States to consider efficiency program for power users

Energy Minister Francis Logan has committed to consulting with industry when investigating a mandatory energy efficiency program for big and medium-sized power consumers, as Premiers agreed to today.

The full text of a company announcement is pasted below

All Australian States have agreed to investigate the implementation of a mandatory energy efficiency program for big and medium-sized power consumers.

The move was adopted at last week's meeting of State and Federal Energy Ministers in Melbourne.

Western Australia will take a lead role in developing the design of the scheme, and investigation of the costs and benefits.

Energy Minister Francis Logan said WA would consult widely with industry and other States before any proposed scheme was presented to a future meeting of Energy Ministers for debate and endorsement.

Mr Logan said a mandatory energy efficiency program was an important step towards to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

He said there were a number of benefits from such a scheme, both for the company and for the environment.

"The relevant businesses will be required to identify, evaluate and implement cost-effective energy saving opportunities," the Minister said.

"Besides cutting their operating costs, this will also cushion them from the inevitable future increases in energy prices.

"It will also reduce their exposure to future carbon costs."

Mr Logan said the Carpenter Government had committed to the program as part of its recently released Climate Change Strategy.

"The Western Australian Government has undertaken to work with industry to develop a mandatory energy efficiency scheme that can be applied to large and medium-sized power consumers," he said.

"But in developing the scheme, we realise that a consistent approach is needed among the States, and at a national level.

"It is important that WA take a lead role in this investigation, and I intend to report on the progress of our work at the next meeting of Energy Ministers in Perth in November."