21 March 2024

Noting that urgent action on climate change is required, ASBEC strongly supports the NSW Government’s initiative in developing a consumer energy strategy to both help address the security and reliability of the energy system, as well as supporting the rapid scale up of electrification of NSW’s residential and commercial buildings. We also note that this transition to a decarbonised built environment needs to be delivered in a just and equitable way.

We note that concurrent to this process, the Australian Government is updating and releasing a number of national strategies and frameworks that will impact and compliment work being done at the NSW level. This includes the release of the National Energy Performance Strategy, the update of the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings and the release of the Built Environment Sectoral Pathway. We would urge the NSW Government to leverage work already undertaken for those purposes.

The NSW Government must develop a Consumer Energy Strategy that provides certainty to industry and drives the transition to zero-carbon-ready homes and buildings. The right policy settings can help our buildings achieve their full potential with consistency and efficacy. Targeted policies are needed for the sector as well as national consistency of processes and programs where possible. The strategy must ensure the delivery of a just transition by prioritising support for low-income and vulnerable households.

ASBEC provides the following comments about the NSW Consumer Energy Strategy:

1. Reframe the Consumer Energy Strategy in terms that matter to, and directly engage, households.
2. Implement mandatory residential building rating, disclosure, and minimum rental standards as soon as possible.
3. Harness efficient, high-performing buildings to best support the grid.
4. Keep quality, safety and program sustainability at front of mind.
5. Include in the strategy a program for quality deep retrofits for existing residential buildings that prioritises low-income and vulnerable households.
6. Introduce a plan with ambitious but achievable timeframes to phase out fossil gas in existing buildings and appliances.

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