A group of business and industry associations has welcomed the Council of Australian Governments’ commitment to a comprehensive National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, but said the implementation of energy efficiency measures without a consistent national framework in place will not deliver greenhouse gas emissions reductions at least cost.

The group comprises the Energy Supply Association of Australia, the Business Council of Australia and the Energy Users’ Association of Australia.

“We welcome COAG’s commitment to introducing a comprehensive National Strategy for Energy Efficiency to help households and businesses reduce their energy costs and reduce the cost of greenhouse gas abatement under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme,” said esaa Chief Executive Officer Clare Savage.

“However, implementing new measures without a single, national set of governance arrangements in place continues the ad hoc approach to energy efficiency policy and does not deliver emissions reductions at least cost.

“COAG’s ad hoc approach to energy efficiency is also not complementary to the CPRS. It is vital that governments impose a moratorium on any new energy efficiency policy measures until there is a commitment to a national energy efficiency governance framework,” said Ms Savage.

esaa, BCA and EUAA called on governments to commit to the creation of Energy Efficiency Australia as a new national organisation with responsibility for the development, administration and review of energy efficiency programs in Australia.