What is dual energy?
Dual energy is the complementarity between electricity and natural gas. This solution allows you to use the right energy source at the right time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating buildings while lowering your annual energy bills.
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.
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 optimize their energy consumption while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating. 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 and Énergir, with support from the Government of Québec as part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy**. These grants enable you to reduce the extra 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 could achieve 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.
Contribute to the Energy Transition
By choosing a dual-energy system, you help ensure better energy management during winter peak demand periods and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating buildings. This is a concrete choice that supports Quebec’s energy transition while strengthening the resilience of its energy infrastructure.
Single-family home and condo
Duplex or triplex
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.
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.
** 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 2025 corresponding to the rates of Énergir and Hydro-Québec.
how to switch to dual energy ?
Benefit from support at every step of your conversion
Trusted by customers
Frédéric, Jocelyne and Jean-Claude share their experiences with dual energy. See how the owners of an iconic Montreal condo with cast-iron heaters and the owner of a home with broken air conditioning in midsummer converted to dual energy. Discover their motivations for taking the leap, their recurring annual savings and much more!
Ready to switch to dual energy?
Check your eligibility for the offer by answering a few questions in your customer space or contact us for more information.
Dual energy with electricity and renewable natural gas (RNG)
You could choose to replace your purchase of fossil natural gas with renewable natural gas (RNG). Produced from residual organic matter, RNG is a renewable energy source that contributes to the energy transition.
For applications submitted after April, 1st 2026
The dual-energy heating offer is for Énergir residential customers who heat their homes with a warm-air or hot-water central heating system running on natural gas and who wish to modernize or replace it.
You can check your eligibility directly in your Customer space.
Please note: this offer is not intended for households that already use an all-electric heating system or already benefit from a dual-energy rate.
You can convert your heating system to dual energy at any time, but some periods are more favourable:
- In spring: if you have a central warm-air, this is the ideal time to add an electric heat pump so you can enjoy air conditioning as early as summer while benefiting from the dual-energy electricity rate.
- In late summer or fall: recommended if your natural gas heating appliance needs to be replaced, or if you want to modernize your installation and benefit from the dual-energy electricity rate before the cold season begins.
Regardless of the age of your natural gas heating appliance, dual energy can help extend the life of your equipment and optimize your energy consumption.
Yes. If your natural gas appliance is still in good condition, it is generally possible to keep it and simply add compatible electric equipment.
If, on the other hand, it is nearing the end of its useful life, the conversion work is an excellent opportunity to replace it with a new-generation appliance, modernize your heating system and improve its efficiency.
Eligible residential customers benefit from Hydro-Québec’s DT rate or the dual-energy rate offered by their electricity distributor.
This advantageous rate generally helps reduce electricity costs when the outdoor temperature is above the switchover threshold (-12°C or -15°C, depending on the region).
The rate applies to all your electricity consumption, including air conditioning or your pool heater during the summer.
Converting your system to a dual-energy system involves adding an electric heating unit and, in some cases, upgrading your home’s electrical system. Grants for the equipment purchase and installation are available from Hydro-Québec, Énergir, and with support from the Government of Québec as part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy. The Government of Québec’s contribution is funded through the Electrification and Climate Change Fund, which receives the proceeds generated by the carbon market.. These grants can cover up to 80%2 of the extra cost of the work. Grant amounts depend on the type of heating system and equipment purchased. Several examples of grants are provided above.
Warm-air heating system : Presence of a furnace or warm-air generator, air ducts and ventilation grilles in the floor, walls or ceiling.
Hot-water heating system : Presence of a boiler, radiators, hydronic baseboards or a network of pipes that distribute hot water throughout the building.
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.
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.
Conditions
**. The Government of Québec’s contribution is part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy and is funded through the Electrification and Climate Change Fund, which receives the proceeds generated by the carbon market.
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 80% 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 Dual-energy Program Participant’s Guide as well as Hydro-Québec's eligibility conditions and Rate DT details.
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