Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012, Number 3 of 2012

Laws and Policies

CCLW

CCLW national policies

Law passed

The Act contains a host of provisions relating to the Energy Act, including the creation of an Energy Efficiency Fund and a mechanism by which enforceable requirements may be placed on energy providers.<br />
The Fund aims to support and improve energy efficiency improvement programmes, promote the development of a market for energy efficiency improvement measures, energy audits and other financial instruments for energy savings. It may also help alleviate energy poverty. The Fund may issue grants, loans and other financial guarantees or supports.<br />
The chapter also establishes Energy Efficiency Notices which the Minister may use to create binding obligations on energy providers to ensure their pricing is competitive, they promote energy efficiency improvement measures and contribute to the Fund. Where conditions in a Notice are not met, the Minister may order remedial action on the part of the supplier. In the case of persistent neglect of a Notice's orders, the Minister may appeal to the High Court for an order directing the energy supplier to comply.<br />
Energy suppliers may circumvent receiving a Notice order by establishing Voluntary Agreements, which detail how the energy supplier will meet the requirements that may be ordered in a Notice, for example, outlining energy saving objectives, energy efficiency improvement measures, monitoring, measuring and reporting procedures and so on. These Agreements are then to be submitted to the Minister for approval. The chapter requires all energy suppliers to promote energy end-use efficiency to customers, emphasising relevant information on the form of energy provided and how it is used.