Second electricity retailer to increase competition and consumer choice


Released 25/07/2017

The ACT Government welcomes a second electricity retailer providing subsidised lighting upgrades for businesses under the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (EEIS), increasing competition and choice for consumers, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury announced today.

“Earlier this year I announced a new initiative under the EEIS to provide subsidised lighting upgrades to eligible businesses, to replace inefficient light globes with more efficient LED lighting,” said Minister Rattenbury.

“At the time, this initiative was only offered through ActewAGL. Today I am pleased to announce that EnergyAustralia will also offer this service, bringing healthy competition into the scheme for the first time.

“Energy Australia will provide commercial lighting upgrades to both small and large eligible businesses through its contractor Your Energy Saving Solutions (YESS). The upgrades will be heavily subsidised under EEIS and, depending on the business type, the current lighting in place and the specific lighting requirements, this may even cost nothing.

“This initiative will allow businesses to reduce their energy consumption, reduce lighting energy bills by up to 60% and improve the quality and lifespan of their light globes. This has the potential to achieve as much as $192 million in overall ACT business energy bill saving by 2020 and offset electricity price increases to local businesses from the ACT’s target of 100% renewable energy.

“Additional benefits will arise from higher lighting levels creating safer and more productive workplaces, and reduced lighting maintenance costs.

“The announcement of a second provider is particularly exciting for consumers as having two providers in the market for the first time will increase choice for consumers and drive competition.

“To support their entry into this new field, EnergyAustralia will be hiring local electricians to roll out their commercial lighting activity.  

“The EEIS is part of the ACT Government’s commitment to transition the ACT to zero net emissions by 2050 at the latest. The EEIS requires electricity retailers to provide subsidised services to achieve energy savings in households and small to medium businesses.

“The commercial lighting scheme follows the highly successful household program, which installed over one million energy efficient items into more than 75,000 Canberra homes,” Minister Rattenbury added.

To find out about other complementary programs and what you can do at home or in your business to use energy more wisely and save on operating costs visit www.actsmart.act.gov.au.
You can also find out how much you will save from a commercial lighting upgrade using the Actsmart Business Lighting Efficiency web tool, at http://actsmart-lightingwebtool.com.au.
For enquiries about EnergyAustralia’s Commercial Lighting Upgrades, please contact EnergyAustralia’s contractor YESS on 1300 894 745 or visit their website at http://www.yess.net.au for more information.
ActewAGL is also offering the commercial lighting upgrades through their Big Business Light Switch. For enquiries see www.actewagl.com.au/business-lighting.

- Statement ends -

Shane Rattenbury, MLA | Media Releases

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