled starting on the day the credit, or a portion of the credit, was added to the participant’s account. If this Agreement is terminated, the Credit balance will become immediately due and payable by the Participant on the effective date of termination.
5. For more details on the Hilo smart home terms of use, please refer to the Participant Agreement.
**Calculation of estimate based on the type of residence, average number of thermostats selected, and the amount of your annual electricity bill, as well as the smart home service features selected in the savings calculator questionnaire. With regard to the solution for heating, this estimation is also based on the average rewards earned by customers who had participated in nineteen (19) Hilo challenges during the winter season from December 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Rewards related to the solution for heating may vary, particularly based on the number of thermostats participating in Hilo challenges, the characteristics of the residence, consumption habits, the participation rate in Hilo challenges and the weather. With regard to the solution for electric vehicle charging, this estimation is based on data collected during a pilot project conducted during the winter season from December 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. Rewards related to the solution for electric vehicle charging may vary, particularly based on the type of car, car use, recharging habits, and challenge participation rate. Based on the aforementioned, Hilo cannot guarantee that the participant will receive rewards. To learn more about the reward calculator, visit our Help Centre.
The Hilo challenges
Hilo challenges pay off!
Every winter, during peak periods, Hilo launches energy reduction challenges.
It's simple: the more you participate, the more cash rewards you earn - customers earn an average of $135 per winter.
FAQ
What is a Hilo challenge?
Hilo challenges occur during peak consumption periods between December 1 and March 31 at a rate of up to 30 times per winter period. For the challenges, Hilo invites participants to lower the set temperature of their thermostats. The way challenges work is simple: If you participate automatically in all the Hilo challenges, there are no adjustments you need to make—we’ll send you a notification about the challenge the preceding day and that’s it! All that’s left is for you to limit your energy consumption during the challenge so you can earn the maximum cash reward. For more information about challenges, please see: here
What is a peak period?
Peaks periods occur when electricity demand is at its highest because so many customers are cranking up the heat or using energy-intensive appliances at the same time. That puts the Hydro-Québec grid under a lot of pressure for a few hours.
How do I earn rewards?
Hilo challenges pay! During the cold weather season, we offer up to 30 energy reduction challenges. If you succeed, you’ll earn a cash reward. The reward calculation is simple: Accept the automatic actions suggested by Hilo and earn a reward for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy you do not consume. So the less energy you consume, the more you earn. For more information on how the calculation is made, visit: here
How can I verify whether I'm eligible for Hilo?
Before we can look into your eligibility, you must meet five basic criteria to join the Hilo adventure.
- You have a Hydro-Québec account in your name.
- You have a high-speed Internet service, a Wi-Fi network at home and a free and working Ethernet port on your modem.
- You have a smartphone.
- Your heating system is primarily electric with baseboards and thermostats.
- You are billed at Hydro-Québec’s Rate D, or standard rate. (Winter Credit Option or Rate Flex D subscribers can change their rate via their Customer Space).
You can also check to see whether your region is covered here.
What does signing up for Hilo involve?
Signing up for Hilo means accepting to participate in and succeed at your reduction challenges for 1 winter. Signing up also allows you to:
- enjoy connected devices at a low price;
- control all of your connected devices at the touch of a button using our mobile application;
- learn about your home’s energy consumption depending on the time of day and day of the week;
- receive cash rewards for participating in our challenges (last winter’s average was $135);
- save up to 15% on your electricity bill.
How is my reference consumption calculated?
Your reference consumption is a forecast of the energy you would consume during the reduction phase, if there hasn’t been a challenge.
Hilo calculates your reference consumption based on your average consumption in the preceding days. All these calculations are made automatically.
- First we select the most recent five days that are of the same type (excluding those in which there was a challenge). For example, if it’s for a weekday challenge, your consumption over the last five weekdays will be used.
- To make this average as representative as possible, we exclude extreme data, meaning the day with the lowest consumption and the day with the highest consumption. The final calculation therefore takes into consideration the average of three out of the five selected days.
- On the day of the challenge, this average is adjusted to reflect the effect of the outdoor air temperature on your consumption.
Things that affect your reference consumption
Your consumption follows a particular profile based on a number of factors that lie outside of Hilo’s responsibility, such as:
- consumption habits
- type of home (home size, number of floors, type of building, number of walls exposed to the exterior)
- whether or not you own an electric vehicle
- the area you live in
- your lifestyle
- the amount of time you are outside of your home
When are the rewards paid out?
The rewards you have earned will be paid by Interac transfer or cheque a few weeks after the end of the season of Hilo challenges.
What devices are compatible with the Hilo app?
To access the Hilo solution, you absolutely must have Hilo thermostats, a compatible thermostat or a compatible home charger. Otherwise, any connected devices (switches, wall outlets, bulbs, etc.) that operate using the ZigBee protocol will be compatible with our solution and can be among the devices controlled through our application. That said, note that these devices will be excluded from Hilo challenges and will not be covered by our customer service guarantees.
What is the bonus associated with Honeywell Home thermostats and when will I receive it?
Hilo offers a $150 bonus that will be automatically applied to your total rewards once you have taken your first challenge with at least one Honeywell Home thermostat added in the Hilo app.
This $150 bonus will be awarded at the end of the challenge season (which takes place from December 1 to March 31). It will be available in the mobile application and added to the total amount of rewards you earned for participating in challenges.