Commercial Hybrid Heating

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved CenterPoint Energy’s five-year innovation plan in 2024. We believe our plan will help advance Minnesota’s energy future through a diverse set of pilot projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand decarbonization efforts for our Minnesota customers.

About the Commercial Hybrid Heating Pilot

CenterPoint is seeking commercial customers interested in replacing their HVAC system with a hybrid system. Rebates of up to 40% of material and equipment costs will be offered when a new dual-fuel rooftop unit or other hybrid heating system is installed by a qualifying contractor. This pilot program may employ systems which use electric heat pumps and supplemental natural gas heating to maintain efficiency and cost-effective resources. Heat pumps are commonly used for heating and cooling globally but have not been widely adopted for commercial use in cold climates. This project aims to gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of these units in cold climates to assess feasibility for more widespread use.

Potential benefits

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting sustainability goals
• Preventing approximately 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the projects
• Reducing monthly energy use and costs
• Avoiding peak demand charges associated with electric heat

What we’re hoping to learn

• Cost-effectiveness and efficiency of these types of systems in a cold-weather climate
• System performance across different types of buildings and businesses
• Scalability of this technology for wider implementation
• Value of this system for commercial customers

Timeline

• Planning: 2025 
• Installation: 2025 - 2029 
• Operation: Installation date through equipment lifespan
• Pilot will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, limited to 135 customers.
• Schedules are subject to change

 Ideal participants are those who:

• Could benefit operationally from hybrid heating.
• Have aging rooftop units that will need to be replaced soon.
• Are willing to host measurement and verification equipment on-site for up to one year.
• Operate in building types such as, but not limited to:
  • Education​
    
  • Healthcare
  • Municipal
  • Office
    
  • Restaurant
    
  • Retail

Complete the Commercial Hybrid Heating Pilot Interest Form to give us more information about your building and help us determine if your building is a good candidate for participation.

Commercial Hybrid Heating Pilot ​Interest Form

Have questions? Contact: NGIA_CHH_Pilot@CenterPointEnergy.com​​​​