Victorian Current Acts

VICTORIAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY TARGET ACT 2007

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purpose  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Definitions  
   3A.     Meaning of scheme participant  
   4.      Objects  
   5.      Crown to be bound  
   6.      Extra-territorial operation  
   6A.     Relevant legislation  

   PART 2--ADMINISTRATION

   7.      Role of ESC  
   7A.     Publishing and reporting information about certificate transfers  
   7B.     ESC may provide advice and support  
   8.      Approved interstate energy efficiency regime  

   PART 3--ENERGY EFFICIENCY CERTIFICATES

           Division 1--Accredited persons

   9.      Who may apply to be accredited?  
   9A.     Timing of application for renewal  
   9B.     Application for renewal made after expiry  
   9C.     No application if suspended or disqualified  
   10.     ESC may require consent or undertaking from applicant for accreditation  
   10A.    ESC may request further information from applicant  
   10B.    Fit and proper person  
   10C.    Competent and capable person  
   11.     ESC to approve or refuse application  
   12.     Time limit for deciding applications  
   13.     ESC to allocate accreditation numbers  
   13A.    Notice of approval or refusal of application  
   13B.    Period of accreditation  
   13C.    Conditions of accreditation  
   13D.    Application to vary conditions of accreditation  
   14.     Suspension or cancellation of accreditation or disqualification from applying for accreditation  
   14A.    Notice of proposed action  
   14AB.   Immediate suspension and notice of proposed action  
   14AC.   Request for extension of time for submissions  
   14AD.   Request by ESC for further information  
   14AE.   Protection against self-incrimination  
   14AF.   Time for making determination  
   14AG.   Decision of ESC  
   14B.    ESC may impose conditions at end of suspension  
   14C.    Request to cancel accreditation  
   14D.    Duty to disclose matters adverse to accreditation  
   14E.    Protection against self-incrimination  
   14F.    Continuing professional development obligations  
   14G.    Prescribed code of conduct  
   14H.    Offence to contravene prescribed code of conduct requirement  

           Division 2--Prescribed activities

   15.     Prescribed activities  
   15A.    Offence to undertake prescribed activity without accreditation  
   15B.    Offence to undertake prescribed activity on behalf of person without accreditation  

           Division 3--Creation of certificates

   16.     Who may create a certificate?  
   17.     When can a certificate be created?  
   18.     How many certificates may be created in respect of a prescribed activity  
   19.     Declaration of discount factors  
   20.     Offences relating to creation of certificates  
   20A.    Offence to create certificate in certain circumstances  

           Division 4--Form, registration, expiry and transfer of certificates

   21.     Form and content of certificates  
   22.     Certificates must be registered  
   23.     Expiry of certificate  
   24.     Certificates may be transferred  

           Division 5--Retirement of certificates

   25.     Owner may surrender certificate voluntarily  
   26.     Retirement of certificates  

           Division 6--VEET scheme registry accounts

   26A.    Application for VEET scheme registry account  
   26B.    Approval of application  
   26C.    Conditions of approval  
   26D.    Suspension of VEET scheme registry account  
   26E.    Notice of proposed action  
   26F.    Immediate suspension and notice of proposed action  
   26G.    Request for extension of time for submissions  
   26H.    Request by ESC for further information  
   26I.    Protection against self-incrimination  
   26J.    Time for making decision  
   26K.    Decision of ESC after giving notice  
   26L.    ESC may impose conditions at end of suspension  
   26M.    Cancellation of VEET scheme registry account  
   26N.    Permission to transfer or surrender certificates while account cancelled or suspended  
   26O.    Offence to hold certificate without account  
   26P.    Offence to transfer or surrender certificate in certain circumstances  

   PART 4--ENERGY EFFICIENCY CERTIFICATE SHORTFALL AND VEET SCHEME TARGET

   27.     Energy efficiency certificate shortfall  
   28.     Civil penalty for shortfall  
   29.     Calculation of energy efficiency certificate shortfall  
   30.     VEET scheme target  
   31.     Greenhouse gas emissions liability for relevant entity  
   32.     Greenhouse gas reduction rates  
   32A.    Effect of specified Order made under section 32  

   PART 5--STATEMENTS AND SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES

   33.     Annual energy acquisition statements  
   34.     Restrictions on certificates that can be surrendered  
   35.     Fees for surrender of certificates  

   PART 6--ENFORCEMENT

   36.     Shortfall statement  
   37.     Application for declaration and order for payment of shortfall penalty  
   37A.    Offence to contravene shortfall statement  
   38.     Certificate surrender notice  
   39.     Application for declaration and order requiring surrender of certificates  
   40.     ESC may require surrender of certificates if certificates improperly created  
   40A.    ESC may give warning or impose condition  

   PART 6A--CIVIL PENALTY REQUIREMENTS

   40B.    Civil penalty requirements  
   40C.    Notice penalties  
   40D.    Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an offence  

   PART 7--POWERS OF AUTHORISED OFFICERS

           Division 1--Appointment of authorised officers

   41.     Appointment of authorised officers  
   42.     Identity cards  

           Division 2--Powers of authorised officer

   43.     When may powers be exercised?  
   44.     Entry to premises  
   45.     Information to be provided to occupier on entry  
   46.     Entry with consent  
   47.     Entry with monitoring warrant  
   48.     Monitoring powers of authorised officers  
   49.     Authorised officer may ask for information  
   50.     Authorised officer may require information  
   51.     Failure to produce documents or answer questions  
   52.     Protection against self-incrimination  

           Division 3--Occupiers' rights and responsibilities

   53.     Occupier may be present during execution of warrant  
   54.     Occupier to provide authorised officer with assistance  

           Division 4--Monitoring warrants

   55.     Monitoring warrants  

   PART 7A--AUDITS

           Division 1--Compliance audits

   55A.    Compliance audit  
   55B.    Notice of compliance audit by ESC  
   55C.    Report of compliance audit by ESC  
   55D.    Notice of compliance audit by independent auditor  
   55E.    Independent auditor must comply with guidelines  
   55F.    Obligations of accredited person  

           Division 2--Assurance audits

   55G.    Assurance audit  
   55H.    Notice of assurance audit by independent auditor  
   55I.    Independent auditor must comply with guidelines  
   55J.    Obligations of accredited person  
   55K.    Schedule for conduct of assurance audits  

           Division 3--Auditor requirements

   55L.    List of independent auditors  
   55M.    Appointment of independent auditor  

           Division 4--Other matters relating to audits

   55N.    Offence to provide false or misleading information to auditor  
   55O.    Offence to withhold information from auditor  
   55P.    Protection against self-incrimination  
   55Q.    Conditions or restrictions of accreditation  
   55R.    ESC may publish audit information  

   PART 8--GENERAL

           Division 1--Review of decisions

   56.     Review of decisions by ESC  
   56A.    Conduct of internal review  
   56B.    Review of decisions by VCAT  
   56C.    Person must seek internal review first  
   56D.    Proceedings for review by VCAT  
   56E.    ESC to give effect to VCAT decisions  

           Division 2--Registers

   57.     Registers to be maintained  
   58.     Register of accredited persons  
   59.     Register of energy efficiency certificates  

           Division 3--Information provisions

   60.     ESC may obtain information and documents  
   61.     Failure to comply with notice  
   62.     Protection against self-incrimination  
   63.     Copies of documents  
   64.     ESC may retain documents  
   65.     Disclosure of information an offence  
   66.     Information may be disclosed to specified persons or bodies  
   67.     ESC must publish certain information  

           Division 4--General offences

   68.     False or misleading information  
   69.     Failure to provide documents  
   70.     Offences by bodies corporate  
   70A.    Proceedings for offences  

           Division 5--Evidence and records

   71.     Evidence  
   72.     Records to be kept by accredited persons and relevant entities  

           Division 6--Fees

   73.     Fees  

           Division 7--ESC guidelines

   74.     ESC guidelines  

           Division 8--Regulations

   75.     Regulations  
   75A.     Regulations dealing with transitional matters  

           Division 9--Review of Act

   76.     Review of operation of Act  

           Division 10--Savings and transitionals

   76A.    Accreditation transition period  
   76B.    Expiry of accreditation during accreditation transition period  
   76C.    Application for renewal of accreditation during accreditation transition period  
   76D.    VEET scheme registry account transition period  
   76E.    VEET scheme registry account transition period—existing certificate holders  
   76F.    Savings provision—Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Amendment Act 2022  
   77.     Savings provision—Essential Services Commission (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Amendment Act 2021  
   78.     Reviewable decisions—Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Amendment Act 2022  
   78AA.   References to revoke or revocation—Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Amendment Act 2022  
   78AB.   Assurance audit schedule—Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Amendment Act 2022  
           SCHEDULE 1
           ENDNOTES