The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Hydro-Quebec analysts said Thursday the utility must act quickly to mitigate the impact of the expanding datacentre industry on energy costs for Quebecers. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that in a public hearing Hydro-Quebec called for a new energy rate that could double the cost of energy for datacentres. Hydro-Quebec's Sarah Trabelsi says, "I don't think I will surprise anyone by saying that the context has changed deeply and that the era of energy surpluses is now behind us." This was part of the utility's first presentation at a provincial energy regulator hearing. It is pitting Hydro-Quebec against tech industry actors like Google, as well as environmental advocates like Greenpeace. Hydro-Quebec is asking the Regie de l'energie -- the regulator -- to consider a new electricity rate for datacentres that require a capacity of over five megawatts. The proposal would raise energy prices to an average of 13 cents per kilowatt hour. Datacentres currently pay an average of 6.82 cents per kWh, according to Hydro-Quebec's calculations. Hydro-Quebec aims to avoid selling energy to datacentres at discounted rates, which could burden other customers.