Setting Up Utilities After Moving in Montreal

Setting Up Hydro-Québec

Hydro-Québec is your electricity provider in Montreal, and setting up your account should be your first utility priority. You can open a new account or transfer your existing one online at hydroquebec.com or by calling 1-888-385-7252. Do this at least one week before your move to ensure the lights are on when you arrive.

If the previous tenant closed their account, the power may be off at your new address. Hydro-Québec can usually restore service within 24–48 hours, but during peak moving season (late June through early July), response times can be longer. Plan ahead to avoid arriving to a dark apartment.

No deposit is required for most residential accounts, but Hydro-Québec may ask for one if you have a poor payment history. Your first bill will typically include an estimated reading — actual consumption will be billed at the next meter reading.

Internet and Television Services

The two major internet providers in Montreal are Vidéotron and Bell. Both offer fibre-to-the-home in many areas, with speeds up to 1.5 Gbps. Schedule your installation 1–2 weeks before your move if possible — appointment availability gets tight during peak moving season.

Budget-conscious Montrealers should also consider smaller providers like Fizz (owned by Vidéotron), Oxio, TekSavvy, and Ebox. They use the same cable or DSL infrastructure but often charge 20–40% less per month. Just note that installation wait times may be slightly longer with resellers.

If you're cutting the cord on cable, most streaming services work fine with a 25+ Mbps connection. But if your household has multiple people working from home, gaming, or streaming simultaneously, consider 100+ Mbps plans for a smooth experience.

Water, Gas, and Heating

In Montreal, water is included in your rent or condo fees — there's no separate water bill. The City of Montreal provides water service, and you don't need to set up a separate account. This is one of the nice perks of living on the island.

If your new apartment uses natural gas for heating or cooking (common in some Outremont and Westmount homes), you'll need to set up an account with Énergir (formerly Gaz Métro). Contact them at 1-800-361-8003 or online. Most Montreal apartments use electric heating via Hydro-Québec, but verify what your unit uses before assuming.

For apartments with electric baseboard heaters, make sure all units are working before your first cold night. Test every room and report any issues to your landlord immediately — heating is a legal requirement in Quebec leases, and your landlord must maintain it.

Other Essential Services to Set Up

Don't forget renter's insurance (assurance habitation). Most landlords require it before giving you the keys. Desjardins, Intact, and La Capitale all offer online quotes. Expect to pay $25–$50/month for a typical Montreal apartment.

Set up Postes Canada mail forwarding so mail sent to your old address reaches you at the new one. This costs about $100/year for an individual. You can set it up online at canadapost.ca.

If you have a car, update your address with the SAAQ for your driver's licence and registration. You can do this online through clicSÉQUR. Also update your address for any parking permits — different boroughs have different permit systems, and you may need a new one for your new street. The City of Montreal's website has details for each borough.