Market Update | 19 April

• VEU gazette phased approach of telemarketing and door-knocking ban
• Gas companies banned from offering incentives by the Victorian government
• PBA M&V consultation

DEECA Confirms Effective Dates for Marketing Bans Under VEU

This week the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) confirmed the effective dates and selected option for the telemarketing and door-knocking ban under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Program, concluding a ‘phased approach’ ban to provide industry time to earmark alternative marketing methods under the program.

Effective from May 1 2024, Accredited Providers and Scheme Participants will be prohibited from using telemarketing without express consent as a method to market energy-efficient products and services under the VEU. Further to this, door-knocking bans will be effective 1 August 2024.

The ban states that stakeholders contacting a person at their premises via telemarketing or door knocking unless they have provided express consent. The ban includes lead generation that had previously expressed interest in program participation whether directly or purchased from a third party.

Victorian Government Bans Gas Companies from Providing Incentives

Further to gas connection bans in newly constructed homes and government businesses, the Victorian government has banned gas companies from offering households cash incentives or rebates on new connections or gas appliances. As part of the Allan government’s updated Gas Substitution Roadmap, Lily D’Ambrosio, the state energy minister on Thursday gazetted an order under the Gas Industry Act to prohibit distribution networks from the practice.

Despite government efforts and evidence that suggests gas being a higher cost to electricity and an unhealthy option, gas companies have been reported to be encouraging consumers to connect to the network for the first time and purchase gas appliances.

As the state winds down the gas network and households disconnect from gas, energy finance analyst, Jay Gordon says that customers are at risk of exposure to higher energy costs and being left stranded.

Consultation Feedback on Project-Based Activities Closes 29 April

DEECA is seeking stakeholder feedback on project-based (PBA) activities under the VEU. Current methods under the VEU include the benchmark rating method using the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) to calculate emissions reductions for certificate creation; and measurement and verification (M&V) typically targeting high energy consuming facility upgrades or upgrades of a complex nature.

The consultation seeks to improve and streamline methods in addition to encouraging uptake, and eliminating barriers to the method under the VEU program. Revisions of the PBA M&V method will be guided by stakeholder feedback with submissions closing 29 April 2024.