Scheme Participant Requirements

To be a successful Scheme Participant under the ESS you must complete and lodge an energy savings statement with us each year. The Compliance Guide - Scheme Participants details this process.

A key input to the energy savings statement is the Declaration of Liable Acquisitions. This template replaces the Annual Energy Savings Statement template used in previous compliance years.  You may be required to have your Declaration of Liable Acquisitions audited.

The compliance timeline sets out reporting dates for the current reporting period.

Preparing your Declaration of Liable Acquisitions

We provide you with market data which is a key input to your Declaration of Liable Acquisitions. In addition, you will also need to provide data for

• non-market purchases

• supplies of generation (if you are a retailer)

• exemptions

Audit inputs to your Declaration of Liable Acquisitions

If you have liable acquisitions, you must have the inputs to your Declaration of Liable Acquisitions audited unless you meet specific exemption criteria. The Compliance Guide – Scheme Participants lists audit exemption criteria.

If an audit is required, you must engage an auditor from the Audit Services Panel. 

The auditor must submit a completed DSW Submission Form – DLA to IPART for approval prior to commencing the audit.  The DSW submissions form can be used for both ESS and PDRS audits and is available at Auditing Scheme Participants. 

You must upload your audit report when you lodge your energy savings statement in TESSA.

The Scheme Regulator assesses compliance

The Scheme Regulator will issue a Notice of Assessment (NoA) in March-April (i.e. 15-16 months after the end of the compliance period) assessing your compliance. If you have a liability for an energy savings shortfall penalty an invoice will be issued with the NoA. The shortfall penalty is payable by 2 May of the year following the end of the compliance period.

Relevant Documentation