The Justice and Equity Centre provided a submission in response to NSW DCCEEW’s 2025 Statutory Reviews of the Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) and the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS).
We broadly supported the approach being taken for the reviews, in considering the two concurrently.
We recommended this process consider broad reforms to both schemes, aimed at enhancing their impact, improving the equity of their delivery, focussing them on the long-term objective of electrification and upgraded energy efficiency, and aligning them with current government programs.
It is increasingly apparent that the significant investments required to enable the energy system transition will have a material impact on energy costs to consumers. The ESS and PDRS are crucial tools in mitigating these impacts, improving equity and promoting the affordability and sustainability of energy services in NSW.
