What's out now

Date	Type	Title and description
May 2023	ESS Guidance	Commercial lighting guidance updated We’ve updated the following documents for the Commercial lighting method to clarify that the Regional Network Factor should no longer be included when calculating the minimum co-payment: Commercial lighting – Calculation tool Commercial lighting – Evidence manual Commercial Lighting - Audit scope - ACPs - Method specific scope items These changes result from the ESS Rule change that commenced on 14 April 2023. Under the Rule change, the Regional Network factor was moved from Electricity Savings equations under the Commercial Lighting method to Equation 1.
April 2023	Guidance	PDRS Guidance and Audit scope updated We have updated our website and the following PDRS documents to clarify that as a result of the 17 February 2023 PDRS Rule change, PRCs can be generated from heat pump hot water heater implementations undertaken since 1 April 2022 under the corresponding ESS Activity Definition D17 provided these implementations are not undertaken in a BCA Class 1 or 4 building: Peak Demand Savings Capacity Method: Reducing Demand Using Efficiency Method Guide RDUE - Audit Scope – ACPs - Method specific scope items Application for PDRS Accreditation Guide - ACPs. See the Reducing Demand Using Efficiency Method page for more information.
April 2023	Legislation	New ESS Rule commences 14 April The new ESS Rule has commenced. We’ve updated our guidance material, forms and templates to reflect changes to the Rule including: minor changes to: all method guides application for accreditation – part B forms audit scopes the General Requirements Guide significant changes to the PIAM&V Method Guide updates to the PIAM&V Method Requirements changes to the ESS examples template and CSV specification guide. We’ve also prepared a Quick Reference Guide to provide information on the changes. Please be sure you use the latest information to comply with ESS Rule requirements. See our ESS Rule page for more information.
Feb 2023	Legislation	New ESS Rule commences 14 April 2023 The new ESS Rule has been gazetted and will commence on 14 April 2023. We have released a Quick Reference Guide and updated templates for the implementation data upload to help you understand and prepare for the new ESS Rule. The new template should not be used before 14 April 2023. Other updated guidance material, tools and templates to reflect the ESS changes will be available on our website from 14 April. See our ESS Rule and TESSA Latest Info pages for more information.
Feb 2023	Legislation	The PDRS Rule has been amended The PDRS Rule was updated on 17 February 2023. Changes include: the motor activity SYS1 now includes replacement as well as new motors eligible air conditioner (HVAC2), water heater (WH1), refrigerated cabinet (RF2) and efficient motor (SYS1) activities undertaken at small business sites after 1 April 2022 can be used to create Peak Reduction Certificates equipment requirements for air conditioners in commercial settings have been clarified. See the PDRS Rule page for more information.
Feb 2023	ESS Update	The ESS gas certificate conversion factor has changed The gas certificate conversion factor used to calculate energy savings certificates (ESCs) under the Energy Savings Scheme was changed from 0.39 to 0.47 by amendments to the Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2014. Consequently, we have made minor amendments to information about conversion factors in the Method Guides for the Project Impact Assessment with Measurement and Veriﬁcation, Metered Baseline and Aggregated Metered Baseline Methods.
Nov 2022	Annual Report	Our 2021 ESS Annual Report was recently tabled in NSW Parliament. This includes information on: energy savings achieved and certificate demand compliance performance of Scheme Participants and Accredited Certificate Providers key administration activities and developments. Annual Report to the Minister 2021
Nov 2022	Consultation	Outcomes of the combined audit process for Scheme Participants consultation Consultation on a proposed combined audit process for Scheme Participants under the ESS and PDRS is now complete. We have considered feedback and will align timing of Scheme Participant processes for the ESS and PDRS to allow Scheme Participants to conduct combined or separate audits to meet their business needs. See our Past consultations page for the consultation paper, submissions and the What we heard document, which sets out the revised timings. We have also published a Scheme Participant compliance timeline webpage that sets out when compliance activities must be completed. We will publish updated guidance material on Scheme Participant processes, including audits, early in 2023.
Nov 2022	Guidance	Updated forms now available With the introduction of the PDRS, we have updated a number of forms so that you can use the one form for both the ESS and PDRS. We have also made changes to nomination form requirements to improve the customer experience. Access the updated forms here: nomination form installer declaration site assessment report site assessor declaration post implementation declaration.
Nov 2022	PDRS water heaters	We have accepted all commercial and industrial water heaters listed as Activity Definition F16 by the ESS for use under the PDRS for Activity Definition WH1. This means that going forward, any product accepted as F16 by the ESS is automatically accepted as WH1 for the PDRS. Further details are available in Notice 03/2022. Accepted PDRS and ESS water heaters are listed on the ‘Accepted Products List’ under the associated calculation method.
Nov 2022	PDRS Update	PDRS commences The PDRS commenced on 1 November 2022. Eleven Accredited Certificate Providers have already been accredited and can now register Peak Reduction Certificates in the Registry of Certificates. The 2022–23 PDRS compliance period has also commenced. See our Reducing peak demand with PDRS page for more information.
Oct 2022	PDRS Update	PDRS 2022-23 scheme certificate target published The 2022-23 scheme certificate target for the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) has been published on our website. See our Scheme certificate target page for more information.
Oct 2022	Event	2022 Safeguard Stakeholder Forum Our 2022 Safeguard Stakeholder Forum was held online on 27 October. It featured a series of talks, Q&A and breakout sessions about how you can be successful in the Safeguard. Go to our 2022 Safeguard Stakeholder Forum page for more information.
Oct 2022	Guidance	Publication of PDRS Method Guide We have published the Peak Demand Savings Capacity Method: Reducing Demand Using Efficiency Method Guide on our website. It provides guidance on meeting requirements to create a peak reduction certificate from eligible activities under the PDRS. The outcomes of the Draft PDRS Method Guide consultation can be found on our Past consultations page.
Oct 2022	Legislation	The Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2014 has been amended Amendments to the Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2014 to include new provisions for the Energy Savings Scheme and establish administrative arrangements for the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme commenced on 14 October 2022. See our ESS Legislation and PDRS Legislation pages for details.
Sep 2022	Legislation	PDRS Rule commences The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme Rule of 2022 (PDRS Rule) commenced on 29 September 2022. We have updated our website with information about the PDRS Rule and activities under the Reducing Demand Using Efficiency Method. Amendments to the Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2014 to establish administrative arrangements for the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme will commence soon.
Sep 2022	Guidance	Updated audit and product applications guidance We have updated the following guidance and forms for audits and product applications on our website. Please ensure you use our current guidance and forms. ACP Audit Guide Detailed Scope of Works submission form List of Sites Product Applications Guide
Jul 2022	Consultation Paper	Draft for consultation – Peak Demand Reduction Scheme Method Guide We are inviting submissions on our draft Method Guide for the Reducing Demand Using Efficiency sub-method of the Peak Demand Saving Method under the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme. Find out how you can have your say on our Current consultations page. Submissions close on 5 August 2022.
Jun 2022	Newsletter	ESS Newsletter 63 - June 2022
Jun 2022	Notice - Information	Notice 02/2022 - Important Information on the Installation of Refrigerated Cabinets This notice provides important information on the Installation of Refrigerated Cabinets under the Energy Savings Scheme.
Mar 2022	Newsletter	ESS Newsletter 62 - March 2022
Feb 2022	Slide deck	Scheme Participants - Peak Demand Reduction Scheme - Information Session Slide Deck February 2022 An overview of the process and requirements for Scheme Participants for the 2022 Compliance year under the PDRS.
Feb 2022	Slide deck	Scheme Participant Information Session - 2021 Compliance year An overview of how Scheme Participants meet their obligations for the 2021 Compliance year under the current ESS.
Feb 2022	Fact Sheet	Fact Sheet - Strip Lights - February 2022 Strip lights can be used in lighting upgrades under the ESS. Our new fact sheet outlines the product acceptance, auditing and compliance requirements.