An Energy Reform Rushed Through

During the night of June 7 and into the early hours of June 8, 2025, the Québec government passed Bill 69 under a gag order, a procedure where government limits debate on a bill and speeds up its passage. Passed at the very end of the parliamentary session, this Bill represents a sweeping reform that fundamentally reshapes the province's energy governance. Adopted without meaningful consultation or a comprehensive impact assessment, the new version of the bill leaves many questions unanswered, particularly for major electricity consumers who are directly affected.

This reform goes beyond a simple rate revision. It redistributes financial responsibilities in a questionable way. In addition to increasing the burden on large consumers, the government has now chosen to include certain compensations paid as part of agreements with Indigenous communities in the distribution rate. While these agreements are legitimate, their source of funding should have been addressed more transparently. Moreover, the role of the Régie de l’énergie is diminished in favor of expanded powers for Hydro-Québec. This centralization of decision-making raises fundamental concerns about balance, fairness, and governance in the provincial energy system.

The rate increases for businesses, especially SMEs and industrial users, are also part of a deliberate political strategy: to artificially cap residential rate hikes at 3%. While this choice may be popular from an electoral standpoint, it shifts the pressure onto other customer categories without any real assessment of the broader impact on Québec’s economy. It seems the government has forgotten that affordable energy not only benefits households but also serves as a key driver of Québec’s industrial development and decarbonization efforts.

Another troubling aspect: Bill 69 is presented as the foundation of an Integrated Resource Management Plan, a tool meant to be rigorous, comprehensive, and forward-looking. Yet, it deliberately excludes any evaluation of Québec’s natural gas potential. In a context where energy scarcity is becoming real and every kilowatt-hour counts, this choice appears more ideological than pragmatic. Ruling out any discussion on the subject limits the scope of the exercise and, ultimately, the province’s ability to plan effectively for the future.

Opposition parties have condemned this reform and called for its withdrawal, pointing out that it bears no resemblance to the original bill presented by the previous Minister of Economy, Innovation, and Energy. The final text, significantly altered, strays from the intended consensus and fuels distrust.

This bill deserved better: an open debate, careful listening to stakeholders, and a serious assessment of its impacts. Because at the heart of the energy transition, it's not just about changing rules. The resulting model must be fair, coherent, and capable of meeting the challenges of an ambitious, industrial, and evolving Québec.