What is dual energy?
Dual energy uses two energy sources to heat buildings. Electricity provides heat most of the time, and natural gas takes over electricity demand is very high or in periods of extreme cold or when electricity demand is very high (from -12°C to -15°C, depending on the region). This synergistic approach ensures optimal use of energy resources.
Dual energy gives you the right energy, at the right time.
How dual energy can maximize your return on investment
Dual energy is an innovative, subsidized solution1—and the winning energy choice to modernize your building’s heating system while supporting Quebec’s energy transition.
Benefit from generous grants
You could benefit from a range of grants1 covering up to 80% of the premium costs2 related to your conversion project. This is a great opportunity to replace outdated systems or add more efficient units—at a lower cost.
Lower your operating costs
Benefit from preferential electricity rates3 that could help you significantly reduce your energy expenses. You can substantially boost these savings by installing high-efficiency dual-energy appliances or by combining dual energy with subsidized energy efficiency measures.
Switching to dual energy is a great way to modernize your facility with an innovative system that reduces your environmental footprint and ups your value in the eyes of your stakeholders.
Reduce your GHG emissions
By shifting about 70% of your natural gas heating to hydroelectricity, dual energy can serve as a key part of your corporate environmental approach and a strategic lever to reach your decarbonization goals faster, in line with Québec government targets.
Hydro-Québec and Énergir, with support from the Government of Québec as part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy, have joined forces to offer grants1 to Énergir customers looking to convert their heating systems to dual energy. These incentives can cover up to 80% of the conversion costs, for a maximum amount of $250,000 per site.
For more complex projects backed by an engineer, the maximum amount could be up to $6 million per site.
The total amount of grants awarded and potential savings vary depending on the type of building, the estimated project costs, the equipment to be installed and its energy capacity.
Retail
Office
Elementary school
Hospital
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 5.4 tonnes of GHGs5 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 10.8 tonnes of GHGs6 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 53.8 tonnes of GHGs6 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 229,3 tonnes of GHGs6 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Retail
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 5.4 tonnes of GHGs5 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Office
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 10.8 tonnes of GHGs6 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Elementary school
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 53.8 tonnes of GHGs6 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Hospital
Grants
Potential annual savings
With dual energy, you could prevent the emission of around 229,3 tonnes of GHGs6 each year.
*Electricity and gas rates from October 2025.
**For information purposes only. The average annual savings for space heating vary based on several factors, such as the type of building or the equipment installed. Calculations are based on Énergir and Hydro-Québec rates from October 2025.
Maximize your savings with our energy efficiency grant programs.
Three types of projects eligible for grants
Are you an Énergir business customer in the commercial, institutional or multi-unit residential (20 units or more) sector who’s planning one of the following three types of projects?
If so, you may be eligible4 for grants for a dual-energy project. The dual-energy conversion must include the purchase and installation of new equipment leading to the exclusive use of a dual-energy heating system.
Appliance replacement
- Replacement of one or more end-of-life natural gas furnaces.
- Addition of one or more electric heating appliances in dual-energy mode.
Additional appliances
- Addition of one or more electric heating units in dual-energy mode in combination with one or more existing natural gas units to be replaced at a later time.
New installation
- Installation of dual-energy systems consisting of one or more natural gas heating units and one or more electric heating units in dual-energy mode for a new construction or an expansion. Certain conditions apply6.
How to switch to dual energy?
To help you transition to dual energy, your contractor or certified partner will guide you through the process—from submitting your project to commissioning the system and applying for grants. For large-scale projects that require special support, your engineer or consulting engineering firm will take charge of your project.
Are you an engineer with a dual-energy project?
Visit the Dual-Energy Consulting Engineer section of our website.
Assess your project and find a specialized contractor
To check your project’s eligibility and get connected with Énergir’s specialized dual-energy partners, please complete the form below or call us at 1-833-835-1313.
Steps of a project
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Assess your needs
Are your appliances nearing the end of their life cycle, or are you looking to change your building’s heating system? Discuss your needs with a professional to get recommendations tailored to your situation.
- f you already have a contractor, certified partner or engineer, contact them directly.
- Don’t know where to start? Our customer service can direct you to the right people. Get in touch!
Receive and compare quotes
- Discuss your project with the certified professional, then receive and compare quotes that include the costs for purchasing and installing your new dual-energy system as well as the grant amounts to which you may be entitled.
- Once a contractor’s quote is accepted, a dual-energy contract must be signed.
- Then the planning and execution of the work can begin.
Plan and execute the work
- Talk to your chosen professional and decide on the installation details for your dual-energy system.
- If the power distribution network needs to be adapted, Hydro-Québec will take care of the work at no cost to you.
- The dual-energy rate 3 will take effect once the dual-energy meter is installed.
Receive your grants
- Once the installation is completed, you will need to send us the installation invoice and all requested documents so that we can pay out the grants1 to which you are entitled, as long as all conditions4 have been met.
Step 1
Assess your needs
Are your appliances nearing the end of their life cycle, or are you looking to change your building’s heating system? Discuss your needs with a professional to get recommendations tailored to your situation.
- f you already have a contractor, certified partner or engineer, contact them directly.
- Don’t know where to start? Our customer service can direct you to the right people. Get in touch!
Step 2
Receive and compare quotes
- Discuss your project with the certified professional, then receive and compare quotes that include the costs for purchasing and installing your new dual-energy system as well as the grant amounts to which you may be entitled.
- Once a contractor’s quote is accepted, a dual-energy contract must be signed.
- Then the planning and execution of the work can begin.
Step 3
Plan and execute the work
- Talk to your chosen professional and decide on the installation details for your dual-energy system.
- If the power distribution network needs to be adapted, Hydro-Québec will take care of the work at no cost to you.
- The dual-energy rate 3 will take effect once the dual-energy meter is installed.
Step 4
Receive your grants
- Once the installation is completed, you will need to send us the installation invoice and all requested documents so that we can pay out the grants1 to which you are entitled, as long as all conditions4 have been met.
They chose dual energy
More and more companies and institutions are opting for dual energy. Find out why they made the switch, the grants they obtained and the support they received throughout their project.
For me, the grant made all the difference. Without it, I would not have replaced my equipment, which was still relatively new
When you can replace energy-intensive, higher-emission units with more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient ones, the choice isn’t hard. We’re thinking about the future, and the grants factor into our decisions
Questions?
We've got answers.
For applications submitted after April, 1st 2026
Dual-energy Program Participant’s Guide (in French only)
Grant Application Form (in French only)
Project Plan (in French only)
Commissioning Report (in French only)
The electricity-natural gas dual-energy offer is available to Énergir business customers in the commercial, institutional, or multi‑unit residential sector (20 units or more) who use a central forced-air or hot-water heating system powered by natural gas.
The conversion to dual energy must include the purchase and installation of new equipment, resulting in the exclusive use of a dual-energy heating system. Certain conditions apply.4
New construction projects may be eligible for the dual-energy offer under certain conditions. Please speak with an Énergir representative for more details.
To take advantage of the dual-energy offer, business customers must meet the eligibility criteria of the Commercial and Institutional stream of the Dual‑Energy Program. Please consult the current Participant’s Guide (in French only) for complete and detailed information about the program.
No. This offer is not intended for customers who already use an electric or dual-energy heating system.
Contact us for more information on participating municipal or cooperative networks.
Yes, business customers have access to a dual-energy rate for electricity consumption.
Hydro-Québec offers a small- and medium-power dual-energy rate for space heating. This rate is available to customers equipped with a dual-energy natural gas/electric heating system. If you use a different electricity provider, please contact them directly for more information.
The dual-energy rate is in effect during the heating season, from October 1 to April 30. Outside of this period, from May 1 to September 30, electricity prices for dual energy are the same as the base rates (G, M, or G9).
Natural gas is billed at the customer’s regular rate.
The offer has been designed to benefit customers who opt to convert their heating system to dual energy. Grants for the purchase and installation of the equipment is available through Hydro-Québec and Énergir, with support from the Government of Québec as part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy.
What’s more, electricity consumption will be billed at your electricity provider’s special dual-energy rate. This rate could potentially lead to ongoing savings to customers who use the right energy source at the right time, based on the temperature.
To help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The process of heating buildings creates significant GHG emissions and has a direct impact on climate change. By joining forces, Hydro-Québec and Énergir, with support from the Government of Québec as part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy (2030 PGE) , aim to reduce participants’ natural gas consumption by just over 70% to help Québec meet the GHG reduction target set out in the 2030 PGE. This target corresponds to a 37.5% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
From 2022 to 2030, dual-energy could save Québec nearly $1.7 billion compared to an all-electric scenario, which would have a much greater impact on rates.
Heating buildings with electricity puts significant pressure on Hydro-Québec’s network during winter’s peak demand. Dual energy is an excellent way to maximize the share of electricity used to heat buildings while reducing the impact on peaks. Reducing demand for electricity at these specific times optimizes the operation of the network when it is most needed. This allows Hydro-Québec to avoid additional investments or expenses to meet demand during peak periods.
From 2022 to 2030, dual-energy could save Québec nearly $1.7 billion compared to an all-electric scenario, which would have a much greater impact on rates.
Grant amounts1 are unique to each project and based on estimated project cost. Grants are calculated based on the equipment being installed and their power and cover up to 80% of estimated project premium cost2 or up to $250,000 per site. The grant helps offset the difference between the cost of a natural gas appliance and the cost of a dual-energy appliance, or the cost of adding an electrical appliance.
For more complex projects requiring an engineer, the amount of the grant awarded is calculated on a case‑by‑case basis. This amount can cover up to 80% of equipment purchase and installation premium cost2, or $250 per tonne of GHGs avoided5 over a 10-year period up to $6 million per site.
Contact your Certified Partner, contractor or engineer for a detailed quote based on premium cost3 your project.
The custom dual-energy offer targets the largest buildings where engineering involvement is required. In this case, the grant amount is adjusted based on the nature of the project. Each application is subject to a thorough review that takes into account the project’s characteristics, the proposed equipment, and a detailed breakdown of the submitted expenses. The submission of a project proposal accompanied by a project plan prepared and signed by a member in good standing of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) requires a more in‑depth analysis of the application. Once the project has been implemented, the grant amount awarded is recalculated based on the actual project costs, up to a maximum of $6,000,000 per site.
1. Certain conditions apply. Grant amounts vary depending on the power of the appliances installed and the work done to install them. Grant amounts cannot exceed 80% of the premium cost2 associated with the purchase and installation of the appliances. Costs for electrical work may be added to the cost of purchasing and installing the equipment. To take advantage of the grants, you must sign a contract with your Énergir sales representative or certified natural gas partner prior to installation. The grant amounts and program terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.
2. The premium cost for a project is the difference between the estimated cost of a project (the cost of purchasing and installing a dual-energy system) and the estimated baseline cost (the cost of purchasing and installing a natural gas appliance).
3. By switching to dual energy, business customers benefit from the dual-energy rate of their electricity provider. The costs and potential savings were calculated based on Hydro-Québec’s Small- and Medium-Power Dual-Energy Rate. Hydro-Québec's dual-energy rate is in effect during the heating season, from October 1 to April 30. Outside of this period, from May 1 to September 30, electricity prices for dual energy are the same as the base rates (G, M, or G9).
4. Certain conditions apply. To take advantage of the dual-energy offer, business customers must meet the eligibility criteria of the program’s Commercial and Institutional stream. For more information, please consult the Participant’s Guide (in French only).
5. Énergir generally relies on Protocol QC.30, “Fuel and Combustible Distribution,” which applies to fuel and combustible distributors (such as Énergir) under the RMRCECA, to quantify emissions related to the combustion of fossil natural gas and RNG. For more details on the methodology used, visit the page Methodologies for Calculating and Demonstrating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions. Methodologies for Calculating and Demonstrating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions
6. Certain conditions apply for new commercial construction. Talk to your Énergir representative.