The Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme commenced on 1 June 2009, to help people manage their energy costs and reduce the amount of energy they used without compromising on their lifestyle. It was intended that the scheme would run until 31 December 2014.

In 2012, the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy initiated a review of the Residential Energy Efficiency scheme, under the Electricity (General) Regulations 2012 and the Gas Regulations 2012.

The Review Report (PDF, 313.5 KB) was tabled in Parliament on 28 November 2013.

The Review Report discusses a number of aspects of the Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme including its objectives and scope, effectiveness, outcomes and costs and benefits. The Review Report recommended that the scheme continue to 31 December 2020 or until a national scheme that is acceptable to South Australia is in place. It also recommended regulatory amendments and administrative improvements for the scheme to continue beyond 2014.

The recommendations in the Review Report were informed by stakeholder feedback to an Issues Paper (PDF, 601.3 KB) and Directions Paper(PDF, 899.2 KB) and the results of an independent evaluation of the scheme.

On 29 November 2013, the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy announced that the government would extend the scheme to 2020 and expanded it to include small businesses. The name of the scheme was changed from Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme to Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme (REES).

In August 2014, stakeholders were consulted on proposed REES thresholds, metrics and activity specifications (PDF, 1.4 MB) to apply from 1 January 2015.

Issues Paper

The Issues Paper (PDF, 601.3 KB) was released for consultation on October 2012 with submissions closing on 12 November 2012. In response to the Issues Paper, the following submissions were received:

Directions paper

The Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme Directions Paper (PDF, 899.2 KB) was released 24 July 2013 with submissions closing on 9 August 2013. The paper proposed future arrangements for a South Australian energy saving scheme from 1 January 2015.

The paper set out key findings from the review of the Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme and proposals for the scheme's future and was informed by:

  • the findings of an Independent Evaluation Report (PDF, 2.0 MB) that includes the findings of a telephone survey of households who had received Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme activities and audits, and
  • consultations with key participants and submissions from various stakeholders in response an issues paper, released in October 2012.

In response to the directions paper, the following submissions were received:

Consultation on the final REES design

On 18 August 2014, a consultation paper on proposed REES thresholds, metrics and activity specifications (PDF, 1.4 MB) was released, which describes the proposals together with specific questions for stakeholder feedback. Appendices 2, 3 and 4 (PDF, 4.2 MB) of this review, referred to in the consultation paper, were provided for stakeholder information. The information in the consultant's report represents the technical assessment and opinions of the consultant and does not necessarily represent the views of the Department of State Development or the Government of South Australia.

In response to the consultation paper, the following written submissions were received:

2011 household energy efficiency survey

As part of developing the targets for the 2012-2014 stage of the Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme, South Australian households were asked about:

  • opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of lighting, shower heads, water heaters and standby-power controllers in their homes
  • their willingness to adopt these energy efficiency changes.

For more information, see the report Results from household survey on the use of energy appliances and products in the home (DOC, 159.8 KB) and the supporting spreadsheets for the energy efficiency activities:

2015 addition of commercial lighting upgrades

From 2015, commercial lighting upgrades became eligible activities under REES. Independent energy consultancy, Sustainable Focus, was commissioned in August 2014 to analyse market opportunities for commercial lighting upgrades.

Extracts from the research:

For further information

Email DEM.REPS@sa.gov.au