The publicly owned power utility wants to charge 13 cents per kilowatt hour to data centres that require more than five megawatts of power. Rates for crypto mining operations are set to increase by eight per cent, to 19.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Both increases will come into effect in the second half of 2026, subject to approval by the province’s energy regulator. (The Logic)

Talking point: Data centre energy demand in the province is expected to grow sevenfold by 2035, to over 1,000 MW. Hydro-Québec says the increased rates for data centres are necessary to limit price increases for other consumers, to fully benefit from its energy resources and to account for the costs associated with high electricity demand.