If you heat your home with electric baseboards or in-floor heating, you’ve probably heard about Hydro-Québec’s offer: free smart thermostats, installation included.
This isn’t a limited-time promotion. It’s a structured program — the Hilo service — available to all residential Hydro-Québec customers. Each thermostat is worth $109.99. Installation by a certified electrician is also covered at no extra cost.
Here’s everything you need to know before placing your order.
Hilo is Hydro-Québec’s smart home service. Through the program, homeowners can get smart thermostats for electric baseboards or in-floor heating at no charge — device and installation included.
To qualify, three conditions apply:
The program was also recently expanded: it now covers smart water heaters, in addition to thermostats.
Hilo-branded thermostats are available for free with installation included. Four other brands can be integrated into the Hilo app, but installation is not covered for those.
| Brand | Free device | Installation included |
|---|---|---|
| Hilo | Yes | Yes |
| Sinopé | No | No |
| Honeywell Home | No | No |
| Mysa | No | No |
| Stelpro | No | No |
If you choose a third-party brand, installation must be done at your own expense by a licensed electrician who is a member of the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ) — Quebec’s association of licensed master electricians — as required by the Quebec Building Act.
One thermostat per room is required for electric baseboard systems. Count your rooms before placing your order.
1. Order your Hilo Gateway The gateway is the central hub that connects your thermostats to the Hilo app and network. It’s free and must be added to your cart first — without it, no thermostat can be activated.
2. Add your thermostats Once the gateway is in your order, select the number of thermostats you need — one per room.
3. Schedule your installation After your order, Hilo will contact you by email to book an installation date. Multiple time slots are available and can be rescheduled if needed.
4. Welcome the electrician A certified electrician appointed by Hydro-Québec installs your Hilo thermostats at your home — no charge.
A Hilo challenge is a one-time request to reduce your electricity use during peak demand periods — typically between 4 a.m. and 11 a.m. or between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Challenges run from December 1st to March 31st, with about 30 challenges per winter. You choose your participation level: extreme, bold, or moderate — based on your routine and comfort.
In return, you earn cash rewards. Last winter, participants received an average of $205 in rewards.
The program delivers two types of savings:
If you choose a third-party brand (Sinopé, Mysa, Honeywell Home, Stelpro), installation isn’t covered by the Hilo program — that cost is yours to handle. It’s also a good opportunity to have your electrical panel checked before ordering.
A licensed master electrician can assess whether your current setup is compatible with smart thermostats and take care of any adjustments quickly.
Find a certified electrician near you on Neat — contact them directly, no middleman.
The program only covers electric heating. It does not apply to natural gas or heat pump systems.
Free installation applies only to Hilo thermostats. For third-party brands, installation costs are your responsibility.
The deadline is December 31, 2026. Equipment must be installed before that date to qualify.
Plan one thermostat per room. Unlike central heating, each electric baseboard is independently controlled by zone.
| Program | Organization | Max Amount | Eligible Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Thermostats at $0 (Hilo) | Hydro-Québec | $109.99/thermostat + installation | Hilo thermostats for electric baseboards or in-floor heating |
| LogisVert — Residential | Hydro-Québec | Varies by work | Residential energy efficiency — check eligibility on the official site |
Quebec homeowners who heat with electricity rarely get a chance to receive equipment of this value at no cost — device and installation included. The offer runs until December 31, 2026.
If you have questions about your electrical setup, need related work done, or want compatible thermostats installed, a certified electrician in your area can respond right away.
Post your project on Neat — certified contractors near you respond in minutes.
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