How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 10% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component?

Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component is funded by Hydro-Québec, Gouvernement du Québec

What are Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component's eligibility criterias?

The buildings must be located in Quebec and subject to the G rate for electricity service and delivery. The projects must aim at activities relevant to the commercial, institutional, or industrial markets. For new buildings, the participant must have an electricity bill history of at least three months before submitting the project.

Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component

Last Update: July 24, 2025

QC, Canada

Maximize your energy efficiency savings with Hydro-Québec's Solutions efficaces program

Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component at a glance

Eligible Funding

Min. $500
Up to 10% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : November 14, 2019

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

All industries

Grant Providers

Hydro-Québec
Gouvernement du Québec

Program status

Open

Overview of the Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component program

The grant under the Solutions Efficaces program provides financial support for small businesses in Quebec to enhance energy efficiency and demand management projects in their commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings.

Financing terms and conditions

Minimum financial support of $500 per eligible project, automatically calculated using the OSE tool.
The amount of the incentive compensation for partners and aggregators corresponds to 10% of the financial support granted per building of the completed project, provided that the total financial support reaches at least $50,000 for the year.
The payment of the financial support is made approximately 45 days after the receipt of a compliant original invoice.

Eligible projects & activities

Installation of energy-efficient equipment or systems in commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings.
Installation or replacement of energy-efficient equipment or systems on farms.
Implementation of energy efficiency measures to optimize electricity consumption in eligible buildings.
Implementation of demand management measures to reduce power demand during peak events.
Projects involving major renovations, expansion, or construction that incorporate energy efficiency upgrades.
Implementation of efficient electrification projects that reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels by installing high-efficiency equipment powered by electricity.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 100,000

Implement a comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade for a manufacturing plant in Montreal.

$ 60,000

Conduct energy analysis and efficiency upgrades in a Montreal-based educational institution.

$ 125,000

Upgrade energy systems in a healthcare facility in Quebec City for higher efficiency.

Eligibility criteria of the Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component program

The applicant must be a small business operating in the commercial, institutional, or industrial sector.
The project must involve one or more buildings located in Quebec.
The buildings must be subject to Hydro-Québec's rate G for electricity service and delivery.
The buildings must be supplied with electricity from Hydro-Québec's grid, an eligible off-grid system (Réseau autonome admissible), or an eligible municipal or cooperative network.
The project must aim to implement energy efficiency measures or demand management measures predefined in the OSE (Outil Solutions efficaces) tool.
The project must result in a minimum financial support amount of $500.
Only new equipment that incurs purchase and installation costs and is certified by recognized independent bodies or Hydro-Québec is eligible for energy efficiency projects.
For demand management measures, the project may target either existing or new equipment; new equipment must be certified or approved by recognized independent bodies or Hydro-Québec.
The applicant must submit the required forms via the OSE tool, along with supporting documentation such as invoices and proof that the building is billed under rate G.

Who is eligible?

Commercial businesses
Institutional businesses
Industrial businesses

Eligible expenses

Purchase costs of new energy-efficient equipment certified or approved by recognized independent bodies or Hydro-Québec.
Installation costs of new energy-efficient equipment certified or approved by recognized independent bodies or Hydro-Québec.
Purchase costs of new equipment for demand response measures, certified or approved by recognized independent bodies or Hydro-Québec.
Installation or programming costs related to energy efficiency or demand response measures implemented in the project.

Eligible geographic areas

Buildings located in Quebec.

Eligibility criteria of the Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component program

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The criteria include:

Energy efficiency measures proposed
Financial feasibility
Expected energy savings
Relevance to the program

How to apply to the Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component program

Project Preparation

Download the version of the OSE tool corresponding to the project start date.
Use OSE to evaluate the Financial Support.
Check the eligibility of the measures in the Participation Guide and in OSE.
Read the Participation Guide, its annex, and the Terms and commitments.

Presentation of the Project completed

Fill out the OSE files according to the prescribed steps.
Send the completed OSE files to bureau.eeaffaires@hydroquebec.com.
Include the Participation Notice - Aggregator if necessary.
Attach a copy of all invoices related to the implemented measures.
Provide proof confirming that the building is subject to the G rate.
If the project concerns a new building, provide a minimum of 3 months of electricity bills.

Verification and approval of the Project

Hydro-Québec may request additional documents to justify the implementation of the measures.
Hydro-Québec may visit the site to verify the compliance of the work.
Hydro-Québec approves the project or adjusts the Financial Support if necessary.
Hydro-Québec informs the Participant of the approved amount.

Billing for Financial Support

Prepare an original invoice through the accounting system for Financial Support and applicable taxes.
Send the invoice to bureau.eeaffaires@hydroquebec.com within 30 days of the billing request.

Disbursement of Financial Support

Receive payment approximately 45 days after receiving a compliant invoice.

Additional information

The OSE (Outil Solutions efficaces) tool must be used for evaluating the amount of financial support and for submitting projects; different versions are available depending on project start dates.
All documents submitted to Hydro-Québec, including reports and invoices, must be written in French unless an exception is provided under the Charter of the French Language and its regulations.
Hydro-Québec may communicate directly with the applicant, partner, or aggregator at any time to verify information provided or to update on the status of the financial support application.
Hydro-Québec reserves the right to close the applicant’s file if the required invoice is not submitted within 30 days of their request.
If a project covers both buildings under Rate G and those under other business rates, the incentive calculation will apply rules appropriate to each rate segment.
For new buildings, an electricity billing history of at least three months is required before financial support is disbursed, and only if the building is permanently billed under Rate G following construction.
Subsidies are not granted for projects that are mandatory for legal or regulatory compliance.
Public organizations are not eligible under this Small Business Component and must apply under the "Medium and Large Businesses" component.
The incentive for partners or aggregators is only paid if the total eligible financial support across all their projects reaches or exceeds $50,000 in the calendar year; otherwise, their projects’ incentives may be transferred to Medium and Large Businesses rules.
Participants, partners, or aggregators are encouraged to subscribe to Hydro-Québec’s business newsletter to stay informed about program updates and additional offers.

Documents and links

Efficient Solutions Program — Small Business Component

Contact Hydro-Québec

affaires@hydroquebec.com

1-800-463-9900

Apply to this program

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