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The Australian Government is committed to the provision of adequate, reliable and affordable energy to meet future energy consumption needs and to underpin strong economic growth, consistent with the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
Amendment to the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act

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On Friday 30 March 2007 the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act 2006 was amended to clear up a small number of technical aspects discovered in the original Act that had the potential to cause confusion for industry participants in relation to the program timeline. The amendments are consistent with the program requirements detailed in the Act, with those outlined in the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Regulations 2006 and the Industry Guidelines, and as understood by industry participants.

The most recent version of the Act incorporating these amendments is now available.

The amendments make it clear that assessment and reporting schedules may be submitted to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism at any time within 18 months following the end of the trigger year (for example, between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2007 for a 2005-06 trigger year).

The amendments also clarify that a registered controlling corporation is not required to register again if its corporate group meets the 0.5 petajoule (PJ) energy use threshold in subsequent years, and that assessment and reporting schedules should cover the five year period starting on the day after the end of the trigger year, with subsequent schedules to cover each following five year period. For example, for a 2005-06 trigger year, the first assessment and reporting schedule should cover the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2011, with the subsequent schedule to cover the period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2016, and so on.

Industry participants may be confident that the requirements set out in the Regulations are valid, and that any actions they have already taken do not have to be re-done because of the amendments.

Summary

The timing of the steps for the first five year assessment cycle (July 2006 – June 2011) for those corporations that used more than 0.5 PJ of energy in 2005-06 is confirmed, as set out in following table. These timings are those that are already widely understood.

Activity

Timing

First five year assessment cycle:

1 July 2006–30 June 2011

Submit application for registration:

1 July 2006–31 March 2007

Submit assessment and reporting schedule:

1 July 2006–31 December 2007

Conduct first assessments:

by 30 June 2008

Publish first public report and submit a report to the Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET):

within 15 months of the end of the first assessment or by 31 December 2008, whichever is earlier

Publish subsequent public reports:

annually following the first public report

Complete all Energy Efficiency Opportunities assessments:

by 30 June 2011

Submit final report to the Secretary of DRET:

by 31 December 2011

Submit assessment and reporting schedule for second five year assessment cycle:

by 31 December 2012

If you are having trouble viewing links or finding information on the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program, phone the EEO Hotline on 1300 799 186.

Page Last Updated: 14/01/2011 4:02 PM