Consultation begins on National Energy Savings Initiative

Introduction

The Federal Government formally committed to exploring the possibility of a national Energy Savings Initiative (ESI) in July 2011 as part of its Clean Energy Future Plan (Plan). In line with this commitment, the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) has now established the National Energy Savings Initiative Working Group (ESI Working Group) to prepare a report on possible design options for a National ESI.

This legal update:

• provides a brief overview of existing ESI schemes in Australia;
• discusses the Issues Paper released by the Working Group in December 2011;and
• details the likely next steps in the development of a national ESI and what stakeholders should do in response to the Issues Paper.