New Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) and Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) Rules were released on 29 August 2025. These new rules commence from 12 September 2025. 

Some changes start on 12 September 2025, while others commence over the next 12 months. A summary of the key changes and when they occur is listed in the table below.

Find full details of the changes, their impacts and what Accredited Certificate Providers need to do at:

Who to contact with questions

  • If you have any questions about how to comply with the updated Rules, please contact us at ess@ipart.nsw.gov.au.
  • For questions or comments about policy changes in the Rules please contact the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water at sustainability@environment.nsw.gov.au.
     
Effective From Changes
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12 September 2025

ESS Rule and PDRS Rule changes commence:

  • Bans unsolicited doorknocking for all activities
  • Ends the ability to apply for Commercial Lighting and SONA accreditations for ESS
  • Increases air conditioner lifetimes to 12 years for HEER, IHEAB, and RDUE
  • Increases co-payments to $1,000 for refrigerated cabinets and heat pumps for IHEAB
  • Suspends certain refrigerated cabinet classes for IHEAB and RDUE and reactivates others
  • Updates terms in pool pump calculations for HEER and RDUE
  • Introduces confidence factor and cap of 5,000 on certificate creation for hot water heat pumps under IHEAB
  • Requires location requirements in the standard and manufacturer installer recommendations be met for hot water heat pumps in the HEER and IHEAB methods
  • Removes lighting product acceptance requirements for Public Lighting, PIAM&V and MBM methods and requires safety and performance requirements are met at the time of installation instead
  • Introduces schools and retail centre building types to NABERS method.
15 or end of November 2025 Introduces monthly reporting for activities in the HEER, IHEAB and PDRS methods. First report to be provided in November 2025 for implementations in October 2025. 
30 November 2025 Last date for SONA implementations and certificate registration
1 December 2025 Warranty requirements for HEER and IHEAB methods start. 
31 January 2026 Last date for commercial lighting product acceptance.
31 March 2026 Last date for commercial lighting implementations and certificate registration. 
30 June 2026

Last date for gas implementations for boilers, space heaters and water heaters using the PIAM&V and MBM methods.

Last date for gas implementations and certificate creation for HEER and IHEAB activities.

Acronyms

SONA: Sale of New Appliances

HEER: Home Energy Efficiency Retrofits

IHEAB: Installation of High Efficiency Appliances for Business

RDUE: Reducing Demand Using Efficiency

PIAM&V: Project Impact Assessment Measurement and Verification

MBM: Metered Baseline Method

NABERS: National Australian Built Environment Rating System