Energy efficiency

About energy efficiency

Energy labelling domestic white goods and air-conditioners is mandatory in Australia.

Registering applicable equipment for Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) is also mandatory in Australia.

The Energy Efficiency Program applies to:

• refrigerators, excluding wine cellars
• freezers
• clothes washers
• clothes dryers
• dishwashers
• all single phase domestic air-conditioners
• fluorescent ballasts
• power transformers
• fluorescent lamps
• commercial refrigerators.

All new domestic appliances required to have energy labelling must have the energy label registered and on display before they are offered for sale.

Information on energy efficient appliances and lists of current equipment registered for energy labelling and MEPS are available at Energy Rating Australia.

Manufacturers and importers’ responsibilities

It is an offence to display for sale, offer for sale or sell new electrical equipment that requires an energy label without that label displayed. These requirements are regulated in the Electricity Regulation 2006.

The product must be registered with a Government regulator. To do this the application procedures must be followed.

If the product is suitable it will be registered. A letter of registration will be sent and the product will be listed on Energy Rating Australia for consumers to view.

Once approved, the manufacturer or importer arranges for the Energy Rating Label to be attached. Replacement labels are supplied to retailers by the manufacturer or importer where needed.

Energy Rating Australia has more information for manufacturers and importers on energy labelling and the MEPS schemes. The information has details of the Australian standards for testing and calculations used in labelling and MEPS requirements.

Application procedures

Application forms

There is an application form for each type of domestic appliance and MEPS equipment. These can be downloaded from the Energy Rating Australia website.

Applications can be submitted online. This is preferred but special access must be arranged through the Energy Rating Australia.

Applications submitted online will require the test reports and labels to be sent to the Electrical Safety Office for verification.
Applications can be lodged manually to the Electrical Safety Office.

To register a product for Energy labelling or MEPS you must:

• For online application:
  • Register with Energy Rating Australia, if not already registered.
  • Log on to Energy Rating Australia.
  • Complete the application and choose QLD for regulator.
  • Submit the application electronically, attaching test report and sample label if appropriate.
  • If you send a test report and label via post, ensure the record ID for your application has been listed on the document sent.
  • Send payment.
• For offline application:
  • Complete the Energy rating product registration forms or in the appropriate standard.
  • Send application form, test report and label if applicable with payment to Electrical Safety Office.

Test reports

The test report sent with the application may be from a recognised laboratory and must have been tested within three years of the application date.

If a non NATA test report is done, it is the responsibility of the registrant to be satisfied with the report. A check testing plan is in place to randomly test equipment for the validity of results.

Penalties for incorrect submission

If non-valid data is found to have been part of the submission, the submitter can be liable for prosecution by regulators in each state that the product is sold. There can also be sanction by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Energy rating labels

For products that need an energy rating label, you must send a production Energy Rating Label or exact copy with each application.

Fees

The schedule of energy efficiency labelling fees are available at fees for electrical equipment (appliances) and are payable by credit card.