Hydro-Québec maintains plan to boost rates for data centres despite court ruling

Montreal - Hydro-Québec has announced its intention to persist in requesting increased electricity rates for data centres and cryptocurrency miners, despite a court ruling that invalidated governmental decrees supporting the plan. The utility aims to secure approval from Quebec's energy regulator for a higher rate for data centres and an increase in the rate for cryptocurrency mining projects.

The provincial government had published two decrees in early 2026 endorsing these rate hikes. Quebec Superior Court Justice Élif Oral struck down the decrees, stating that while the government can express concerns to the regulator, it cannot impose a decision. Hydro-Québec maintains its request, believing the rate increases would benefit the province. This story was originally published by The Canadian Press on October 29, 2026.