Victorian Energy Efficiency Target program gets an upgrade

The Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) program, said to be Australia’s largest energy efficiency certificate program, has changed its name to Victorian Energy Upgrades and introduced several new activities.

The VEET program was created by the Victorian government in 2009 in order to make energy efficiency improvements more affordable, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage investment and jobs in the energy sector. Best known for offering Victorians free lighting upgrades, the program has gone on to help more than 70,000 businesses and 1.7 million households undertake energy-saving activities.

The program has already saved householders and businesses more than $400 million on their energy bills in 2017. In addition, the amount of greenhouse gas that has been reduced through the initiative this year is equivalent to taking 500,000 cars off the road.

To ensure the continued growth of the program, several new activities are being introduced, including a customised way of measuring energy savings. The updated program will also give previously excluded large energy users the opportunity to take advantage of Victorian Energy Upgrades.

“We’re adapting this program to ensure it meets the changing and future needs of energy users by increasing access and providing more incentives for energy efficiency upgrades,” said Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio.

Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel said the program has already had a big effect on bills, with the changes set to make the program even more effective.

“Today Minister D’Ambrosio introduced a way for businesses to get support for more complex, tailored projects, which will help Victorian manufacturers that are being hit hard by electricity and gas price rises,” he said.

“As the cost of each unit of energy goes up, getting smarter about the way we use that energy becomes more important than ever.

“It’s a way of taking back some control of your energy bill, and the Victorian Energy Upgrades program can help. It should be on the radar of anyone that is worried about their energy bill — so basically everyone.”

To find out more about Victorian Energy Upgrades, visit www.victorianeneergysaver.vic.gov.au.