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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Electric Tankless Water Heater in Quebec? (2026)
Electric tankless heaters draw enormous power, 12 to 36 kW, but only while hot water is flowing. They avoid the standby losses of a tank, saving 10 to 30 percent for most households, but need heavy wiring.
A typical electric tankless water heater (18,000 W) costs C$1.44 per hour, or about C$32.40 per month at 0.75 hours a day in Quebec. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (12,000 W) | C$0.96 | C$0.72 | C$21.60 | C$262.80 |
| Typical (18,000 W) | C$1.44 | C$1.08 | C$32.40 | C$394.20 |
| High (36,000 W) | C$2.88 | C$2.16 | C$64.80 | C$788.40 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.75 h/day ≈ 4,928 kWh per year.
One hour of an electric tankless water heater (18.0 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 6.0dryer loads
- 180kettle boils
- 400hours of a laptop
- 2,000hours of an LED bulb
In Quebec, with electricity at C$0.080 per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical electric tankless water heater costs C$1.44 per hour and about C$394.20 per year at 0.75 hours a day. That is about 43% less than the national average for Canada (C$56.70 per month), because electricity in Quebec costs C$0.080 per kWh against C$0.14 nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 0.7 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a electric tankless water heater
- Install low-flow showerheads. Flow rate directly drives power draw.
- Fix hot water drips. Each one fires the heater.
- Set the outlet temperature to 49 C and skip mixing cold water at the tap.
In standby it draws about 2 W, which adds roughly 18 kWh (C$1.40) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tankless water heater cost per month?
About 400 kWh a month for a family of four, roughly 10 to 30 percent less than a tank.
Do tankless heaters use a lot of electricity?
A lot at once, but for short periods. Total use is typically lower than a tank.
Do I need a panel upgrade for an electric tankless heater?
Often yes. Whole-house units need 100 amps or more of dedicated capacity.
Compare with
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