Utilities | Lab Wiki

In Quebec, when people say “Hydro” they are not talking about whether or not you have a water bill. They are talking about whether or not electricity is included in your rent.

Hydro-Québec is the company in charge of Montreal’s power. Once you sign a lease, you will likely need to contact Hydro-Québec to set up your account. Information can be found . They also have a mobile app, where you can check and pay your bills.

Bills are generally sent out every other month, but they provide an Equalized Payments Plan, which you can opt into. With this plan, you are billed the same amount every month. Once a year, your energy use is reviewed, and the amount you pay every month is adjusted. The equalized payment plan is usually a great option, to avoid breaking your budget in winter months when heating is necessary and expensive.

Internet plans in Canada are priced on speed and capacity. If this system is unfamiliar to you, it may be a bit hard to determine exactly how much internet you’ll need. As a guideline, a lab member has a plan with 10 Mbps speed and 150 GB and finds it perfect for 1 person who spends their afternoons working from home and evenings watching Netflix.

The router is usually provided by the service provider.

Cheaper options are smaller companies like , but check how long it takes to get a technician to setup your internet.

Many lab members like for internet!

Cell phone plans in Canada are not cheap, but providers often have promotions, so keep your eyes out!

Before committing to a company, talk to lab members. Most companies have some sort of referral program, which can save both of you some money.

Signing up online can save you some money, since some companies will only charge you for the SIM card if you sign up in a store.

Some companies to look into are: Koodo (30 free international minutes for international students!). Not all providers use simcards. Most of the lab uses Fizz (so cheap, and your unused data rolls over). Ask for a referral code for Fizz!