According to where they live, Australians currently receive different incentives and benefits for energy efficiency upgrades. A nationally harmonised energy efficiency scheme would give everyone the same opportunities and could build on the success of existing state schemes such as the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, which is targeting a 7% reduction in demand by 2025.28
A consistent framework of rules and guidelines on eligible energy efficiency measures, products and methodologies across jurisdictions and sectors would help unlock energy efficiency benefits at scale.29
The idea has been proposed before. In 2017, the AEMC recommended creating a National Energy Efficiency Scheme30 to improve energy efficiency program design and administration and reduce costs for delivering energy efficiency upgrades.31
The Australian Government estimated that a National Energy Savings Scheme, designed to meet an energy savings target of 5%, could have a net benefit of $1.5-5.3 billion from 2015 to 2050.32
States and territories should build on the substantial achievements and learnings of existing programs and harmonise incentives and standards in line with the National Energy Productivity Plan.