Founded in 1642, Montréal is one of the largest and oldest cities in Canada. With a population of 1.8 million residents, the city is also considered as one of the most bilingual cities in the world.
As the main city in Québec, Montréal’s economy is one of the fastest-growing in Canada and the largest financial hub in the province. The economic activity in the city is quite diversified, including sectors and industries such as commerce, technology, culture, finance, software engineering, tourism, transportation and communications.
Although Montréal is a booming city and offers increasing living costs, the city has historically-stable utility costs, thanks to the considerably low electricity prices provided by Hydro-Québec. As reported by the utility, over the past 20 years, electricity prices have grown at a slower rate (29%) than the cost of other consumer goods, such as milk (which increased 65%), public transit (88%) and home insurance (114%).
When it comes to natural gas rates, however, there are many competitive providers available, so it’s essential to compare natural gas suppliers before signing up with a company. If you want to understand more about electricity and natural gas providers in Montréal, as well as how energy bills work in the city, find detailed information below.
Whether you want to reduce your natural gas and electricity bills or set up utilities in Montréal, read on to learn your options and how to compare natural gas suppliers in the city.
Natural gas in Montréal
Like in most parts of Québec, natural gas customers in Montréal have their service billed, distributed and delivered by Énergir (Gaz Métro) regardless of which company supplies their home or business with natural gas. So, even if you switch your natural gas service to a competitive retailer, you’re still going to receive Énergir bills. The only difference will be related to the amount you pay for the cost of natural gas as a commodity.
Some of the competitive natural gas suppliers in Montréal and/or Québec include but are not limited to:
Comparing Montréal natural gas providers: At EnergyRates.ca, you can compare Montréal natural gas providers and their rates. The website lists all the major natural gas companies in Québec according to your postal code. The cost comparison tool is a 100% unbiased and enables you to find the cheapest available natural gas rates in your area.
If you’re looking for commercial natural gas suppliers, EnergyRates.ca can also help you. The website provides businesses and industrial natural gas consumers with free, custom quotes based on their energy consumption, as well as in-depth advice on how to make informed decisions.
Electricity in Montréal
Electricity in Montréal is provided by Hydro-Québec. According to the electric utility, the average yearly energy consumption of a detached home with air-conditioning in Québec is around 24,000 kWh. If you take into consideration that the electricity rates in the province were from 6.08 cents to 9.38 cents (basic rate), as of mid-2019, the average electricity bill in Montréal could range from $120 to $180 per month. It’s important to have in mind that these are estimates, and don’t necessarily include daily charges and costs associated with delivery and distribution.
As stated on websites such as Expatistan and the official Québec immigration page, monthly electricity costs in the province are approximately $120 on average, but could cost anything from $60 to $250 or more, if you include heating in such expenses.
Hydro-Québec customers in Montréal usually pay lower electricity prices than people in cities such as Vancouver, Toronto or New York. The reason why is that Québec’s abundant hydroelectricity sources allow the governmental company to charge lower electricity rates.
What About Water
Montreal is one of North America’s major cities when we talk about water operation and distribution. The drinking water comes from St. Lawrence River, Lac Saint-Louis and Riviere des Praires, among other sources, and goes through many treatments before being released to residents, such as clearance, filtration, and chlorination.
Behind the scenes, an entire world of engineers, treatment plants (Atwater, Charles J-Des Baillets, Pierrefonds), and over 5,000 of kilometers of underground pipes work constantly to maintain infrastructure to protect public health and ecosystems from different types of pollutants.
Like many other large cities, Montreal faces challenges related to aging and high maintenance needs. In 2020, 26% of treated water was never released to residents because of leaks and supply issues. However, to decrease the chances of future similar scenarios and modernize its system, The City of Montreal has been implementing District Metered Areas (DMAs) aiming for better monitoring and control of leaks.
How To Set Up Water Supply
If you just moved and your home already existed prior, it is not necessary to set up water utilities like you do with electricity or gas, as in Montreal the water service is automatically tied to the bill. Therefore, the main goal of the homeowner is to be aware of the water pressure and possible leaks, and contacting the City of Montreal number (311) only if you see supply issues at home. The same tip applies if you are a tenant or a business owner.
For new homes, such as those recently contracted, there are many steps to request a new water service connection, which is more complex. Some of the main steps are hiring a licensed plumber, applying for a water connection permit, paying a fee for the connection work (which can cost from $3 to $8,000 in average), installing the public portion of the connection up to the property line, and asking for a service inspection to guarantee everything is 100%.
It is important to highlight that, if you are a business owner, the water meter is mandatory in Montreal, so you are billed according to the usage. The first 1,000m2 per year is free.
City of Montreal Customer Information
- Customer Care Phone: 311
- Website Ville de Montréal – Official city portal
- Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
