All Australians are yet to access the benefits of energy savings schemes
Australia does not have a National Energy Savings Scheme (NESS).
The establishment of energy savings schemes in all jurisdictions across Australia has been recommended by independent national agencies and peak bodies for a number of years.
National initiatives are beginning to recognise the critical need to consider 'energy efficiency first' in policy settings.
Nationally, Australia has the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) including limited energy efficiency methods and the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), the Safeguard Mechanism and National Energy Performance Strategy (NEPS) initiated in 2023.
Australia continues to sit at the low end of international energy efficiency scorecard rankings.
Since the change of federal government in March 2022, the incoming Labor government has been more supportive of energy efficiency as part of a suite of emerging climate change and energy market transformation policy settings.
For the latest developments, refer to ESIA submissions, ESIA Reports and Papers, ESIA News (media releases and ESIA published articles) and subscribe to the ESIA Bulletin if you are eligible.
Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme and Safeguard Mechanism
Scheme name: Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme and Safeguard Mechanism.
Commenced: ACCU scheme commence on 8 December 2011. The Safeguard Mechanism commenced in 2026.
Commitment date: Ends dates to be advised - both initiatives are key planks of Australia's climate action plans.
Administrator: Clean Energy Regulator
Regulator: Clean Energy Regulator
Policy framework responsibility: Australian Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
Ministerial responsibility: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Queries: enquiries@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au
Energy efficiency successful projects and participants: Visit ACCU project and contract register
The ESIA is advocating for reforms to:
- complement the current market-based energy savings schemes;
- make access easier to facilitate greater uptake of energy saving and emission reducing projects;
- ensure that these projects are treated on a level playing field with other project types as there has been little support to date; and
- improve and expand methodologies to make them more relevant for energy saving upgrades.
Some ESIA Members are accredited to deliver energy efficiency methods.
Other relevant agreements, policy measures and programs
- Australian Commonwealth Government, DCCEEW
Climate change
Policies and initiatives:
- Australia’s climate change strategies
- International climate change commitments
- Tracking and reporting greenhouse gas emissions
- Projecting greenhouse gas emissions
- Emissions Reduction Fund
Regulations and standards:
- Emissions Reduction Fund methods
- National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme
- Safeguard Mechanism
- Regulating Australian fuel quality
Offices and committees:
- Office of the Special Adviser to the Australian Government on Low Emissions Technology
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Fuel Standards Consultative Committee
Publications:
- Climate change publications
- National Inventory reports
- National Greenhouse Accounts reports
- National Greenhouse Accounts Factors reports and more
- Greenhouse gas publications
- National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reports and more
News:
Tools:
Consultations:
Fuel complaints:
Energy
Policies and initiatives:
Regulations and standards:
Committees:
Publications:
- Energy publications
- Hydrogen reports
- National Electric Vehicle strategy
News:
Consultations:
Legislated energy efficiency mechanisms and measurable targets are limited primarily to the energy savings schemes established by state and governments in Victoria (Vic), New South Wales (NSW), South Australia (SA) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Other jurisdictions do have some energy efficiency initiatives: Queensland (Qld), Western Australia (WA), the Northern Territory (NT) and Tasmania (Tas).
