Utilities

Hydro Québec

Hydro Québec is the company responsible for providing water and electricity. To register for these services, you first need to make an account on their website. Then, follow the on-screen instructions until your registration is finalized. 

You can choose to pay each bill individually or by automatic withdrawal to prevent them shutting it off. Hydro Quebec sends a bill every two months, but you can view a more detailed breakdown of your energy and water usage on their website after you have made an account. You can also use their website to estimate the average cost of electricity and water for an apartment you are interested in.

Unless you choose equalized payments, you will generally spend much more on your hydro bills in the winter than in the summer, in particular if heating is not included as part of your lease. You can choose to either pay for the amount used those two months, or you can opt for equalized payments. In this case, you pay the same amount every month to make it easier for you to plan your budget. This amount is calculated by Hydro Quebec based on the usage from the previous year. If, at the end of the year, you have used more electricity and water than the previous year, you will have to pay the difference. If, on the other hand, you use less per month than during the previous year, you will get money back.

BUYER BEWARE: Any text message or email asking for your personal banking information is a scam, be careful. 

Internet & TV

There are several different internet and television providers. Before deciding on one of them, check if your apartment has a cable and which provider it works with. This will prevent you from needing to install a second cable. 

Garbage, Recycling and Compost Collections

Household waste collection is a service offered by Montreal’s different boroughs. In order to find out the days and frequency of waste collection in your neighbourhood, you can call 311 or find out from this website.