On June 12, 2019, the Quebec government submitted Bill34, An Act to simplify the process for setting electricity distribution rates.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the Association québécoise des consommateurs industriels d'électricité (AQCIE), the Coalition des associations de consommateurs du Québec (CACQ), Union des consommateurs and Option consommateurs are calling on the government to withdraw Bill 34.

By stripping the Régie de l'énergie of important powers, the Quebec government is depriving all Hydro-Québec customers of a rigorous, independent electricity rate-setting process to limit the appetite of the electricity distribution monopoly.

We support the government's objective of refunding $500 million to Quebec consumers and businesses, since even without Bill 34, these sums would revert to Hydro-Québec customers. As we proposed, this could easily be achieved by splitting Bill 34 in two, while maintaining the powers of the Régie de l'énergie. Unfortunately, this proposal was not accepted by Minister Julien.

There is no justification for the government to act so quickly and abruptly on an issue as important as the pricing of an essential public service. Rather than hastily withdraw important powers from the Régie, we propose that Minister Julien hold apolitical public consultations on the future of energy regulation in Quebec. The Act respecting the Régie de l'énergie was passed over twenty years ago. A review of the role and powers of the Régie de l'énergie is in order, as part of a continuous improvement approach and to ensure that electricity consumers are always well protected against the decisions of the monopoly that is Hydro-Québec.

This page lists a number of articles on Bill 34 and the organizations involved.

November 16, 2019

Open letter from the North Shore Consumer Protection Association

October 30, 2019

CFIB, AQCIE and Option consommateurs refute Hydro-Québec's allegations with supporting evidence

October 4, 2019

Hydro-Québec rates: should Québec abandon its bill?

Article published on the Radio-Canada website

October 3, 2019

• Historic common front to protect the independence of the Régie de l'énergie and oversight of the Hydro-Québec monopoly

• Press briefing

In the presence of:
- Mr. Saul Polo, Official Opposition Spokesperson on Energy and Natural Resources
- Ms. Ruba Ghazal, Second Opposition Group Energy Critic,
- Mr. Sylvain Gaudreault, Third Opposition Group Energy Critic
- Mr. Gopinath Jeyabalaratnam, Economic and Government Affairs Advisor, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
- Mr. Christian Corbeil, General Manager, Canadian Federation of Independent BusinessOption consommateurs
- Mr. Jocelyn B. Allard, President, Association québécoise des consommateurs industriels d'électricité
- Ms. Rébecca Bleau, Executive Director, Coalition des associations de consommateurs du Québec

• Interview with Sylvie de Bellefeuille, lawyer at Option consommateurs, on RDI Économie

September 29, 2019

Hydro-Québec rate-setting - interview with Mr. Gopinath Jeyabalaratnam, Economic and Government Affairs Advisor for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, on TVA Nouvelles

September 26, 2019

Too expensive for Hydro, the Régie de l'énergie?

Article published in La Presse + newspaper

September 25, 2019

• Step back to move forward : Option consommateurs CFIB and AQCIE call on government to split Bill 34

• Ultime offensive pour conserver la Régie de l'énergie (article published on the La Presse website)

September 24, 2019

Hydro would spend between $10,000 and $20,000 to answer a question!

Open letter from Mr. Jocelyn B. Allard, President, Association québécoise des consommateurs industriels d'électricité (AQCIE) and Gopinath Jeyabalaratnam, Economic and Government Affairs Advisor, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

September 19, 2019

Hearing of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business before the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy and Natural Resources

September 18, 2019

• Consumers' Union hearing before the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy and Natural Resources

• Option consommateurs to the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy and Natural Resources

To read the brief

September 17, 2019

Hearing of the Association québécoise des consommateurs industriels d'électricité before the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy and Natural Resources

September 5, 2019

Option consommateursCFIB and AQCIE call for Hydro-Québec rate cuts of nearly 5% for 2020-2021