EV Charging Cable Theft in Quebec: Who Is Rolling Out Cable Free Charging Stations and What Drivers Should Do

Answer summary: Copper thieves are cutting cables off EV charging stations in Quebec. Hydro-Québec's Circuit électrique says it has counted more than 200 cable thefts so far in 2026. To fight back, it will test about 20 Level 2 stations with no cable in Montréal in early 2027. Drivers will bring their own cable.

Key takeaways

• Thieves cut charging cables to sell the copper inside. Hydro-Québec says each cable costs a few thousand dollars to replace.
• Circuit électrique has counted more than 200 cable thefts on its stations so far in 2026, TVA Nouvelles reports.
• Radio-Canada reports that close to 44% of this year's thefts were in the Québec City area.
• Circuit électrique and Bornes Québec, a Victoriaville company, will test close to 20 Level 2 stations with no built in cable in Montréal in early 2027.
• Fast chargers are not part of the test. Hydro-Québec says the tech does not allow fast chargers without a built in cable yet.
• If you find a cut cable, report it in the Circuit électrique app with "Signaler un problème".

Why "Station de Recharge" Is Trending in Canada: EV Charging Cable Theft in Quebec

Searches for "station de recharge" jumped in Canada on Google Trends this week. The cause is a wave of stolen cables at EV charging stations in Quebec.

I have watched the public charging network in Quebec grow for more than ten years. I have never seen this many cut cables. You pull up to a charger on a cold night and the cable is just gone. The station is useless.

On October 27, 2026, TVA Nouvelles reported that new stations with no built in cable are coming. The goal is simple. If there is no cable on the station, there is nothing to steal.

Photo: Circuit électrique (Hydro-Québec)

How Many EV Charging Cables Have Been Stolen in Quebec in 2026

Here is what Hydro-Québec and the news outlets have reported this year.

• More than 200 thefts: TVA Nouvelles reports that Circuit électrique has counted more than 200 cable thefts on its stations so far in 2026.
• Québec City is hit hard: Radio-Canada reports that, as of mid October, Hydro-Québec counted 70 thefts in the Capitale-Nationale region and 18 in Chaudière-Appalaches.
• A big jump since 2023: Radio-Canada says Hydro-Québec counted only 12 thefts across the province in 2023.
• High cost: Hydro-Québec spokesperson Louis-Olivier Batty told TVA that each cable costs a few thousand dollars to replace.

Here is the odd part. Mr. Batty told Le Journal de Montréal that the copper in one charging cable is usually worth only a few tens of dollars. So thieves wreck a station worth much more for a small payout.

Hydro-Québec told Radio-Canada that the thefts are not tied to organized crime. It says they are crimes of opportunity, done at night, often in the same way. Hydro-Québec also warns that thieves put their lives at risk near its equipment.

Other networks are hit too. Radio-Canada reports that cables were stolen this month at FLO stations in the Lebourgneuf area of Québec City.

Who Is Rolling Out Cable Free EV Chargers in Quebec and When

TVA Nouvelles reports that Circuit électrique will test the new stations with Bornes Québec, a company from Victoriaville.

Here is the plan as reported.

• Where: Montréal.
• When: in the first months of 2027.
• How many: close to 20 stations.
• What kind: Level 2 only. These charge a car in a few hours.
• How it works: you sign up for the service. Bornes Québec says the first cable would be free under the current plan, and it would come by mail.

Carl Tremblay of Bornes Québec told TVA the plan could still change because it is a pilot project. He says the cable will be easy to handle and will not take much space in the car. The station is small and made of aluminum.

The idea comes from Europe. TVA says many public stations in several European countries have no built in cable.

Fast chargers are left out for now. Hydro-Québec says the thefts also hit fast chargers, but the tech does not allow them to work without a built in cable yet.

Photo: Circuit électrique (Hydro-Québec)

What EV Drivers Should Do About Stolen Charging Cables Right Now

The pilot is still months away. Until then, here is what I tell EV owners.

Report a cut cable right away. Open the station in the Circuit électrique app and tap "Signaler un problème". Circuit électrique says it then tells the station owner and posts the issue on the station's page. For help 24/7, call the number on the station.

Check the station status before you drive. The app shows if a station is down. Circuit électrique says an "Inconnu" status means the station lost its link or is broken.

Have a plan B. Know a second station near your stop. On a long trip, do not wait until your battery is almost empty.

Keep your own charging cord in the car. Most EVs come with a portable cord for a regular outlet. It is slow, but it can save you at a hotel or a friend's home. Today's public stations in Quebec have their own cable, so your cord will not plug into them.

Report suspicious activity. Hydro-Québec asks witnesses to call its "Ouvrons l'œil" tip line. If you see a crime in progress, call 911.

What Cable Theft at Charging Stations Means for Winter Road Trips in Quebec

Winter makes a dead station a much bigger problem. A cold battery holds less range, and it charges more slowly. Read our guide on how much range an EV loses in a Canadian winter before a long drive.

Thieves mostly go after fast chargers, Le Journal de Montréal reports. Those are the ones you need on the highway. If the fast charger at your stop is cut, the next one may be far away.

So plan with more room. Leave home with a full battery. Warm the car while it is still plugged in at home. Pick stops where there is more than one fast charger. Our winter fuel and EV energy use guide shows how much more power you use in the cold.

Pack for a long wait too. Our polar vortex car prep checklist lists what to keep in your emergency kit.

What This Means for EV Charging Stations Across Canada

Canada had 39,220 public chargers at March 31, 2026, Transport Canada counted. Most of them are Level 2. Our EV guide for Canada in 2026 breaks down where you can charge.

The thefts in this story are in Quebec. We could not find official numbers for other provinces, so we will not guess. If you are shopping for an EV, check our list of EV rebates by province too.

FAQ

Why are thieves stealing EV charging cables in Quebec?

They want the copper inside. Hydro-Québec says the copper in one cable is usually worth only a few tens of dollars, but each cable costs a few thousand dollars to replace.

How many charging cables were stolen in Quebec in 2026?

TVA Nouvelles reports that Circuit électrique has counted more than 200 cable thefts on its stations so far in 2026. Radio-Canada reports that close to 44% were in the Québec City area.

When will cable free charging stations arrive in Quebec?

Circuit électrique and Bornes Québec plan to test close to 20 Level 2 stations with no cable in Montréal in the first months of 2027, TVA Nouvelles reports.

Will fast chargers lose their cables too?

No, not for now. Hydro-Québec says the tech does not let fast chargers work without a built in cable yet. The pilot covers Level 2 stations only.

What should I do if a charging station cable is cut?

Do not touch it. Report it in the Circuit électrique app with "Signaler un problème", or call the number on the station. If you see a theft happening, call 911.