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Energy Efficiency

Electrical Upgrades That Actually Lower Your Hydro Bill

Smart thermostats, LED retrofits, off-peak scheduling and where the payback really is.

BGE Electrique team · Published April 30, 2026 · 5 min read

Technician adjusting a smart thermostat in a bright home

In a Québec home, heating dominates the bill. That means efficiency work with real payback tends to sit close to the heating system and the schedule it runs on — not in swapping out the last few light bulbs.

  • Connected thermostats on electric baseboards: room-by-room setbacks are the fastest measurable saving in most homes.
  • LED retrofits in high-use rooms and exterior fixtures that run all night.
  • Timers and occupancy sensors in garages, basements, mudrooms and closets.
  • Scheduling EV charging, the dishwasher and the dryer outside peak periods.
  • Dedicated circuits for large appliances so they run efficiently instead of nuisance-tripping.

Measure before you spend

An energy monitor installed at the panel shows which circuits actually consume. We have had clients convinced their lighting was the problem discover a failing water heater element or a dehumidifier running around the clock. Data first, invoices second.

Efficiency work also compounds with electrification. Every kilowatt you stop wasting is capacity freed up for a heat pump or a charger — sometimes enough to avoid a service upgrade entirely.

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