Energy Upgrade Rebates for Restaurants in Quebec: Hydro-Québec Efficient Solutions and Paying for the Equipment
A Quebec restaurant on a Hydro-Québec business rate (G or Flex G) can get help with energy-efficiency upgrades through Hydro-Québec's Efficient Solutions program, and pays at least 10% of eligible costs itself. The rest of the bill, and anything the program does not cover, is usually paid with equipment financing, a government-backed bank loan or cash.
Start an applicationBy Chady Zahri, Chief Executive Officer · Updated October 8, 2026
Voxen insight
Check the participation guide before you take a contractor's quote, not after. A restaurant that buys first and asks later can find its equipment was not on the list, and then it carries the whole cost. Financing is the easy part once the eligible scope is settled.
Who Hydro-Québec's Efficient Solutions program is for
The small-business stream of Efficient Solutions is open to Hydro-Québec customers on a business rate, G or Flex G; check which rate your restaurant is billed at on your Hydro-Québec bill. Its rules were updated on March 31, 2026. Two points matter before you call a contractor:
Read the guide's conditions before you sign a quote, because they decide whether the work counts.
- the participation guide lists which measures are eligible, so check the equipment you have in mind against it first;
- the customer pays at least 10% of eligible costs, so no upgrade is entirely covered.
No Quebec program is aimed at restaurants alone
Searching for a "restaurant grant" in Quebec turns up very little that is current, and no Quebec program aimed specifically at restaurants was found when this was checked. What a restaurant can use are general programs, each with its own conditions. The table lists the ones worth checking in October 2026.
| Program | What it helps with | Main condition | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro-Québec Efficient Solutions | Energy-efficiency upgrades | Business rate G or Flex G; you pay at least 10% of eligible costs | Participation guide |
| Clean Technology investment tax credit (federal) | 30% refundable credit on eligible clean-tech property, such as heat pumps or solar | Taxable corporations; claimed through your accountant | CRA |
| Secteurs en chantier (Montreal) | Losses from major roadworks near the business | $5,000 one-time grant, or up to $40,000 a year for losses | Ville de Montréal |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | A bank loan for equipment and leasehold improvements | Up to $500K; revenue of $10M or less | ISED |
| ÉcoPerformance | Projects that cut fossil-fuel use | Aimed mainly at manufacturers; the tune-up stream closed September 1, 2026 | Québec.ca |
Checked on 2026-10-08.
What your share looks like on a typical upgrade
The 10% floor is easy to plan for. It is the least you will pay; the program's real contribution depends on the measure, so the guide decides the rest. The table shows the minimum share on three project sizes.
| Eligible cost of the upgrade | Minimum you pay (10%) |
|---|---|
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $40,000 | $4,000 |
| $80,000 | $8,000 |
Derived from the program's 10% minimum. Costs the program does not accept are paid in full by the restaurant.
Paying for the kitchen equipment itself
Most of the money in a restaurant upgrade goes into equipment: refrigeration, ventilation, cooking lines, dishwashers. There are three common ways to pay for it.
A merchant cash advance is a purchase of a share of your future card sales. It is fast, but it costs more, and for equipment that lasts ten years, financing over the equipment's life usually fits better.
Before you sign anything, put three figures side by side: the cost the guide accepts as eligible, your minimum 10% share of it, and the cost of everything outside the program, such as a new counter or a menu board. The last two are what you finance.
- Equipment financing. The equipment secures the financing; Voxen's covers up to 100% of the price including soft costs such as installation, new or used, from any vendor.
- A CSBFP bank loan, which also covers leasehold improvements, at no more than prime plus 3% on a term loan, with a 2% registration fee.
- Cash, if paying it out does not leave the restaurant short in a slow month.
Where Voxen fits, and where it does not
Voxen does not apply to Hydro-Québec or any other program for you, and does not advance money against a rebate you expect. It arranges the financing for the equipment and for your share, based on your restaurant's sales and bank statements. If your bank will do a CSBFP loan for the project, that is usually cheaper, and we will say so. The energy upgrades page of the grants hub collects the program details, and the restaurant industry page covers financing for the rest of the business.
What to do next
Confirm your rate is G or Flex G and check your planned equipment against the Efficient Solutions guide. Get the contractor's quote, then apply with Voxen for equipment financing on the part you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Quebec grant just for restaurants?
No current Quebec program aimed specifically at restaurants was found. Restaurants use general programs instead, such as Hydro-Québec's Efficient Solutions for energy upgrades and, in Montreal, Secteurs en chantier for losses from major roadworks.
How much of an energy upgrade do I pay under Efficient Solutions?
At least 10% of eligible costs, plus any cost the program does not accept. The program's contribution depends on the measure, so check the participation guide for your equipment.
Who can use Efficient Solutions?
Hydro-Québec customers on a business rate, G or Flex G. The rules in force were updated on March 31, 2026.
Can I finance the equipment and get the rebate later?
You can finance the purchase on the strength of your restaurant's sales and bank statements. The rebate is not used as security and Voxen does not advance against it. Follow the program's conditions so the rebate still applies.
Should a restaurant use a merchant cash advance for new equipment?
Usually not. A merchant cash advance is a purchase of a share of your future card sales: fast, but costly. Equipment that lasts years is usually better paid for with equipment financing or a bank loan spread over its life.
Related
- Chady Zahri — Chief Executive Officer
- Energy upgrade programs
- Hydro-Québec Efficient Solutions
- ÉcoPerformance
- Financing for restaurants
- Equipment financing
- Restaurant Financing in Canada: Fund Renovations, Equipment, and Growth
- Canada Small Business Financing Program vs Equipment Financing: How to Choose
- How to Fund Your Share of a Government Grant While You Wait for the Payout
- Merchant Cash Advance: Pros, Cons, and Better Alternatives