PDRS Rule and changes
This page has information about the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme Rule (PDRS Rule). The PDRS Rule applies to Accredited Certificate Providers (ACPs) and their activities to reduce peak demand. It provides details about:
- nomination as the Capacity Holder
- recognised peak activities (RPAs)
- product acceptance requirements
- calculation methods for determining peak reduction capacity
- eligibility, equipment and implementation requirements
- conversion of peak reduction capacity to Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs).
ACPs must understand and comply with the PDRS Rule.
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water develops the policy behind the PDRS. It also updates the PDRS Rule annually or at other times as required. To find out more about how the PDRS Rule is updated and how to get involved, visit the NSW Climate and Energy Action website.
PDRS Rule change commences 12 September 2025
The latest PDRS Rule commences on 12 September 2025.
The previous version of the PDRS Rule applies to all implementations from 1 July 2025 until 11 September 2025.
See the document hub for the PDRS Rule, and for all versions of the Rule (including the current one).
The information below is organised by method, except where changes apply across all PDRS methods. Each section explains what has changed and what you need to do.
Details of the specific changes to clauses in the Rule are in the PDRS Reference Table.
PDRS-wide changes
PDRS-wide changes apply from 12 September 2025 and include new requirements on doorknocking.
What has changed
You cannot create certificates from activities that result from unsolicited doorknocking.
What you need to do
Update your training material. Make it clear that third-party marketing contractors must not do any unsolicited doorknocking.
Reducing Demand Using Efficiency (RDUE)
What has changed
From October 2025:
Monthly reporting requirements for all RDUE activities in the PDRS Rule begin for implementations from October 2025. ACPs must report all RDUE activities you complete in a calendar month. You must do this before the end of the next calendar month. That is, you must report all implementations in October by the end of November.
What you need to do
- Collect implementation data for all RDUE activities for each month.
- Complete reporting requirements by the end of the next calendar month.
- Report monthly even if you have not done any activities. If you have no activities to report: Submit an email titled "NIL RETURN FOR RDUE ACTIVITIES [INSERT REPORTING MONTH]" to ensure you have complied with requirements.
See our Reporting requirements page for more information on reporting implementation data.
What has changed
From 12 September 2025:
- Only Refrigerated cabinets (RCs) Product Classes 12-15 with an implementation date on or after 12 September may be used to create Peak Reduction Certificates for RF2. Product classes 1 – 11 remain suspended.
- Refrigerated cabinets with 2 or more display sides will be ineligible even if they fall into Product Classes 12-15.
What you need to do
- Only use Refrigerated Cabinet Product Classes 12–15 with one display side to create certificates from Activity Definition RF2.
What has changed
From 12 September 2025:
The lifetime of new air conditioner activities HVAC 1 and HVAC2 increases from 10 to 12 years.
What you need to do
Update your capacity calculations to include the updated lifetime.
What has changed
From 12 September 2025:
- Use the ‘Maximum Tested Input Power’ to calculate your capacity instead of the ‘Nameplate Input Power’.
- Maximum Tested Input Power is also known as ‘High’ in the GEMS Registry.
- Projected Annual Energy Consumption is also known as Labelled Energy Consumption in the GEMS Registry.
- The words ‘where required’ have been added to Implementation Requirement 3 to make it clear that a qualified licence holder must perform or supervise the removal and or installation of the activity.
What you need to do
- Update your processes to make sure you use the correct information from the GEMS Registry.
Make sure you understand when a qualified licence holder must perform the removal and installation of a pool pump. See the PDRS Reference Table for more information.
Store and Shift Capacity (SASC)
What has changed
From October 2025:
Monthly reporting requirements for all SASC activities have been introduced into the PDRS Rule for implementations from October 2025, by the 15 November 2025. This requirement is already part of existing SASC conditions of accreditation. As the only activity under SASC (BESS1) is currently suspended, monthly reporting requirements will not be enforced until further notice. See our Reporting requirements page for more information on reporting implementation data.
Note: When there is an application for amendment of a SASC accreditation, we will remove monthly reporting requirements from SASC accreditation notices, as this is now part of the PDRS Rule.
What you need to do
You don't need to do anything.
Household Annual Demand Response (HADR)
What has changed
For activities from October 2025:
Monthly reporting requirements for all HADR activities in the PDRS Rule will begin for implementations from October 2025. ACPs must report all HADR activities you complete in a calendar month. You must do this by the 15th day of the next calendar month. That is, you must report all implementations in October by the 15th of November 2025. This requirement is already part of existing HADR conditions of accreditation. You do not need to change anything.
What you need to do
- Continue reporting implementation data for all HADR activities for each month.
- Complete reporting requirements by the 15th day of the next calendar month.
- Report monthly even if you have not done any activities. If you have no activities to report: Submit an email titled “NIL RETURN FOR HADR ACTIVITIES [INSERT REPORTING MONTH]”, to ensure you have complied with requirements.
See our Reporting requirements page for more information on reporting implementation data. If you also have an SASC accreditation, report HADR and SASC (when needed) data in the same spreadsheet.
Note: When there is an application for amendment of a HADR accreditation, we will remove monthly reporting requirements from HADR accreditation notices, as this is now part of the PDRS Rule.
