What is dual energy?
Dual energy is the complementarity between electricity and natural gas. This solution allows you to consume the right kind of energy, at the right time, at the best cost.
In concrete terms, a dual energy heating system will enable you to heat your home with electricity for about 70% of your consumption, with natural gas automatically taking over during particularly cold spells (-12°C or lower)* when the demand in electricity is high.
*When the temperature dips to -12°C or -15°C, depending on the region.
Do you know what Dual Energy is?
Dual Energy is the complementarity between Electricity and Natural Gas. It's a solution that allows you to consume the right kind of energy, at the right time, at the best cost. A choice that happens without you even having to think about it.
In practical terms, a Dual Energy system uses electricity as its main energy source for heating buildings. And switches to natural gas during periods of extreme cold. For example, when the mercury drops below -12° C, the demand for electricity is high and natural gas takes over for the heating to relieve pressure on the grid.
It's also an opportunity to replace your old appliances with new, more efficient ones at a lower cost. A certified natural gas contractor will help you access a range of grants to lower the cost of purchasing and installing your new equipment.
This turnkey solution will provide you with all the energy you need to heat your home at the most competitive cost possible. On a larger scale, this solution will help cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 540,000 tonnes by 2030. That's the equivalent of removing 125,000 cars from our roads. When you choose Dual Energy, you're doing your part to help decarbonize Québec. A winning solution for everyone.
Who can benefit from dual energy?
Dual-energy is intended for our residential customers (single-family, duplex, triplex, condo and rental building) who use a natural gas central heating system and wish to connect to the electric heating network. Our new residential customers can also benefit from dual energy, under certain conditions. Contact us to find out more.
3 reasons to choose dual-energy
Benefit from generous grants
Take advantage of a range of grants from Hydro-Québec, Énergir and the Québec government as part of the Chauffez vert program. These grants enable you to reduce the cost of purchasing and installing new electrical appliances, such as a heat pump, by up to 80%.2
Enjoy annual savings
By using the right energy at the right time, you'll enjoy recurring annual savings on your energy bill with Hydro-Québec's DT rate or your electrical distributor's dual-energy rate. Even in summer, you can save on the electricity used by appliances such as air conditioners and pool heaters.
Take part in the energy transition
By choosing dual energy, you're not only helping to combat climate change, but also making better use of energy during periods of extreme cold. To do even more for decarbonization in Quebec, you also have the option of replacing your purchase of fossil natural gas with renewable natural gas.
Let’s talk grants and annual savings
Are you interested in dual-energy, but worried about the costs? Here are some examples of the grants available, starting June 18, 2024, for your type of house and heating system, and the resulting average annual savings.
Single-family home and condo
Duplex or triplex
Multi-tenant dwelling
Grants starting June 18, 2024
Amount | |
| Warm air heating | Up to $7,3002 |
Amount | |
| Hot water heating | Up to $4,1002 |
You could benefit from additional grants of up to $7,8002 for an electrical upgrade leading to increased amperage.
These savings are based on an average 139 m2 two-storey single-family home with a warm-air heating system.
Grants starting June 18, 2024
Amount | |
| Warm air heating | Up to $9,1002 |
Amount | |
| Hot water heating | Up to $4,8002 |
You could benefit from additional grants of up to $8,0002 for an electrical upgrade leading to increased amperage.
Grants starting June 18, 2024
Hot water heating | Amount |
| 4-7 dwellings | Up to = $1,000 per unit. + $200 per ton of GHG avoided2 |
| 8-19 dwellings | Up to = $1,050 per unit. + $200 per ton of GHG avoided2 |
You could benefit from additional grants of up to $22,4752 for an electrical upgrade leading to increased amperage.
Example of grants
For a 13-unit, 975 m2 multi-dwelling with a hot-water heating system, take advantage of $17,6902 in available grants.
These savings are based on a 13-unit, 975 m2 multi-dwelling with a hot-water heating system.
Single-family home and condo
Grants starting June 18, 2024
Amount | |
| Warm air heating | Up to $7,3002 |
Amount | |
| Hot water heating | Up to $4,1002 |
You could benefit from additional grants of up to $7,8002 for an electrical upgrade leading to increased amperage.
These savings are based on an average 139 m2 two-storey single-family home with a warm-air heating system.
Duplex or triplex
Grants starting June 18, 2024
Amount | |
| Warm air heating | Up to $9,1002 |
Amount | |
| Hot water heating | Up to $4,8002 |
You could benefit from additional grants of up to $8,0002 for an electrical upgrade leading to increased amperage.
Multi-tenant dwelling
Grants starting June 18, 2024
Hot water heating | Amount |
| 4-7 dwellings | Up to = $1,000 per unit. + $200 per ton of GHG avoided2 |
| 8-19 dwellings | Up to = $1,050 per unit. + $200 per ton of GHG avoided2 |
You could benefit from additional grants of up to $22,4752 for an electrical upgrade leading to increased amperage.
Example of grants
For a 13-unit, 975 m2 multi-dwelling with a hot-water heating system, take advantage of $17,6902 in available grants.
These savings are based on a 13-unit, 975 m2 multi-dwelling with a hot-water heating system.
** For information purposes only. Average annual savings for space heating vary according to different parameters, including the type of residence and the equipment installed. Calculations are based notably on prices from October 2024 corresponding to the rates of Énergir and Hydro-Québec.
Ready to switch to dual-energy?
Contact us to find out about the grants available to you.
Trusted by customers
In this video, Isabelle shares her experience with dual energy and its many benefits. Find out why it was an easy decision for her.
Do more for the energy transition
Replace your purchase of fossil natural gas with renewable natural gas (RNG). An energy 100% produced from organic waste, for a tangible reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Have questions?
We have answers.
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.
Converting your dual-energy system involves adding an electric heating system, and sometimes upgrading your existing heating system. Grants for the equipment purchase and installationare available from Ministère de l'Énergie and the Québec government. These grants can cover up to 80%2 of the cost of the work. Grant amounts depend on the type of heating system and equipment purchased. Several examples of grants are provided above.
Once the work has been completed, you'll be eligible for the advantageous dual-energy rate for your electricity consumption. This could lead to recurring savings if you use the right energy source at the right time, depending on the temperature.
Residential customers who opt for dual-energy will benefit from Hydro-Québec's advantageous DT rate or their electrical distributor's dual-energy rate, available to all households with a dual-energy heating system.
This preferential rate leads to recurring savings on your electricity when the temperature is higher than -12°C or -15°C, depending on the region. The dual-energy rate also applies in summer to your air conditioner or electric pool heater.
If your natural gas water heater is not replaced when your heating system is converted to dual-energy, you must agree to consider installing an electric water heater at the end of the useful life of your existing natural gas water heater. Grants are available under the Chauffez vert program if you replace your natural gas water heater with an electric water heater at the time of the work.
* Conditions
- Eligible Participants must have submitted an application in accordance with the requirements of the Offer no later than 12 months following the completion of work on the Eligible Projects.
- 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 Énergir Partner prior to installation. Grant amounts paid out cannot exceed 100% of Eligible Project costs. The terms and conditions of the Offer and the amounts of the grants offered are subject to change without notice.
- Eligible Participants must be new subscribers to Hydro-Québec’s residential dual-energy Rate DT or to a participating municipal or co-operative dual-energy rate (contact us for details on participating municipal or co-operative networks) in order to receive the grant. They must also commit to using the dual-energy natural gas-electricity system at the dual-energy rate for a minimum period of ten (10) years from the date of enrolment in the dual-energy rate.
- Existing Eligible Homes must be connected to Énergir’s natural gas network and 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 application to participate in the Offer.
- The work must be carried out by one or more contractors with a business registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec; they must hold the appropriate Régie du bâtiment (RBQ) licences for the work to be performed and be members of the professional order responsible for the affected activity sector.
- Eligible Participants may be required to repay all or part of the Offer grants if the conditions and covenants agreed to by the Eligible Participants are not fulfilled to the end of their term or if the information provided by the participants is false or considered a misrepresentation.
- Other conditions apply to qualify for the Offer. Refer to Hydro-Québec's eligibility conditions and Rate DT details as well as the Chauffez vert Normative Framework (available in French only).
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