10 March 2023
The Essential Services Commission (ESC) administers the VEU program and is responsible for ensuring the VEU energy saving targets are achieved. The ESC charges fees to businesses participating in the VEU program. These fees cover the ESC’s costs and are being reviewed. The fees enable ESC to be resourced to provide oversight that energy upgrades installed in Victorian homes and businesses meet standards and achieve energy savings.
Currently, fees collected by the ESC do not fully cover their costs. The ESC’s VEU program administration costs are increasing, due to additional functions arising from legislative reform and a more diverse range of upgrades under the VEU program. Program fees need to be increased to recover the costs so that the ESC can ensure strong regulatory oversight and achieve the program’s significant benefits.
To inform stakeholders and seek feedback on the proposed fee changes, a Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared. This explains the impacts of three different options for the new fees, including a preferred option to manage the impact on accredited providers and ensure the fees are not a barrier to small businesses participating in the program.
Interested parties and stakeholders are invited to make submissions to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) on the proposed fees and regulations by Wednesday 26 April 2023.
For more information and to make a submission, please see our Engage Victoria consultation page. DEECA and the ESC will host an online webinar on Tuesday 4 April 2023.
Subscribe to the Victorian Energy Upgrades newsletter to be kept up to date on announcements. Further information will be published within 2 weeks of the webinar.
Page last updated: 19/04/23