A NSW Government website

History of Energy Savings Scheme Rule changes

Proposed changes to the Energy Savings Scheme Rule and Regulation

We have proposed changes to the Energy Savings Scheme Rule of 2009 (ESS Rule) and Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2014 (ESS Regulation). Before making the changes, we consulted industry for feedback. Our public consultation was open from 4 March 2025 and closed on 4 April 2025.

Thank you to those who made submissions. We are reviewing your feedback and will share an update in mid-2025. 

Learn more about the proposed changes in our consultation paper. 

Read the consultation paper

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If you have questions please contact us at [email protected] 

The Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) is NSW’s largest energy-efficiency program, established in 2009 under the NSW Electricity Supply Act 1995. The Energy Savings Scheme will run until 2050, in line with NSW’s net zero goals.

Making regular updates to the Energy Savings Scheme Rule and Regulation is needed to ensure their effectiveness in helping reduce NSW’s emissions and achieving net zero by 2050.

Learn more about the current Energy Savings Scheme Rule, which commenced in June 2024.

Changes to the Energy Savings Scheme Rule

Information about changes to the Energy Savings Scheme Rule can be downloaded via the links in the table below. Information about changes made between 2009 and 2024 can be found on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) website.

These documents are only a guide and are not intended for any official Energy Savings Scheme purposes.  

Rule changeDiscussion paper, final changes madeESS Rule with tracked changes from the previous version (for guidance only)Other documents
2025(To be advised: feedback from consultation currently under review) 

Consultation paper (March 2025)

Webinar

2023-24 (commenced 19 June 2024) 

Position paper (December 2023)

Position paper (May 2024 update)

N/A

Consultation paper (September 2023)

Public submissions

EnergyConsult report on hot water energy use

2022 (commenced 14 April 2023) DownloadDownload

Non-routine events and adjustments (NRE-A) requirements

Sample study on NRE-A requirements

Consultation paper (October 2022)

Public submissions

2021a (commenced 1 August 2022) DownloadDownloadN/A
2020-21 (commenced 28 February 2022) DownloadDownload

Consultation paper (June 2021)

Public submissions

2019-20 (commenced 30 March 2020) DownloadDownload

Consultation paper (July 2019)

Public submissions

2017-18 (commenced 20 April 2018) DownloadDownload

Consultation paper (December 2017)

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Public submissions

2016-17 (commenced 28 April 2017) DownloadDownload

Consultation paper (November 2016)

Public submissions

2015-16 (commenced 15 April 2016) DownloadDownload

Consultation paper (November 2015)

Public submissions

2013-14 (commenced 1 June 2014) DownloadN/A

Consultation paper (October 2013)

Public submissions