Successful SA energy savings scheme 40 per cent over target, 12 July 2017
In another great news story for energy savings schemes in Australia, the SA Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme (REES) exceeded its 2016 target by 40 per cent according to the REES Annual Report released 6 July 2017. “We commend the SA Government on its successful scheme,” said Energy Efficiency Certificate Creators Association (EECCA) president Mr Hamish McGovern.
2016 was the second year that businesses could access the REES and, according to the report published by the SA Essential Services Commission, 3,315 businesses benefitted from ‘commercial’ activities being made available. Most of these are likely to have been small-to-medium sized. Seventy two per cent of all REES energy savings were from commercial activities: 69 per cent from commercial lighting and three per cent from commercial showerheads.
“The significant volume of commercial lighting uptake is largely attributable to the successful rollout of this activity in other schemes in NSW and VIC which have driven technology transformation. This has driven down costs and improved energy efficiency of products - such as LED lighting (which can reduce electricity consumption by as much as 80 per cent), making the activity very attractive to implement. Businesses in SA have clearly jumped at the opportunity as they struggle with skyrocketing energy bills,” said Mr McGovern.
According to the 2016 REES Annual Report:
- All energy audit and energy efficiency targets were met in 2016. Many obliged retailers have significant energy credits to carryover to subsequent REES years.
- A total of 1,851,990 GJ of energy savings were delivered, which was 66 per cent higher than that delivered in 2015. When prior year credits are included, the Energy Efficiency Target was exceeded by 40 per cent. Many obliged retailers have significant credit balances to carry over towards 2017 targets.
- A total of 5,797 energy audits were undertaken and obliged retailers applied an additional 5,215 energy audit credits (earned in prior years) to exceed the target by 94 per cent.
On a per capita basis, the SA scheme is currently less than half the size of the largest scheme in VIC. An enlarged scheme would help shoulder more of the burden of SA’s continuing energy crisis, driving down consumption by delivering even more significant energy savings.
“The EECCA will continue to advocate for an increase to the REES target for 2018-2020 - which will be announced late in 2017. A doubling of the target would significantly contribute to SA’s bold move on energy policy. We are encouraging expansion of activities in line with NSW and VIC, extension beyond 2020, and adoption of a market-based model to increase competition and drive more rapid uptake of energy savings installations and upgrades,” concluded Mr McGovern.
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Media please contact: Hamish McGovern, EECCA President, m 0416 296 827, Ric Brazzale EECCA Policy Sub-committee, m 0419 522 659 or Jessica Lynch, EECCA Communications, m 0417 539 377, comns@eecca.org.au. Website www.eecca.org.au
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