MCE
The Commercial and Industrial package involves energy efficiency opportunities and capacity building.
To encourage Australia's largest energy-using businesses to improve their energy efficiency and productivity by requiring them to identify, evaluate and report publicly on cost effective energy savings opportunities. The Energy Efficiency Opportunities program (EEO) is a national measure which covers businesses operating in all jurisdictions.
The key element of the EEO component of the Commercial and Industrial package is the legislative requirements for large energy using businesses (those corporations that use more than 0.5 petajoules of energy per year) to:
conduct rigorous and comprehensive energy efficiency assessments
publicly report the assessment outcomes and their business response.
The Energy Efficiency Opportunities program was announced in the Australian Government's energy white paper, Securing Australia's Energy Future
. The program was launched and legislation took effect in July 2006. The program covers more than 200 large energy using corporations which make up approximately 60 per cent of total business energy use and 45 per cent of Australia's total energy use. For more information visit the Energy Efficiency Opportunities website.
EEO is a national program administered by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Companies using more than 0.5 petajoules of energy a year are required by the Australian Government to conduct an energy efficiency opportunities assessment and to report publicly and to the Government on the outcomes and their business response.
The Department is assisting participating corporations to register for the program and prepare their assessment and reporting schedules. Work is ongoing with other Australian Government agencies and state and territory government departments to minimise the burden of reporting for businesses and reduce duplication where possible. This includes the use of online reporting.
A major focus of the EEO program is on helping participating corporations and the energy services sector to build capacity in conducting effective assessments. Work includes enhancing expertise through sectoral studies (commercial, transport); the publication of an assessment handbook and an energy savings measurement guide; and strategies to engage senior managers in the program (including a PowerPoint presentation and DVD).
Companies currently registered with the EEO have published reports on their initial energy assessments and business response. These are available at on the Energy Efficiency Opportunities website.
After extensive stakeholder consultation in 2004-2005, the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act 2006 (Cth) and Energy Efficiency Opportunities Regulations 2006 (Cth) commenced on 1 July 2006. Industry guidelines and other guidance material are available to assist businesses to conduct effective energy efficiency opportunities assessments.
Two-day assessment workshops are run each year to provide participating companies with the skills and knowledge to assist them to meet the requirements of the EEO program and optimise business outcomes.
Current reports and program information is available at the Energy Efficiency Opportunities website. This site also contains links to the Energy Efficiency Opportunities legislation.
To help build industry capacity to deliver energy efficient solutions and to promote innovation and reduce energy efficiency investment risks.
The key elements of the Capacity Building element of the Commercial and Industrial package include:
developing guidelines to assist the establishment and evaluation of demonstration programs for energy efficient equipment and processes in key industrial sectors and new or refurbished commercial buildings
linking industry and government agencies to information on industrial energy efficiency, including through measures such as the Energy Efficiency Exchange (EEX) website
examining ways to improve the energy efficiency skills of the commercial and industrial sector. This includes investigating skills gaps and potential responses to decrease these gaps. A primary focus is on energy efficiency auditors and advice.