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How Hilo works
Hilo automates your connected devices during peak demand events — making it easy to save without sacrificing comfort.
With Hilo, you benefit from Hydro-Québec's Rate Flex D, which offers lower electricity prices throughout most of the winter — except during key moments called peak demand events.
By lowering your electricity use during winter peaks, you help reduce.
Hilo automates your connected devices during peak events — helping you save and do your part for the planet without lifting a finger.
A peak demand event is a period — usually during extreme cold — when Hydro-Québec anticipates high electricity demand across the province. To prevent overloading the grid, everyone is encouraged to reduce their energy use during these critical times.
That’s where Hilo comes in. By automating certain devices — like your thermostats — Hilo helps you lower your consumption without the hassle.
Under no circumstances can this information be considered a substitute for the document titled Electricity Rates.
Your home's temperature rises to keep you comfortable during the peak event. By default, preheating is enabled for all connected thermostats. You can choose to apply it to only some of them — or turn it off entirely. It’s up to you! Depending on your participation mode, the temperature will increase by 1°C or 2°C during this phase.
Depending on the mode you’ve selected for your thermostats — Moderate, Intrepid, or Extreme — your home’s temperature will drop by 3, 4, or 6°C. If applicable, your EV charging will also be paused, and your water heater controller will cut power to the tank. Since electricity prices are higher during peak demand events, reducing your consumption helps you maintain your savings. You can always take back control of your automated devices, if needed.
The temperature gradually returns to normal, and any paused EV charging resumes. If you have a water heater controller, it restarted the device at the end of the peak event (i.e., the reduction phase) — no effort required on your part.
During peak demand events, the less you consume, the more you maintain your savings. Every small action makes a difference...
Want to make changes? You can adjust your settings in the app — including your participation mode, which devices are automated, and whether preheating is enabled. By default, all connected devices are included in automation, and preheating is enabled for all thermostats.
Peak events are scheduled when Hydro-Québec anticipates high electricity demand across the province during the winter — that's the main consideration. On cold days, many people use more energy at the same time, which puts pressure on the grid. As a result, temperature plays a key role in forecasting demand.
However, demand doesn’t stay the same at a given temperature. For example, after several consecutive days at –10°C, electricity demand is typically higher on the last day than on the first.
Other factors that influence demand forecasts include operational constraints related to electricity supply, transmission, and distribution. To manage demand effectively, Hydro-Québec rigorously applies a range of tools, including dynamic pricing.
This guarantee lets you try it risk-free and with peace of mind.
In winter:
To learn more, visit the Rate Flex D page on Hydro-Québec's website.
