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Be part of the equation

Choosing dual energy, which combines electricity and natural gas, means taking concrete action that has a positive effect on our planet.

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What is dual energy?

Dual energy is a solution that allows you to use the right energy at the right time and at the best cost¹, so that you can heat your buildings more efficiently.

It involves replacing a 100% natural gas heating system with one that uses electricity 70% of the time. Natural gas takes over during cold weather, when demand for electricity is very high. It’s a solution that ensures you get all the energy you need to heat your buildings while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Who is eligible?

The dual-energy electricity and natural gas offer is available to Énergir’s business, institutional and multi-unit property customers (20+ units) who use a forced air or hot water central heating system powered by natural gas.

The dual-energy conversion must include the purchase and installation of new equipment leading to the exclusive use of a dual-energy heating system. Certain conditions apply².

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Towards carbon neutrality for buildings

As of April 1, 2024, any new connection to Énergir’s grid must be powered by 100% renewable energy:

  • Dual energy electricity-RNG
  • 100% renewable natural gas (RNG)

This initiative aims new residential, commercial and institutional customers, with some exceptions:

  • Industrial customers
  • Construction heating
  • Technological limits

This proactive initiative is one more step towards decarbonizing the network and reducing our customers’ energy footprint. Above all, it is the next logical step in the efforts needed to slow the growth of new fossil-based natural gas connections in the targeted sectors and accelerate the pace of decarbonizing buildings in Québec.

Save money and reduce your GHG emissions

Our dual-energy offer is intended to increase the share of electricity used to heat buildings, reducing natural gas consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also provides ongoing savings¹ on your energy bill, thanks to Hydro-Québec's new small- and medium-power dual-energy rate.

Switch to dual-energy and benefit from grants

In addition to benefit from recurring annual savings on your energy bill with the Hydro-Québec’s new small- and medium-power dual-energy rate you could receive a grant for the purchase and installation of a dual-energy heating system through the agreement between Énergir, Hydro-Québec and MELCCFP.


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How do I switch to dual energy?


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Reduce your carbon footprint even more

Choose renewable natural gas (RNG) for the portion of gas purchased for your buildings. RNG is 100% produced from organic waste and is a concrete way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more

Ready to take action?

Want to discuss your project? Contact us today.


   

Questions?
We've got answers.

What is dual energy?

Dual energy involves replacing a 100% natural gas heating system with one that uses two energy sources:

  • Electricity as the main source (70% of the time);
  • Auxiliary natural gas for cold weather when demand for electricity is very high.

Our offer is intended to increase the share of electricity used to heat buildings, reducing natural gas consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while stabilizing peak electricity demand in cold weather.

Who is eligible for this offer?

Dual energy is for Énergir residential customers who have a warm-air or hot-water central heating system running on natural gas. The conversion must include the purchase and installation of new equipment leading to the exclusive use of a dual-energy heating system. The ultimate goal of dual-energy heating is to increase the share of electricity in building heating.

This offer is not intended for customers of Hydro-Québec or any other electrical distributor who already use an electric heating system or who benefit from the dual-energy rate.

What are the eligibility criteria for participants?

To take advantage of the dual-energy offer, business customers must meet the eligibility criteria below.

  • Be an Énergir customer in the business, institutional or multi-unit property sector (buildings with 20 or more dwellings).
  • Own the building they plan to convert to dual energy. The building must be connected to Énergir’s natural gas network and must use natural gas or renewable natural gas (or a combination of both) for space heating, either with a warm air (forced air) or hot water central heating system, for at least 12 months at the time of the grant application. New commercial or institutional construction may be eligible for the dual-energy offer, under certain conditions. Talk about it with an Énergir representative.
  • Be registered for Hydro-Québec’s small- and medium-power dual-energy rate, or for a participating municipal or cooperative network’s dual-energy rate (contact us for information on participating municipal or cooperative networks). Eligibility requirements and details of the dual-energy rate must be discussed with your electricity provider.
  • Commit to using the dual-energy natural gas and electricity system, at the dual-energy rate, for at least 10 years from the date of dual-energy rate registration.
  • The work must:
    o involve the installation of one or more dual-energy heating systems, and the equipment installed must be new equipment used in dual-energy mode;
    o allow electricity to be used as the primary energy source and natural gas as an auxiliary source in a dual-energy system;
    o be carried out by one or more contractors with a registered Registraire des entreprises du Québec business; they must hold the appropriate Régie du bâtiment (RBQ) licences for the work and be members of the professional order responsible for the business sector in question.
  • To be eligible for the grant, eligible participants must:
    o submit their grant application (BI dual-energy contract) no more than 30 calendar days from the invoice date for installation of equipment in dual-energy mode, or no more than 30 calendar days from the purchase order date for equipment in dual-energy mode for the custom dual-energy offer;
    o comply with the requirements of the Government of Québec’s ÉcoPerformance program.

Requests for work completed before November 6, 2023, are not eligible.

Grant recipients may be required to repay all or part of the grants received if the accepted terms and conditions are not followed through to completion, or if the information provided is considered false or a misrepresentation.

I have an electric heating system. Can I take advantage of this offer?

No. This offer is not intended for customers who already use an electric or dual-energy heating system.

My electricity provider is a municipal network, not Hydro-Québec. Can I still take advantage of this offer?

Contact us for more information on participating municipal or cooperative networks.

Is there a special rate for the dual-energy electricity/natural gas solution?

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.

Will this solution cost more than heating with natural gas only?

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 the Government of Québec, Énergir and Hydro-Québec.
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.

Why are you offering this solution?

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 aim to reduce participants’ natural gas consumption by just over 70% to help Québec meet the GHG reduction target set out in the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy. This target corresponds to a 37.5% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Why not offer a solution to convert heating systems exclusively to electricity?

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 will save Québec nearly $1.7 billion compared to an all-electric scenario, which would have a much greater impact on rates.

How are grants calculated?

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 cost⁴ 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 Government of Québec uses a customized calculation to determine the grant amount. These grants cover up to 80% of equipment purchase and installation premium cost⁴, or $250 per tonne of GHGs avoided 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 cost⁴ project.

How do I determine whether the custom dual energy offer is right for my project?

The “custom” dual-energy offer targets the largest buildings where engineering involvement is required (highly complex projects). The Government of Québec analyzes these dual energy conversion requests and determines the grant amounts. Grants cover up to 80% of equipment purchase and installation premium cost⁴, or $250 per tonne of GHGs avoided over a 10-year period up to $6 million per site.

What is the link between dual energy and the ÉcoPerformance program?

The dual-energy electricity/natural gas offer for businesses is part of the Government of Québec’s ÉcoPerformance program. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption by businesses through financing for projects and measures relating to energy consumption and production, or process improvements.

  1. Economic competitiveness depends on a number of factors, including the type of building, the equipment used and the current rate
  2. 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.

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).
To take advantage of the dual-energy offer, business customers must meet the eligibility criteria below.

  • The customer must have received approval of the electricity distributor, or municipal or cooperative customer network, if applicable, that it will install the electrical connection required for dual-energy conversion.
  • Be an Énergir customer in the business, institutional or multi-unit property sector (buildings with 20 or more dwellings).
  • Own the building they plan to convert to dual energy. The building must be connected to Énergir’s natural gas network and must use natural gas or renewable natural gas (or a combination of both) for space heating, either with a warm air (forced air) or hot water central heating system, for at least 12 months at the time of the grant application. New commercial or institutional construction may be eligible for the dual-energy offer, under certain conditions. Talk about it with an Énergir representative.
  • Be registered for Hydro-Québec’s small- and medium-power dual-energy rate, or for a participating municipal or cooperative network’s dual-energy rate (contact us for information on participating municipal or cooperative networks). Eligibility requirements and details of the dual-energy rate must be discussed with your electricity provider.
  • Commit to using the dual-energy natural gas and electricity system, at the dual-energy rate, for at least 10 years from the date of dual-energy rate registration.
  • The work must:
    • Involve the installation of one or more dual-energy heating systems, and the equipment installed must be new equipment used in dual-energy mode;
    • Allow electricity to be used as the primary energy source and natural gas as an auxiliary source in a dual-energy system;
    • Be carried out by one or more contractors with a registered Registraire des entreprises du Québec business; they must hold the appropriate Régie du bâtiment (RBQ) licences for the work and be members of the professional order responsible for the business sector in question.
  • To be eligible for the grant, eligible participants must:
    • submit their grant application (BI business and institutional dual-energy contract) no more than 30 calendar days from the invoice date for installation of equipment in dual-energy mode, or no more than 30 calendar days from the purchase order date for equipment in dual-energy mode for the custom dual-energy offer;
    • comply with the requirements of the Government of Québec’s ÉcoPerformance program.

Requests for work completed before November 6, 2023, are not eligible.

Grant recipients may be required to repay all or part of the grants received if the accepted terms and conditions are not followed through to completion, or if the information provided is considered false or a misrepresentation.

3. 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.

    4. Certain conditions apply. Grants may vary depending on the equipment installed and building characteristics. Additional costs may be incurred in connection with the electrical work required. To take advantage of the offer, you must sign a contract with your Énergir sales representative or certified natural gas partner prior to installation. Grant amounts paid out cannot exceed 80% of eligible project costs. Offer terms and conditions and grant amounts are subject to change without notice.

    5. When temperatures fall below -12 °C or -15 °C, depending on the region.

    6. Contact your representative for full details.