Hilo | Rise to the challenge and earn rewards

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Hilo challenges are making your rewards go up when the temperature goes down

Hilo challenges help you save. During the colder months, we suggest up to 30 reduction challenges. By taking them on, you receive cash rewards. Last winter, the average reward was $205. It’s easy: accept Hilo’s automatic prompts and get a reward for each kilowatthour (kWh) that you don’t use.

*Average rewards earned by clients who participated in the 30 Hilo challenges during the 2024-2025 season.

Why take on the Hilo challenges?

To reduce greenhouse gases

By consuming less at home during peak periods, we’re increasing exports of clean energy to markets where it will replace electricity generated from fossil fuels. This small gesture can help lower greenhouse gas emissions.

To earn cash rewards

The less energy you consume during the challenges, the more cash rewards you’ll earn: an average of $205 per client last winter. It’s a save-save situation.

What’s a Hilo challenge?

A Hilo challenge is an invitation to reduce the set temperature of your thermostats. Hilo challenges are held during the cold weather season, a high demand period. They are scheduled between 4 a.m. and 11 a.m. or between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m., or even during both periods.

In a typical Quebec winter, you can expect about 30 Hilo challenges. The more you participate in, the more rewards you’ll earn! For every challenge, you decide the terms of your participation – bold or moderate mode, with or without preheating – according to your preferences. Bold participation mode reduces the setpoint temperature of your thermostats more significantly than moderate mode, but the potential rewards are more generous. You can also program a preheating period in certain rooms for added comfort.

How can I participate in the challenges?

It’s easy! You’re automatically signed up to participate in all the Hilo challenges for which you will receive notifications. Of course, you always stay in control of your thermostats and can choose not to participate in a challenge.

Learn more

 

2024-2025 Hilo challenges

A record season, thanks to you!

This winter, our customers achieved record savings by reducing their electricity consumption at all the right times. The results are impressive – and so is our collective movement!

 

Discover the results

A three-phase challenge

Preheating phase

• 2 hours

The temperature in your home will go up during this phase to ensure an optimal level of comfort throughout the challenge. You can program some or all of your thermostats to preheat or even choose not to preheat at all. It’s your call!

Reduction phase

• 4 hours

The temperature in your home will go down during the challenge. You can accept Hilo’s suggested automatic settings for all or some of your thermostats. The power to your electric water heater controller will be cut off, and use of your charging station will be interrupted, if these devices are also included in the challenge.

Recovery phase

• 1 hour

The temperature in your home will gradually return to normal all on its own. If your electric water heater controller is included in the challenge, power will be restored; if your charging station is included in the challenge, it will gradually resume charging during this phase. And all without you having to lift a finger. Challenge met? Your reward awaits!

  • Hilo app, set the temperature even when you're away.

     

    You’ll get an alert before a challenge
    Hilo warns you in advance of each new challenge so you’ll have time to prepare. During extreme cold periods, there might be challenges every day, whether in the morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., or at the end of the day between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., from December 1 to March 31.
  • App Hilo & challenges, choose your mode of participation.

     

    Choose your mode of participation
    Before each Hilo challenge, you can select your mode of participation: moderate, intrepid or extreme. In moderate mode, the temperature will go up by 1.5°C during the preheating phase and will drop by 3°C during the reduction phase. In intrepid mode, the temperature will go up by 2°C during the preheating phase and will drop by 4°C during the reduction phase. In extreme mode, the temperature will go up by 2°C during the preheating phase and will drop by 6°C during the reduction phase. Moderate, intrepid or extreme, it’s your call!
  • Visit the Hilo app to see your accumulated rewards.

     

    Earn rewards
    It’s simple: the less energy you consume during a challenge, the more cash you get back.We’ll take care of everything, and you'll be able to track your challenges with the Hilo mobile app.

What is a peak period?

Peak 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.
 

Visit our Hilo Challenges Help Center

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