Page 3673 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
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electrical equipment which would not receive any credit if the scheme retained its emissions metric after the ACT transitions to zero emissions electricity.
Modelling confirms that there are substantial untapped opportunities for energy savings in the ACT, through both electrical upgrades and the transition of heating systems off gas. The scheme’s new energy metric will be agnostic to the source of energy and will support all types of efficient upgrades. When I introduced the bill, I referred to the new insulation activities that have recently been introduced to the scheme. Modelling shows that these new eligible scheme activities will be cost effective using the new energy metric, along with upgrades to both electric and gas heating systems, refrigerators, pool pumps, water heating air compressors and more. I do note that refrigerators were in that list.
When this scheme delivers upgrades from gas heating systems to efficient electric alternatives, it directly reduces Canberra’s greenhouse gas emissions. When it replaces old inefficient electrical equipment with efficient upgrades, it supports the 100 per cent renewable electricity target post 2020. In doing so, this bill supports the recent amendments to the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Renewable Electricity Target) Act, which has locked in our renewable electricity targets for the long term.
The bill also expands the scheme to potentially include transport activities. This change has strategic benefits, since 100 per cent renewable electricity means that transport will account for 62 per cent of emissions in the ACT from 2021. As I have spoken about this week, this presents new challenges. While the scheme cannot deliver savings from transport until activities are both developed and then picked up by electricity retailers, there is considerable interest in these developments. Work is already underway to investigate options for energy efficiency rebates on electric vehicles and other transport options.
There are a number of measures in this bill that produce administrative streamlining. That is, of course, the important part of the scheme. I thank officials for their work on those measures.
Before closing, I can confirm to the Assembly that thorough consultation and engagement processes have been completed throughout all stages of developing the bill. The bill was informed by a public workshop, in-depth interviews, focus groups and other workshops, as well as post-implementation surveys incorporating feedback from over 2,000 scheme participants. Further consultation and another stakeholder forum informed the development of the bill. The consultation has confirmed the benefits associated with the scheme and the widespread support for its continuation as provided by this bill.
In concluding, I simply want to reflect on some of the figures that have been independently put together as to the effects of this bill. The energy efficiency saving scheme will have saved an estimated 739,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2020. Over the lifetime of products installed, households are expected to save more than $210 million, with an average weekly saving of $5.78. Businesses are estimated to save $160 million, with average weekly savings of $96. More than 19,000 low income
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