Who is eligible?
The dual-energy electricity and natural gas offer is available to Énergir’s business, institutional and or multi-residential customers 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.
Benefits of dual energy
Reduce your GHG emissions
Dual energy allows you to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with heating your building. By switching around 70% of your natural gas consumption to electricity, you reduce the GHG emissions emitted during gas combustion.
You are contributing not only to Québec’s decarbonization and the fight against climate change, but also to better energy use during periods of extreme cold.
Save on your bill
By taking advantage of Hydro-Québec’s small- and medium-power rate3 and using natural gas in cold weather at peak consumption times, you could achieve substantial savings on energy costs.
Take advantage of grants to switch to dual energy
Grants for the purchase and installation of equipment are offered by Hydro-Québec and Énergir, with support from the Quebec government as part of the Plan for a Green Economy 2030. They can cover up to 80%3 of the extra-cost of the work.
How do I switch to dual energy?
With electricity and renewable natural gas (RNG) dual energy play a greater role in the energy transition
Choose dual energy with electricity and renewable natural gas (RNG) by replacing your purchase of fossil natural gas with RNG. Produced from residual organic matter, RNG is a 100% renewable energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions targeted in the fight against climate change.
The complementarity of energy sources for a 100% renewable heating solution. Talk to your representative.
Ready to take action?
Want to discuss your project? Contact us today.
Questions?
We've got answers.
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.
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 be eligible for the grant, eligible participants must:
- 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;
- comply with the requirements of the Dual Energy Program (in French only).
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 the support from the Government of Québec as part of the 2030 Green Economy Plan.
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.
Legal notes
1. When temperatures drop to -12°C or -15°C, depending on the region.
2. To qualify for the dual-energy offer, Commercial and Institutional customers must meet the eligibility criteria listed below.
- Have received confirmation that the electricity distributor, or the municipal or cooperative customer network, as applicable, will make the electrical connection required for dual-energy conversion before work is started.
- Be an Énergir customer in the business, institutional or multi-residential 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 business registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, who hold the appropriate Régie du bâtiment (RBQ) permits for the work being done and be members of the professional association responsible for the business sector in question.
3. Business customers with an electricity/natural gas heating system are eligible for the small- and medium-power dual-energy rate for space heating between October 1 and April 30, inclusively (electricity for other uses is covered by a separate Rate G, M or G9 subscription, as applicable, as is electricity consumed between May 1 and September 30, inclusively).
4. Certain conditions apply. Grant amounts vary depending on the power of the devices installed and the work done to install them.
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