Using the Validator Tool

The Simulator/Validator tool is based on Excel. It should run without problems on any version of Excel 2013 or higher. It has been tested on various versions of Windows with different locale settings. The tool has not been tested on iOS. The tool requires that macros be enabled. If you are afraid the tool might have malware (it doesn't), please feel free to download it and test it with VirusTotal or with any other malware checker.

Although the individual sheets in the workbook are protected, none are password protected. The workbook is not protected. You can easily view all the VBA code, either by adding in the Developer tab in Ribbon, or by using Alt-F11.

Getting started

1. Download the tool to your Windows computer.
2. Optionally scan it for viruses or send it to VirusTotal for verification.
3. Open the workbook.
4. Select the Instructions tab, if it isn't already selected.

NOTE: If you see the yellow security warning, then please Enable Content (this enables macros).

5. Instructions are available in English and in French. You can switch instructions, on all sheets, with the button provided.
6. Read through the instructions to get a sense of what the tool does and how to use it.

Using the Validator

You can validate all your Hydro Quebec Winter Credit dollars easily with this tool. The validator requires all your hourly data for every day in the 2025-2026 winter season (December 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026) It also requires details of every critical peak event when HQ expects you to reduce your energy consumption. You do not required to enter this data manually (although you can if you wish).

How to fetch your data from the HQ Customer Portal.

1. This assumes you joined the Hydro Quebec Rate D with Winter Credit Option.
2. It also assumes you have a HQ customer portal login and password.
3. Lastly, you will need to find your Contract Number.

This can be found on Page 2 of your invoice, in the left hand column. Here is an example.

4. Switch to the sheet called Config.
5. Follow the instructions.
6. Enter your Hydro Quebec customer portal user name in cell B2.
7. Enter your contract number in cell B3. You can find this number on your invoice, on page 2, in the left hand column.
   • The contract number must be 10 digits long, with no spaces.
   • If you contract number is only 9 digits, prefix it with a zero.
8. For the 2025-2026 Winter Season, leave the start date as is: 2025-11-24.
9. Ensure you have internet access.
10. Click on the button Login to HQ Customer Portal.
    • The entire process takes about 1 to 3 minutes. Be patient, you will be told when all the data has been downloaded.

Once the download has completed, there will be hourly consumption, per day, available on the Data sheet and there will be a list of critical peak events with details of your winter credits on the Events sheet.

NOTE: Once the initial download is processed, subsequent logins will only update any missing historical data and missing credits, reducing the wait time for the work book to update.

Validating Winter Credits after your data has downloaded

1. Switch to the Events sheet.
2. Your winter credits will appear in the blue cells.
   • this data should match exactly what you see in the HQ Customer Portal under Winter Credit Option details.
3. Click the Update button.
4. Columns J through W will be populated, using your historical data.
5. If there are differences greater than +/- $0.01, they will show up in Column W.
6. You can load any single event into the Simulator for further analysis.
   • ensure you have selected a cell on the event that you are interested in.
   • Click the Load row into Simulator button.

For further information on the simulator, see this wiki page.