CEO wrap: The National Efficiency Schemes Summit 2023 26 May 2023
Tuesday's National Efficiency Schemes Summit was a big milestone in the history of Australia's world leading energy efficiency schemes. This was the *first ever event* that saw government departments, regulators, industry, consumer groups and NGOs from right around Australia all in one room to have a big strategic conversation about the incredible achievements of our schemes, and how they need to evolve to continue supporting decarbonisation right across the economy.
The word "summit" gets thrown around a lot these days, but this was a summit in the true sense of the word – experts and leaders coming together to discuss, debate and develop a new consensus on how we supercharge the schemes' success and put them at the heart of the decarbonisation journey between now and 2050. The big questions tackled on the day included:
- How can we harness the schemes to drive a wave of high quality electrification in industry and building
- How do we both scale and diversify activities to drive the change we need
- How do we take care of vulnerable households that run the risk of getting left behind
- What outcomes are schemes especially good at driving, and what is better addressed by complementary policies, like minimum energy performance standards in rental properties
- How do we raise the depth of collaboration between the states, between state and federal governments, and between all governments and our sector to make the schemes shine
...and so much more.
If you weren't there this year don't despair: facilitator par excellence Patrick Crittenden is capturing all the outcomes of the day and producing a report that will provide us with both compass bearing for the direction we need to take the schemes, and the concrete next steps we need to take to get there.
Thanks to our Principal Partners, the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and the NSW Treasury's Office of Energy and Climate Change, Platinum Partner MAC Trade Services, my colleagues at the Energy Efficiency Council Rob Murray-Leach and Holly Taylor for their expert chairing, and our friends at the Energy Savings Industry Association including Rod Woolley, Jessica Lynch and Ric Brazzale for their wise counsel and support.Thanks too to all our incredible speakers Merrily Hunter, Dr Jan Rosenow, Andrew Rothberg, Mark Pedler, Mhairin Hilliker, Stephen Buckley, Caroline Bennett, Henry Adams, Jenniy Gregory, Anna Malos, Damian Sullivan, Douglas McCloskey, Phoebe Colman, Kerry Connors, Kirralee Tyndall and Peta Derham.And of course to the 200 odd delegates that travelled from right around Australia to contribute their insights and expertise: thank you. We couldn't have done it without you. Can't wait to work with you to shape the next great chapter in the history of our schemes.
– Luke Menzel.
