2021 performance report: Victorian Energy Upgrades program

The Essential Services Commission has published the 2021 performance report for the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. The program is part of the Victorian Government’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It helps reduce emissions by giving households and small businesses access to discounted energy-saving products and upgrades.

Key outcomes for the 2021 year:

• The Victorian Energy Upgrades program registered over 7.5 million certificates, resulting in over 7.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved. 
• Despite coronavirus restrictions over 657,000 energy efficient upgrades were delivered across Victorian households and businesses, a 75 per cent increase on 2020. 
• Consumers continued to achieve valuable energy savings through the program – participating households saved an estimated average of $136 off their annual energy bills, while businesses saved an estimated $2,940 on average.
• Our compliance and enforcement efforts resulted in the payment of over $1.8 million in penalties by energy retailers, and the surrender of over 38,000 Victorian energy efficiency certificates by accredited providers.

More than 2 million households and businesses have benefited from the Victorian Energy Upgrades program since it began in 2009. It has delivered critical outcomes to help meet Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets and achieve important cost savings for energy consumer. 

Under the program, accredited businesses undertake energy-efficiency improvement activities and then create certificates that represent one tonne of greenhouse gas avoided. The commission registers eligible certificates which businesses can then exchange or sell on the Victorian energy efficiency certificate open market. This includes to energy retailers who are required to buy and surrender a certain number of certificates each year to offset their obligation under Victorian law.

Read the full report for information on key aspects of the program for 2021 including: 

• our assessment of applications for new accounts and accreditation applications  
• our assessment of the creation of Victorian energy efficiency certificates  
• our assessment of project-based activities and product submissions  
• our compliance and audit activities, including enforcement outcomes against accredited persons and energy retailers 
• other key work activities and projects we delivered to maintain the integrity of the program and to prepare for its future. 

This report does not provide findings relating to the compliance of energy retailers under the program for the 2021 compliance year. Energy retailers with an obligation under the Act are due to submit their annual energy acquisition statements and certificates to the commission by 31 July 2022. We will publish information relating to energy retailer compliance for the 2021 compliance year, including information on energy efficiency shortfalls and certificates surrendered later in the year, following our review of these retailers’ submitted statements and certificates.