The commission has taken enforcement action against accredited business Ecovantage for allegedly breaching the Victorian Energy Upgrades program rules.
Enforcement action against Ecovantage
31 July 2024
The commission has taken enforcement action against accredited business Ecovantage for allegedly breaching the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program rules.
Alleged breach
Ecovantage allegedly breached the VEU program rules by creating 1,289 Victorian energy efficiency certificates (certificates) for building lighting upgrades with inaccurate claims about baseline lighting and upgrades installed, and for failing to hold valid rights to create certificates from consumers.
Baseline manipulation is one of three strategic priorities for VEU compliance and enforcement for the commission in 2024–25.
The relevant installations were carried out by an installer on Ecovantage’s behalf. Ecovantage, as the accredited business, is responsible for making sure any installer acting on its behalf and certificates it creates, comply with the program rules.
No financial cost to consumers was identified as a result of this alleged breach and the contracted installer involved in the alleged misconduct is no longer participating in the VEU program.
Our decision
The commission decided to:
- Refuse registration of 831 pending certificates and order the surrender of 458 registered certificates which are allegedly non-compliant, valued at over $140,000 (as at 31 July 2024).
- Impose conditions on Ecovantage’s accreditation that require the business to fulfill additional audit, review and reporting requirements, to ensure the compliance of activities undertaken and certificates created.
Ecovantage offered to voluntarily withdraw the 831 certificates pending registration, and voluntarily surrender 458 certificates.
Note: the certificate value on this page is based on the spot price of $109.50 as at 31 July 2024.