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Meter stack in a commercial or mixed-use building
Shops on the ground floor, apartments above: why each unit has its own meter, when metering moves to transformers, and who deals with Hydro-Québec.
In short
In a building where shops and apartments share the space, the meter stack brings the meter bases of every account together on common busbars.
- With separate metering, each residential or commercial unit has its own meter.
- At 347/600 V, above 200 A, the meter is connected to voltage and current transformers.
- The master electrician files the service request at the planning stage, then the declaration of work once everything is ready.
- For a business or a plant, the shutdown usually lasts about 24 hours with us; for an apartment building, about 6 hours.
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One meter per unit
Separate metering means one meter for each residential or commercial unit in a building: the ground-floor shop and the apartments can each have their own.
For a given location and voltage, Hydro-Québec in principle accepts only one metering point per customer; the same customer can have more than one when its uses and rates differ.
A unit separated from its neighbours by fire walls counts as a separate building; it can therefore get its own service.
An industrial establishment, a complex structure or a self-contained unit can also get an additional service with a separate metering point; Hydro-Québec may then ask for a written attestation.
On the bill side, Hydro-Québec’s Rate G applies to contracts whose minimum billing demand stays below 65 kW; at 65 kW or more, the contract is no longer eligible.
Where the meters go
| Situation | What the Blue Book provides |
|---|---|
| Multiple-meter device | On the outside wall of the building it serves |
| Seven delivery points or more | A metering centre, if outdoor devices are not used |
| Building open only at certain hours | Metering installed outside the closed perimeter |
| In front of the service equipment | At least 1 m of clear space |
Every service box, panel and meter base carries the address or the unit number: that is what links each meter to the right business.
Metering transformers
Metering is chosen according to the voltage, the rating of the service box and the installed load.
| Voltage | Meter on a meter base | Meter on transformers |
|---|---|---|
| 120/240 V | 320 A or less | More than 320 A |
| 120/208 V | 200 A or less | More than 200 A |
| 347/600 V | 200 A or less | More than 200 A |
These thresholds have exceptions, including dual-energy installations.
The split of tasks is set: the cabinet, the conduits and the meter support are installed by the master electrician, at the customer’s expense; the meters and transformers come from Hydro-Québec, which connects them.
The cabinet is for Hydro-Québec’s use only, with its own disconnect just upstream, and only those on its list of accepted products can be used.
Expanding or replacing
To add a single delivery point to an existing installation, one more individual meter base is allowed.
Beyond that, meter bases are best grouped on one or more multiple-meter devices, preferably with combination breakers.
Extra loads mean redoing the calculation for the feeders and the service upstream.
Meter stacks and switchgear are the commercial work we especially do.
A commercial meter stack to replace?
We examine the meter bases and the capacity; the price is written in the quote, at no charge.
Send my quote requestThe shutdown
During the replacement, the building has no power: in an apartment building, usually about 6 hours with us. For a business or a plant, the shutdown usually lasts about 24 hours.
Hydro-Québec, not the master electrician, reconnects a transformer-rated meter: the date therefore depends on Hydro-Québec too.
In a shop, the timing of the shutdown is decided with the manager, and the job is divided so customers are disturbed as little as possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can the ground-floor shop have its own meter?
Yes. With separate metering, each residential or commercial unit has its own meter.
At what rating are transformers needed?
Above 200 A at 347/600 V or 120/208 V, and above 320 A at 120/240 V.
Who pays for the transformer cabinet?
The customer: the master electrician installs it at the customer’s expense, along with the conduits and the meter support. The meters and transformers are supplied by Hydro-Québec.
How long is the building without power?
For a business, usually about 24 hours with us; in an apartment building, about 6 hours. With a transformer-rated meter, Hydro-Québec does the reconnection: the date is set with Hydro-Québec.
Does the load calculation need to be redone?
Yes, if loads are added: the calculation for the feeders and the service upstream has to be redone.
A commercial meter stack to replace?
Meter bases, cabinet and Hydro-Québec requests: we take care of them, with the price written in the quote.
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Sources
Consulted on October 29, 2026.