ACT GREENHOUSE GAS ABATEMENT SCHEME

Introduction | GGAS in the ACT | NSW_Energy_Savings_Scheme_(ESS) | Focus of this website |

Introduction

Welcome to the website of the Regulator of the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS) in the ACT.

The GGAS, which was originally developed by the NSW Government, is an innovative and world-leading initiative established to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and use of electricity. It is one of the first mandatory greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes in the world.

GGAS in the ACT

The ACT Government introduced GGAS in the ACT to assist in addressing the climate change challenge. The operation of the GGAS in the ACT commenced on 1 January 2005. It mirrors the NSW GGAS as it operated in that state until 30 June 2009. The ACT scheme is legislated to run until 2020 (extended from 2012, in November 2007).

GGAS in the ACT establishes annual Territory greenhouse gas reduction targets, and then requires individual electricity retailers and any other parties who buy or sell electricity in the ACT to meet mandatory benchmarks based on the size of their share of the electricity market. If such parties, known as benchmark participants, fail to meet their benchmarks, then a penalty is assigned.

Responsibility for the operation of the GGAS in the ACT rests with ACT’s Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (Scheme Regulator) , and NSW’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Scheme Administrator) .

NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS)

The Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) commenced on 1 July 2009. The Scheme subsumed the energy efficiency elements of the NSW GGAS. The ESS and the remaining part of the GGAS will run as parallel schemes in NSW until the NSW GGAS ceases. The NSW ESS only operates in that state and has not been extended to the ACT. The ACT's GGAS continues to operate as it has since commencement in 2005.

www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/electricity/energy_savings.asp

Focus of this website

This website focuses on the functions of the Scheme Regulator for the ACT and provides references to ACT-specific legislative instruments, documents and news. Detailed information on how the scheme works can be accessed from the primary GGAS website at:

www.greenhousegas.nsw.gov.au

To find out more about the operation of the GGAS in the ACT, please navigate through this website using the menu bar on the left of the screen.