{
  "id": 13125965,
  "title": "Google and environmental group to question Hydro-Québec consultants on data centres",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/google-and-environmental-group-to-question-hydro-quebec-consultants-13125965",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-09T13:11:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12096975/google-hydro-quebec-data-centres/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lawyers representing Google and an environmental coalition are set to question Hydro-Québec consultants during a public hearing on data centre rate hikes. The Régie de l'énergie, Quebec's energy regulator, will also question the experts as part of the hearing on proposed rate increases for data centres that require over five megawatts of capacity. Hydro-Québec is seeking a new electricity rate of 13 cents per kilowatt hour for such data centres, which the utility claims is approximately double the current rate for large-power customers. According to two consultants hired by Hydro-Québec, demand from data centres is expected to more than double between 2024 and 2030, primarily due to the expansion of the AI industry. The hearing will continue in December, when industry actors will share their views on the proposed rates.",
  "summary": "Quebec's energy regulator, the Régie de l'énergie, will also question the experts as part of the public hearing on proposed rate hikes for data centres.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Google and environmental group to question Hydro-Québec consultants on data centres",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/google-and-environmental-group-to-question-hydro-quebec-consultants",
        "published": "2026-10-09T08:00:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}