Quebec energy for SMEs
Energy productivity: a competitive advantage
On September 17, 2025, Laurentian Bank, in collaboration with QNP, welcomed nearly 75 participants to Quebec City for the luncheon conference Resilience and innovation – strategies and perspectives for a changing world. The magnificent Quai du Cap Blanc provided the backdrop for this exchange on the strategic issues transforming the Quebec economy.
Economic update from Sébastien LavoieChief Economist of Laurentian Bankcame at just the right time: in the morning, he shared his predictions of a rate cut… which materialized a few hours later! It was an excellent opportunity to launch a discussion on the major economic issues directly affecting Quebec SMEs.
Our general manager and co-initiator, Anne-Josée Laquerrespoke on a key topic: energy productivity. Alongside
Reducing total energy consumption has become a strategic imperative. In a context of rising prices and uncertain supply, consuming less and better is no longer an option; it’s a business opportunity to be seized now. For SMEs, improving energy productivity means ..:
- direct savings on operating costs;
- rebates – which can be substantial! – for those who help reduce the winter peak;
- greater resilience to energy-related risks (price, access, availability);
- a competitive advantage and a lever for innovation.
Every dollar invested in energy productivity is transformed into competitiveness and sustainability: process automation, equipment modernization, heat recovery, electrification, pooling in industrial parks, peak load management… These are just some of the levers already activated by a number of Visionaries SMEs in Quebec!
Energy productivity is not just a measure of efficiency: it’s an investment in business performance, resilience and competitiveness, now and for the future.
For the occasion, we were joined by members of our Accompagner les PME dans l’action climatique community of practice. The event gave them an opportunity to showcase their expertise to the SMEs in attendance, forge links and discover the expertise/influence matrix – a tool developed by QNP to help them better grasp the transformation dynamics underway and increase their impact on businesses.
Thanks to our partner :
