Residential Dual Energy - Hydro-Québec

www.hydroquebec.com/residential
Hydro-Québec
Produced by Direction principale – Communications
for Direction – Efficacité énergétique
Legal deposit – 4th quarter 2008
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
Library and Archives Canada
ISBN 978-2-550-54726-6
2008G952A5M
Ce document est également publié en français.
XX-XXX-XXXXXX
Residential
Dual Energy
Customer Guide

Table of contents
Residential Dual Energy, a Worthwhile Choice 1
Dual-energy heating system 3
Electromechanical dual-register meter 6
Electronic dual-register meter 7
The indicator light: A warning to conserve and save 7
Integrated dual-energy equipment 8
Installed equipment 8
Heat pump 8
What to do if … 9
Any questions? 9
Your electricity bill 10
Tracking your energy costs 12
Residential
Dual Energy,
a Worthwhile
Choice
The Customer Guide is designed to help you,
as a user of a dual-energy system, achieve the best
efficiency, savings and satisfaction from it. This
guide will help you understand and use your system
better. It describes the heating-system components,
the electromechanical and electronic dual-register
meters, the indicator light and the other equipment
installed in your home.
Your dual-energy system heats your home with
fossil fuel, such as oil, during the periods when
electricity demand is very high. These peak periods
generally occur during the coldest winter weather.
Dual-energy heating therefore plays an important
role in the wise use of electricity.
1

dual-energy
heating system
A dual-energy heating system uses electricity
as the principal energy source and a fossil fuel,
such as oil, as an auxiliary source.
How it works
If you are to get the most out of a dual-energy system, the switchover
from one energy source to the other must be automatic. For this reason,
your heating system has an automatic switch that reacts when an outdoor
temperature sensor, usually built into the meter, sends it a signal at a
specified temperature.
• When the outside temperature is equal to or above the switchover
temperature, the heating system runs on electricity, which is billed at the
lower rate.
• When the temperature falls below the switchover temperature, fuel
heating takes over and the electricity used for other purposes is billed
at the higher rate.
2 3

Different moDes of operation
The mode selection switch on the dual-energy system is used to choose
whether the heating system runs on fuel, dual energy or electricity.
For the heating system to switch automatically from electricity to fuel during
high-rate periods and back again in low-rate periods, the switch must be in
the Dual Energy position. Otherwise, the sensor doesn’t send signals to the
heating system.
In other words, to optimize the performance of your dual-energy system
and benefit fully from Rate DT, leave your system in dual-energy mode.
tHe best position: Dual energy
When the mode selection switch is in the Dual Energy position, the
outdoor temperature sensor controls the automatic switchover to the most
economical energy source.
4
0 o C
-12oC -15oC ELECTRICAL HEATING
Low electricity rate
SwITCHovER TEmpERATuRE
−12°C, or sometimes −15°C,
depending on your climate zone
FuEL HEATING
High electricity rate
iNdiCAtor
LiGHt*
mode seLeCtioN
sWitCH
duAL-eNerGy
HeAtiNG system
duAL-reGister
meter
Hydro-QuébeC
seNsor
distributioN
PANeL
*optimal location
5

electromechanical
dual-register meter
Unlike a standard meter, an electromechanical dual-register meter
has two sets of dials.
the upper register (red hands) counts the
kilowatthours used during cold periods,
when the temperature is below the switchover
temperature. Your consumption is then billed
at the higher rate. The indicator light goes on
and stays on as long as you’re being charged
the higher rate.
the lower register (black hands) records
the electricity consumed at the lower rate,
when the temperature is equal to or above
the switchover temperature.
The meter comes with a box containing a sensor that reads the outdoor
temperature. As soon as it drops below the switchover temperature,
the sensor signals the heating system to switch from electricity to fuel.
If the meter is located inside your home, the sensor is placed outside in
a box usually attached to the power supply mast.
electronic
dual-register meter
The electronic dual-register meter has
an LCD display that shows the kilowatthours
at the higher rate, then the kilowatthours
at the lower rate. The rate is displayed as
a number (02 = higher rate, 05 = lower rate)
on the left side of the display (A = higher rate
and B = lower rate).
the indicator light:
A warning to conserve and save
The green indicator light on the meter is always
lit and shows that the control mechanism is
operating. The red indicator light next to it and
another rate indicator light inside the house both
go on whenever the dual-energy system is running
on fuel. They show that the higher rate is being
charged for electricity. You should cut back on
your use of other electric appliances at those times.
When the high-rate period ends, the red light
goes off and your heating system switches back
to electricity at the lower rate.
6 7

integrated
dual-energy equipment
Integrated dual-energy equipment features an emergency switch, which
should be left in the Normal position unless the electronic controller on
the heating system has been damaged. If the switch is in the Emergency
position, the system will only operate in fuel mode.
installed equipment
All installed equipment, except for the meter, belongs to you. You are
therefore responsible for checking its condition and having it maintained.
Heat pump
Dual-energy systems with a heat pump have special features. The
right-sized heat pump can generally provide comfortable heat without
the aid of another energy source until its balance point temperature
is reached. Here is how a dual-energy system with an air-air heat pump
normally operates.
• When the outdoor temperature is above the balance point, the heat
pump alone is sufficient for heating.
• When the outdoor temperature drops to the balance point or lower,
the heat pump is assisted by the other energy source.
• When the outdoor temperature falls below the switchover temperature,
the heat pump stops operating and the auxiliary energy source takes
over all heating.
Note: A heat pump doesn’t affect the way the dual-register meter works.
The switchover temperature is still −12°C (or −15°C), even if the heat pump
requires assistance before that temperature is reached.
balanCe point
A few degrees below freezing.
What to do if …
tHe inDiCator ligHt is lit anD tHe system is still
operating on eleCtriCity
Your mode selection switch may be in the Electricity position. Reset it
to the Dual Energy position.
tHe inDiCator ligHt is off anD tHe system is still
operating on fuel
Your mode selection switch may be in the Fuel position. Reset it to
the Dual Energy position.
An indicator light lasts a long time and is rarely defective. Even if it doesn’t
work, it doesn’t interfere with the automatic operation of your system. If you
want to have it replaced, call your heating contractor.
Any questions?
The telephone number for Hydro-Québec Customer Services is on
your electricity bill under Services à la clientèle. We’ll be happy to answer
your questions.
8 9

Your electricity bill
You’ll continue to receive your electricity bill every two months,
or every month if you’re on the Equalized Payments Plan.
In winter, your bill may be slightly higher than it was before
with Rate D. This is normal because, during very cold weather,
your consumption is billed at a higher rate, even when your
home is heated with fuel.
Over a twelve-month period, however, you’ll save money.
When the temperature is above the switchover point—and
this is most of the time—your electricity consumption is
billed at a lower rate.
10 11

tracking
your energy costs
Use the table below to note your electricity
and fuel costs, which add up to the total cost of
your energy consumption.
reCorD of Dual-energy Costs
DATE ÉLECTRICITY FuEL ToTAL
12