EnergyAE / Knowledge Base

NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS)

NSW scheme administered by IPART that issues ESCs for residential and commercial HPWH installations — the NSW equivalent of VEU.

Administered byIndependent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)
CertificateEnergy Savings Certificate (ESC)
Certificate unit1 ESC = 1 MWh energy saved
RegionNSW only (climate zones 3 & 5)
AS/NZS 4234 version2021

The ESS is the NSW equivalent of VEU. It operates as a market-based mechanism: Accredited Certificate Providers (ACPs) create ESCs by implementing approved energy efficiency activities, and electricity retailers surrender ESCs each year to meet their liability under the scheme.

Relevant activities

ActivityDescriptionVEU equivalent
HEER D17Residential HPWH replacing electric water heaterVEU 1D
HEER D19Residential HPWH replacing gas water heaterVEU 3C
IHEAB F16Commercial HPWH (large, EN 14511 tested)VEU 44A
IHEAB F17Commercial HPWH (light, AS/NZS 5125.1 tested)VEU 44A