Hilo thermostats: have them replaced without the wait

What is happening with some Hilo thermostats

On November 9, 2026, Hydro-Québec announced the preventive replacement of some first-generation Hilo thermostats for electric baseboard heaters and fan convector units. About 21,000 customers are affected.

It started with reports of issues. Hilo explains that a technical assessment followed, and that it showed a very low risk of failure when an overvoltage occurs, which could cause the thermostat to overheat under exceptional circumstances.

Hilo adds that the thermostats to be replaced meet the applicable standards and are CSA-certified. The replacement remains a preventive measure, even for a thermostat that shows no sign of failure.

Which thermostats are affected

According to Hilo, the replacement covers certain first-generation thermostats:

• Hilo thermostats installed before December 1, 2022;
• Hilo thermostats for fan convector units installed between December 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024.

Second-generation Hilo thermostats are not part of the measure, and neither are those for heated floors.

You don’t have to guess. Affected customers get an email with “Preventive measure” in the subject line, or a letter. With no email or letter, your thermostats are not affected, Hilo writes.

Hydro-Québec’s replacement: free, by appointment

Hydro-Québec contacts the affected customers itself, and no action is required of them. The replacement is free and starts gradually over the next few weeks, according to the November 9 news release.

A second email, or a letter, lets you pick an appointment slot among those offered in your area. An electrician hired by Hydro-Québec then installs second-generation Hilo thermostats.

Until then, Hilo says you can keep using your thermostats and heating your home, with no effect on your bill. If you notice a failure, Hilo asks you to call its customer service.

One instruction to remember: don’t take the thermostat apart and don’t try to check its electrical connection. That comes from Hilo.

Having them replaced without the wait

Would you rather not wait for your appointment slot? Replacing a baseboard thermostat is electrical work, and Québec’s building authority, the Régie du bâtiment, reminds that you need the proper licence to work on an electrical installation, even at home. It’s our trade, and we can do it right away.

Here are the two routes, side by side.

Hydro-Québec’s replacement costs nothing, and Hilo encourages its customers to take advantage of it. If price comes first for you, waiting for your appointment is a good choice.

One clarification: we are not appointed by Hilo, and Hilo-brand thermostats are installed by a master electrician appointed by Hilo. What we install on our side is another thermostat, chosen for your heaters.

We are certified Sinopé installers, and that is the brand we install for this replacement. Sinopé presents its smart baseboard thermostats as compatible with Hilo.

Other work in mind, like a baseboard heater to change? Group it into the same visit: a box in the form is there to describe it.

What it changes for your Hilo agreement

Hilo calls a “compatible device” one that is not its own brand, but that can be added to its app and automated during peak events. A customer who is already registered can connect a compatible device directly to the Hilo app.

Hilo does warn that its app doesn’t necessarily control every feature of those devices. And Hilo doesn’t install other manufacturers’ devices: installation is up to an electrical contractor.

As for commitment, the one you make to Hilo lasts 12 months. If you cancel before that, the credit balance and any financial assistance received must be repaid, where applicable. After those 12 months, these conditions no longer apply.

The Hilo pages we read on November 10, 2026 don’t say what happens to your participation when you have your thermostats replaced with another model. Before you decide, ask Hilo, at 438 289-4456.

Good to know: Hydro-Québec offers a bonus to Hilo participants for an eligible compatible thermostat. For a Sinopé baseboard thermostat, Hilo’s list shows $110 per thermostat ($90 for its fan convector models), for up to 10 thermostats in this category per address, in return for a 12-month commitment to take part in automation during peak events. The bonus is paid once per device, after it is connected to Hilo and the financial assistance agreement is accepted. These are Hilo’s conditions, read on November 10, 2026; Hilo is the one that confirms your eligibility.

On Hilo’s offer and Rate Flex D, see our guides Hilo thermostats on baseboard heaters and Flex D rate and winter credit.

How the replacement goes

1. You fill out the form at the bottom of the page: number of thermostats, type of heating, photos if you have some.
2. You receive a written quote, at no charge.
3. On site, we note the wattage of the heaters each thermostat controls, then choose the model accordingly.
4. We check the wires in each box, and we tell you if the house has aluminum wiring.
5. For a smart thermostat, we set up the app with you.

Wattage matters: a thermostat must be able to carry at least the total of the heaters it controls, according to the guide of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (2018 edition of the Code).

Power surges, the cause at issue

Hydro-Québec places the risk in certain exceptional situations, such as a power surge.

A power surge can come from lightning or from switching on the grid, according to Hydro-Québec. It can also occur when power returns after an outage.

At the electrical panel, a surge protector diverts surge current to the ground, a technical bulletin from the Government of Alberta explains. Our position at STM-Électrique: no rule requires one, but it protects electronics.

It is no substitute for having the affected thermostats replaced: the measure Hydro-Québec chose is replacement.

To go further: Power surge: where it comes from and Whole-house surge protector installation.

Why STM-Électrique

• Right away. We replace your thermostats without waiting for a Hydro-Québec appointment slot.
• Work we do often. Thermostats and baseboard heaters are among the small jobs we are asked for most.
• The right thermostat for each room. It is chosen according to the total wattage of the heaters it controls.
• Master electricians. RBQ licence 5815-0137-01, CMEQ members.
• A written quote, at no charge. The price is in it before the work starts.
• Guaranteed work. Our work is guaranteed for 1 year, parts and labour; the thermostat’s warranty is the manufacturer’s.
• Sinopé certified. STM-Électrique is a certified Sinopé installer.

We serve Montréal, Laval, the North Shore and the South Shore.

Frequently asked questions

Get a quote: thermostat replacement

EN - Service request (English service pages)

Site web

Full name

Phone

Email

Where are you located?

How many thermostats to replace?

Not sure yet1 to 34 to 78 or more

Did you get the notice from Hydro-Québec?

Not sureYesNo

Type of heating

Not sureElectric baseboard heatersConvection heatersFan convector unitSeveral types or other

Anything else to do during the same visit? (optional)

Attach photos or plans (optional)

Choose up to 3 files

Get my quote

Recommended byCAA-Québec