Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Yes, the bonus is retroactive for compatible devices purchased in the past, with the exception of devices that have already received financial assistance from Hydro-Québec, notably during the pilot projects (2022 to 2024).

If you are unsure whether you have received financial assistance for your devices in the past, please contact Hilo Customer Service at:

• 438 289-4456
• 1 844 500-4456 (toll-free)

Hilo, a program designed to help you save energy and money, is available to 95% of Hydro-Québec customers. Some municipalities are not yet eligible, but Hydro-Québec is working to extend this offer to 100% of the territory, thus allowing all Hydro-Québec customers eligible to Hilo and with compatible thermostats to join Hilo. To join Hilo, customers must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Hydro-Québec customer ;
• Have created your Customer Space on Hydro-Québec's website;
• Have access to high-speed Internet service of at least 5 Mbps, a home Wi-Fi network, and a free and functional Ethernet port on their modem or router;
• Own a smartphone on which they can download and use the Hilo App;
• Use electric baseboards, convectors, heated floors, or a central heating system as your main heating source;
• Agree to enroll in Hydro-Québec's Rate Flex D.

You can validate your eligibility here or by contacting a Hilo customer service agent at 438-289-4456 (HILO) or 1-844-500-4456 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No, Sinopé devices purchased as part of earlier pilot projects (2022 to 2024) are not eligible for the bonus offered with this program, as they were already subsidized by Hydro-Québec. However, you can receive a bonus for any new purchase of a compatible device. 

For more details, visit this link.

Yes, because you can't sign up for two programs at the same time.

If you are a Winter Credit customer, you will automatically be invited to switch from Winter Credit to the Hilo program once your devices have been connected to Hilo, without having to make any prior changes in your Hydro-Québec Customer Space. If you're a Flex rate customer, you must first go to your Hydro-Québec Customer Space to switch to Rate D. Once you've done that, you can unsubscribe from the program or rate in Éco Sinopé to select the Hilo option.

To do so, go to the Éco Sinopé feature and click on the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of the page. 

No, you cannot register for two programs at the same time. Please unsubscribe from your current program before subscribing to a new one.

Should any of the following events occur:  

• The Participant terminates the Hilo Service Agreement before the end of the required minimum period of 12 months following acceptance of this financial assistance program. 
• The Participant fails to comply with the obligations set out in the Agreement during the 12-month period following acceptance of this financial assistance program.   
• The Participant declines or withdraws from more than 10 Hilo peak events per Winter Period during the first 12 months following acceptance of this financial assistance program. 

In such cases, the Participant agrees to reimburse Hydro-Québec a percentage of financial assistance received under this financial assistance program. For full details, visit this page.

By joining Hilo, you'll be eligible to receive a bonus on some of your smart devices. In fact, you'll be eligible for a bonus* of up to $210 per compatible thermostat and up to $125 per Calypso water heater controller.

You can also earn more cash rewards by automating your connected devices' participation in Hilo events. Finally, you'll be part of a collective movement to optimize energy consumption in Quebec and help the planet.

*With a 12-month commitment. The number of connected devices eligible for financial assistance is limited. Conditions apply.

We're pleased to be working with Hydro-Québec again this year to continue making smart devices more accessible and rewarding customers who want to better balance their energy consumption, especially during peak events, to have a positive impact on the environment. Sinopé recommends using its free platform, Neviweb, to create scenes and automations for your devices. Only Hilo events during peak periods will now be managed by Hilo if you have connected your compatible devices.

The amount of the new bonuses cannot be allocated to you if you have already benefited from the bonuses before May 1, 2025. This is not retroactive.

The bonus is a cash rebate that will be paid to you by bank transfer from Hilo by Hydro-Québec in the weeks following the connection of your devices to Hilo. The bonus is also conditional on the customer's acceptance of the financial assistance agreement for the compatible device(s) associated with Hilo. In the meantime, you will be able to view the amount of your bonus in the Hilo app. 

For more details, visit this link.

To be eligible for the bonus, the participant must not refuse or withdraw from more than 10 Hilo peak events per winter period during the first 12 months following acceptance of the financial assistance program.

For full details, visit this page. 

1. Get your Hilo hub
2. Add your devices to Sinopé's Neviweb app.
3. Select the Hilo option in the Éco Sinopé feature*.
4. Install the Hilo hub and the Hilo app.
5. Follow the steps in the Hilo app to connect your devices.
6. Your bonus will be paid to you by bank transfer from Hilo by Hydro-Québec in the weeks following your registration at Hilo.

*If you were previously enrolled in another program or at another rate, please unsubscribe before joining a new one. To do so, go to the Éco Sinopé feature and click on the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of the page. If you are a Winter Credit customer, you will automatically be invited to switch from Winter Credit to the Hilo program once your devices have been connected to Hilo, without having to make any prior changes in your Hydro-Québec Customer Space. If you're a Flex rate customer, you must contact Hydro-Québec customer service to switch to the Rate D (standard) rate). Dial 1 888 385-7252 (toll-free).

To connect the Calypso water heater controller to Hilo and receive the bonus, simply follow these steps.

If you haven't already done so:

1. Download the Neviweb app and create an account.
2. Add your water heater controller to Sinopé Neviweb by following the steps for adding a device.
3. Select the Hilo option in Éco Sinopé.
4. Order the Hilo hub and download the app.

Connection to Hilo:

1. Go to the Devices page in the Hilo app. 
2. Tap on the + in the upper right corner. 
3. Tap on Add a device. 
4. Tap on Water heater controller. 
5. Tap on Sinopé.
6. Tap on Connect to my account. 
7. Tap on Accept. 
8. Connect to your account in your device manufacturer’s app. 
9. If prompted, tap Allow. 
10. Select the devices and confirm that you want to add them. 
11. Close the Sinopé's app when the Devices have been added! message appears. 

The Hilo hub takes around 10 working days to be delivered.

Yes, you must keep the GT130 gateway to connect your Zigbee Sinopé devices in Neviweb and also order the Hilo hub free of charge to connect your devices afterwards.

The hub is offered free of charge on the Hilo website.

To order your hub, please consult this link.

You can purchase an additional Ethernet switch to connect your gateway to. This switch is not sold by Sinopé, but you can find it on the web (e.g. Amazon). 

Yes! The Hilo hub connects Wi-Fi devices to Hydro-Québec's meter to provide real-time electricity consumption data. Instantaneous power is used to calculate the baseline consumption before peak events and to monitor performance in real-time during events. With the gateway, this information is accessible via the Hilo mobile app, offering an optimized user experience. It allows customers to manage their energy consumption better and participate effectively in Hilo peak events.

The GT130 gateway is required to add your Zigbee devices from Sinopé to the Neviweb app and thus be able to select the Hilo option in Éco Sinopé. You must therefore have the GT130 gateway as well as the Hilo hub to be eligible for the bonus.

For the time being, certain smart thermostats and the Calypso water heater controller (Wi-Fi and Zigbee models) are eligible for the bonus*:

• Smart thermostats for electric baseboards (TH1123WF, TH1124WF, TH1133WF, TH1123ZB, TH1124ZB, TH1134ZB/HC, TH1500ZB): Up to $110
• Smart floor heating thermostats (TH1300WF, TH1310WF, TH1300ZB): $210
• Smart low voltage thermostats (TH1400WF, TH1400ZB): $150
• Calypso water heater controller (RM3500WF, RM3500ZB): Up to $125 (Wi-Fi version: $125 / Zigbee version: $105)
  

Note that we are working with Hydro-Québec and Hilo to integrate new devices into the Hilo ecosystem. We will inform our customers with eligible products in due course, and all information will be available on our website and that of Hilo.

*A limit of 10 electric baseboard and floor heating thermostats, 2 low voltage thermostats and 2 Calypso water heater controllers per account are eligible for the bonus.

A limit of 10 electric baseboard and floor heating thermostats, 2 low voltage thermostats and 2 Calypso water heater controllers per account are eligible for the bonus.

Some devices, such as charge controllers and smart plugs, are not supported in Hilo. If you still want them to participate in peak events, you can create an automation in Neviweb for your devices and activate it manually during a challenge to save money.

We are working with Hydro-Québec and Hilo to integrate new devices into the Hilo ecosystem. We will inform our customers with eligible products in due course, and all information will be available on our site and that of Hilo.

With the Hilo app and Calypso, you can:

• View the tank water temperature
• View the water heater's power supply
• Change the water heater's On/Off status
• Participate automatically in peak events with the safety measure

A safety measure with a minimum temperature threshold limits the risk of bacteria transmission. During peak events, when the water temperature falls below this threshold, the water heater automatically switches back on so that the water is hot again, not lukewarm, thus limiting the risk of bacteria transmission.

Best practice: With Hilo, it's recommended to keep the Calypso water heater controller on at all times, except for prolonged absences of more than 3 days. In fact, outside of peak events, low-temperature protection doesn't apply, so it's important to always turn the controller back on if you deactivate it for several days.

Hilo peak events take place in cold weather during periods of high demand, between December 1 and March 31. They run from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. or from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., or both.

Hilo peak events take place in 3 phases, all automated by Hilo:

1. Optional preheating phase (4 a.m. to 6 a.m.): The set temperature of your thermostats will be gradually increased to ensure optimum comfort throughout the challenge. You can program preheating on all your thermostats, on some of them only, or not at all.
2. Reduction phase (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.): Your thermostats gradually reduce their setpoint temperature during the challenge.
3. Recovery phase (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.): Home temperature gradually returns to normal. Please note that your devices may remain in DR/Eco mode for some time after the end of the challenge, since the return to “normal” mode is gradual and random among all devices registered for the feature, so as not to create new peaks.

During a challenge, the participation mode you have chosen will define the setpoint temperature to be reached for the reduction phase of the challenge. Regardless of the mode you choose, the change in setpoint for each phase (preheating, reduction and recovery) is gradual over the duration of the phase, with the aim of balancing comfort and performance. Thus, depending on the profile selected, reduction setpoints ranging from -0.5 to -4 can be sent at different times during this phase.

Therefore, during a challenge, even if you have the impression that the setpoint is not being reached at the expected time, we recommend that you do not touch the thermostats. Setpoints are not sent to thermostats immediately; they are sent gradually, and may vary from one participant to another.

If you have any questions about the management of the peak events, please contact Hilo customer service:

• 438 289-4456
• 1 844 500-4456 (toll-free)

The amount you’re eligible to receive is calculated based on your household’s total energy use during a peak event. To maximize your potential savings, choose Bold or Extreme mode — the greater the temperature reduction, the more you stand to gain.

Changing a few habits can also help lower your bill — for example, by postponing your shower, EV charging, or running the dishwasher and other energy-intensive appliances.

To further reduce your energy use, consider disabling the preheating option in rooms you won't be using during a peak event.

Looking for more ways to save? Check out this article for additional tips.

For each billing cycle, the total amount corresponding to your energy reduction during all peak events in that period will be credited to your bill.

If you're enrolled in the Equalized Payments Plan (EPP), this amount will appear every two months on your winter electricity bill, under the cost breakdown section.

After the first peak event of the season, go to the Events page in the Hilo app. There, you’ll find a list of all peak events where Hilo managed your connected devices, along with the number of kilowatt-hours curtailed and the credit amounts associated with each event.

You can maintain your current program or pricing (e.g. Winter Credit or Flex Rate D) if you do not wish to migrate to Hilo and continue to use Éco Sinopé as usual. However, you won't have access to the bonus offered on devices as part of the joint program with Hilo.

Yes, you can use Hilo to manage your devices during peak events, and benefit from the wider range of features offered in the Neviweb app for controlling your various devices (automations, schedules, georeferencing, scenes, etc.) during off-peak periods.

No, only the following data relating to Neviweb will be shared with Hilo with your permission:

- Current status of Neviweb and all devices connected to it.
- User-defined names in Neviweb (e.g. device and room names).
- User-defined room and automation definitions, including device name and type.
- Status of all products, including on/off status, product accessibility and settings. The application will also have access to language and temperature format preferences.
- Write access to device attributes (thermostat setpoint, etc.).
- Names, creation date and time stamps.

If you join Hilo, you won't see a banner indicating that a peak event is underway in the Sinopé Neviweb app. In the Hilo app, you will see that a peak event is in progress. However, the éco icon (or DR) will appear on your device and in the Sinopé Neviweb app during a peak event.

The peak events, including the preheating phase, are managed by Hilo. Here's their support article explaining preheating.

Please note that if you had selected the “With preheating” option for your device and you decide to leave preheating, this will disqualify you from the peak event as this phase is part of the event. You therefore need to change the settings before the peak event to select the “Without preheating” option.

Hilo allows you to decline or opt out from a peak event up to a maximum of 10 times per winter if you wish to be eligible for rewards. Here's their support article on the subject

Peak events you refuse or opt out from do not qualify you for rewards.

If the thermostat's temperature is manually modified during the peak event, the device will be excluded from the current event (this will terminate the automatic setpoints sent by Hilo for this thermostat). The curtailment will still be counted, and rewards will be awarded according to the curtailment of other devices (if any).

Here's Hilo's support article on the subject.

Hilo is in charge of calculating the rewards you earn in the winter peak events. Here's an article explaining the process.

Hilo peak events take place in cold weather, during periods of high demand, between December 1 and March 31. They take place from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. or from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., or both.

Hilo peak events are divided into 3 phases, all automated by Hilo:

1. Optional preheating phase (4 a.m. to 6 a.m.): Not applicable to the water heater controller, only available for thermostats.

2. Reduction phase (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.): The Calypso controller automatically switches off the water heater as soon as the reduction phase begins. Users can continue to use hot water moderately during the event. However, if the water temperature drops below the minimum threshold of 49°C, the water heater automatically restarts to avoid running out of hot water.

3. Recovery phase (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.): Once the peak event is over, the water heater automatically restarts and resumes normal operation. Please note that your Calypso controller may remain switched off for a short time after the end of the event, since the return to “normal” mode is gradual and random among all the appliances registered for the feature, so as not to create new peaks.

For any questions about managing the peak event, we invite you to contact Hilo Customer Service:

• 438 289-4456
• 1 844 500-4456 (toll-free)

During a peak event, if the water temperature reaches 49°C, the water heater controller returns to heating the top part of the tank. The controller can then return to the event (if necessary) after reaching 50°C and maintaining a higher temperature for 20 minutes.

Note: The minimum temperature cannot be changed; it remains at 49°C by default.

Yes, it is mandatory to connect the temperature sensor to the Calypso in order for it to participate in the demand management events. Otherwise, the water temperature will be considered inadequate, and the controller will not take part in the peak event.

If your water heater controller is participating in the peak events, it doesn't mean you'll run out of hot water during the event. However, your consumption habits will have an impact on the amount of hot water available. So, if you perform several actions that require hot water during the event, it's possible that your controller will reactivate during the event if the water temperature drops below the predetermined minimum threshold.

Otherwise, if you use water moderately, you'll be able to use it throughout the event.

Using Calypso with Hilo

• Participation in peak events: Yes
• Participation in peak events without temperature sensor: No
• Low water temperature protection: Only during peak events
• Automatic reactivation outside peak events: No
• Customizable low water temperature protection: No (default 49°C)
  

Using Calypso with Éco Sinopé

• Participation in peak events: Yes
• Participation in peak events without temperature sensor: Yes
• Low water temperature protection: At all times
• Automatic device reactivation outside peak events: Yes (if low water temperature protection activated)
• Customizable low water temperature protection: Yes (45°C to 55°C or deactivated)

To earn cash rewards at the various locations associated with your account, and to receive up to $210 in bonus per eligible device, follow the steps below. 

1. Order a new Hilo hub (free of charge).
2. Create a new Hilo account and a new Sinopé Neviweb account for the additional location.
3. Associate each device with the appropriate location in the Hilo app.

The addition of a new gateway (free of charge) is required to clear kilowatt-hours and receive your rewards for devices in the additional location. Without this addition, you will only earn rewards for the location equipped with a gateway.

You need to delete the devices in question from the Hilo app, so that they are no longer controlled by Hilo. 

Rate Flex D can help you save significantly on your electricity bill.
In winter:
• Outside of peak demand events — that is, for more than 95% of the season — electricity is priced below the base rate (Rate D).
• During peak demand events — which account for no more than 5% of the season — electricity is priced higher than the base rate.

For the rest of the year, standard Rate D (base rate) prices apply.

To learn more, visit the Rate Flex D page on Hydro-Québec's website.

With Hydro-Québec's Rate Flex D, you’ll benefit from lower electricity rates throughout the winter — except during peak demand events, when rates are higher. Hilo can automate the management of your connected devices to help you use less energy during those periods. This can help you save up to 20% on your winter electricity bill.

The amount you save with Rate Flex D is calculated as follows:
[What your electricity would have cost at the base rate – [What you paid under Rate Flex D]

Put another way:
A = [Number of kWh used] x [Cost per kWh under the base rate]
B = [Number of kWh used] x [Cost per kWh under Rate Flex D]
A – B = Your total savings

Of course, to make Rate Flex D worthwhile, what you pay must be less than what you would have paid at the base rate.

Remember, in winter, electricity under Rate Flex D is cheaper than at the base rate (making it easy to save!) — except during what are called peak events, which are periods of high electricity demand. To avoid driving up your bill, you need to reduce your electricity use as much as possible during peak events, when each kilowatt-hour costs more.

Ideally, this means avoiding the use of energy-intensive appliances — but more importantly, it means lowering the temperature in your home, since heating can account for up to 80% of your winter electricity bill.

This is where Hilo becomes a valuable ally — automating the management of your connected devices according to the preferences you set. During a peak event, Hilo will automatically lower the temperature on your thermostats and can also manage your water heater and EV charging station.

Yes! During the winter season, the Hilo app lets you track your savings in real time, calculated as the difference between what you’re paying with Rate Flex D and what you would have paid under Hydro-Québec's base rate.

The Winter Credit Option is a rate add-on available with the base rate (Rate D). It lets you earn a bill credit based on how much you reduce your electricity use during peak demand events.

To learn more, visit the Winter Credit Option page on Hydro-Québec's website.

For each peak event, a maximum consumption limit (or baseline consumption) is calculated for your home based on your energy use over the past few days, with adjustments for the outdoor temperature on the day of the event.

You’ll receive a bill credit based on the number of kilowatt-hours you didn’t use — in other words, the energy curtailed compared to your typical consumption.

Baseline consumption is an estimate of the energy you would have used during the reduction period if no peak event had occurred. Hilo calculates this automatically using your average energy use from the past few days.

• We start by selecting the five most recent days of the same type — for example, weekdays if the peak event occurs on a weekday — excluding any days when a peak event took place.
• To make the average as accurate as possible, we exclude two outlier days: the one with the highest energy use and the one with the lowest. The baseline is then calculated as the average of the remaining three days.
• On the day of the peak event, this average is adjusted to reflect how the outdoor temperature affects your typical energy use.

Factors that affect baseline consumption
Your baseline is based on your individual energy use patterns, which can vary depending on factors outside of Hilo’s control, such as:
• your household's energy habits
• the type of dwelling you live in (e.g., home size, number of floors, building type, number of exterior-facing walls)
• whether or not you own an electric vehicle
• the region you live in
• your day-to-day lifestyle
• how often you're away from home