For the past two years, the construction of new houses has exploded almost everywhere in Quebec, making it more difficult to provide everyone with basic needs on time.
This is particularly the case in Trois-Rivières, where young people learned the hard way that their new house would not be connected to electricity when they arrived.
Nicolas Montplaisir learned last weekend that his house would not have electricity when he arrived in the house. However, he is moving this Friday with his spouse. This owner of a new home who is also a new dad could therefore end up at the hotel.
“We have milk machines for the little one. We have [aussi] need electricity to heat his room if we want to put him to bed at night,” explained Mr. Montplaisir, adding that a generator would solve some problems, but not all. Without electricity, it is impossible to keep food cold.
“The fridge won’t work [avec une génératrice]. So it’s practically impossible to come and live here without electricity,” he said.
The situation is complicated at Hydro-Québec, where there are delays. “For two years, we have had an economic and social situation. In short, requests for connections have exploded by 50%. It creates certain challenges,” explained Marc-Antoine Ruest, spokesperson for Hydro-Québec.
It is therefore necessary to plan ahead to have electricity on time. In addition, when a file requires the involvement of an electrical engineer, delays can range from 9 to 12 months.
According to the promoter, Fauvel management, Nicolas Montplaisir’s file was opened in August 2021. Is a document or signature missing? Is it the lack of manpower? It’s hard to know whose fault it is. And these delays cost contractors dearly as they must use generators to get there.
A family from Saint-Étienne-des-Grès is also worried about not having electricity for their move in December. Two poles are missing and the waiting time is estimated at around nine months.