RFS scheme participants

The role of scheme participants

Scheme participants (liable parties) in the RFS are NSW gas retailers and end users. End users of gas means:

  • a person who acquires natural gas for consumption purposes who is not a retail customer, or
  • a person who produces natural gas for the purposes of consumption by the person.

Each year, scheme participants must meet a renewable fuel target. A scheme participant’s individual share of the scheme target is based on how much natural gas they used in the previous year relative to the total natural gas use of all scheme participants. Scheme participants meet their individual target by acquiring and surrendering a number of certificates equal to their target. Scheme participants can buy certificates from ACPs that produce green hydrogen, or through traders on the certificate market.

Scheme participants must comply with their obligations under Part 3 of Schedule 4A to the Electricity Supply Act 1995. These are set out in the compliance timeline below.

Scheme participant 2027 compliance obligations

The Renewable Fuel Scheme will commence on 1 January 2027. 

Note: Scheme participants must collect and prepare liability data in 2026 to meet 2027 compliance obligations.

The timeline below includes key dates you must meet as a scheme participant in line with your obligations under the RFS

Timeline showing scheme participant obligations

The key scheme participant obligations in 2027/2028 are: 

  • 30 September 2027: Scheme participants must notify IPART of their individual liable use for the 2027 compliance period. Liable use for 2027 will be based on scheme participant gas use for the 2026 calendar year.
  • 1 March 2028: Scheme participants must lodge their annual statement for the 2027 compliance period.