Completion of the review of the program and second cycle requirements - amendments to regulations
Starting in November 2010 the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism undertook a review of the EEO program requirements in consultation with industry stakeholders. The process was initiated as both the 2010 Mid-Cycle review (see Related documents) of the EEO program and the Prime Minister's Task Group on Energy Efficiency (see Related documents) recommended review of the program’s requirements, and to ensure that participants entering their second assessment cycle understood their continuing obligations. The mandate of the review was to review and refine requirements, but not to increase or decrease the rigor of the program.
In preparation for the second five year cycle, a series of changes have been made to the regulations. A full report on review outcomes outlines the changes to the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Regulations 2006, and related administrative processes which came into effect on 20 August 2011 (see Related documents).
We have also published a summary fact sheet on the regulation changes (see Related documents).
Highlights of the changes
- Allowing corporations that have divested or purchased assets during the cycle, and as a consequence have difficulty assessing 80% (or 90%) of their baseline energy use, to apply for a lower percentage through a variation to their Assessment Plan.
- Allowing corporations to apply through application in their Assessment Plan to select their baseline energy year from a greater period ie from a 48 month period instead of 36 months.
- Allowing for a corporation to transfer control of energy to a second entity with financial control (and therefore take on responsibility for EEO) without the need to obtain a Reporting Transfer Certificate (RTC) under NGERS.
- Simplifying reporting deadlines to one date only.
- Including an option to allow companies to exclude a higher level of energy from assessment at sites over 0.5PJ through application in their Assessment Plan. The new option will allow companies to exclude up to 2% of energy use at the site (capped at 0.1 PJ) where the cost of assessment is greater than the financial benefits.
- Giving corporations further flexibility in planning assessments by allowing them to assess 40% of group energy use in the first two years of the cycle. Corporations will still also have the option to complete one assessment of a business unit, member or key activity in the first two years.
- The EEO Assessment Framework has been reviewed and minor changes made to most of the Key Elements to provide definitional clarity and to align process steps in a more logical and meaningful way.
Second Cycle
Participating corporations will not need to re-register for the second cycle. The deadline for submission of a new Assessment Plan will remain at 18-months after the commencement of the new cycle however Corporations are encouraged to submit Assessment Plans early as this will allow the Department to give quicker feedback and approvals.
For more information please call the EEO hotline on 1300 799 186, during business hours, or email energyefficiencyopportunities@ret.gov.au.
Related documents