Data-center law in Québec

Subnational jurisdiction · as of 2026-10-24

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Québec's rule that reaches data centres is section 76 of the Act respecting the Régie de l'énergie (CQLR c R-6.01), as replaced on June 7, 2025 by section 63 of the Act to ensure the responsible governance of energy resources (S.Q. 2025, c. 24, Bill 69).

It requires a holder of exclusive electric power distribution rights to obtain the Minister's authorization before distributing electric power to a person who requests at least 5 megawatts, and at least 50 kilowatts for cryptographic use applied to blockchains for cryptocurrency mining, and it does not use the words data centre.

Hydro-Québec, as distributor, has applied to the Régie de l'énergie (file R-4333-2026) to fix rates for data centres and for cryptographic use applied to blockchains, and its proposed rate reaches any data centre whose maximum authorized power is at least 5 megawatts. Land use, environmental review, water, construction and air-emission permitting run through general statutes that are not described here, and no Québec data-centre incentive statute has been located.

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Instruments on record

1 instrument on record, grouped by the family of approval each one governs.

Energy and grid

What authorizations govern grid connection and onsite generation?

Act respecting the Régie de l'énergie, ministerial authorization to distribute electric power for large requests

In force

CQLR c R-6.01, s. 76

Effective 2025-06-07 · Applies to both

Despite the rule that a holder of exclusive electric power distribution rights must distribute electric power to every person who so requests, the holder must apply for the authorization of the Minister to distribute electric power to any person who requests at least 5 megawatts, or at least 50 kilowatts for cryptographic use applied to blockchains for cryptocurrency mining.

Before applying, a holder other than the electric power distributor must submit its application to the distributor, which analyzes the technical capabilities for connection and the economic benefits and social and environmental impacts of the use of the electric power requested and makes a recommendation regarding the authorization and its conditions. The Minister must reject the application if of the opinion that the holder does not possess the technical capabilities for connection.

The Minister may attach conditions to an authorization, in particular conditions relating to the economic benefits and social and environmental impacts of the use of the electric power. Until the first regulation made under paragraph 2.2 of section 112 of the Act comes into force, a holder is not required to obtain the authorization where it entered into with the person requesting the power, before 2 December 2022, an agreement that provides for a financial commitment from the latter. Section 76 took this form on June 7, 2025, the general commencement day of the Act that replaced it.

Source: Full text of law

Every entry cites the instrument it describes. None of it is legal advice: verify a citation before relying on it. Full sourcing: read the methodology. The rest of the record: all jurisdictions.