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As part of regulatory requirements, AGL participates in the South Australian Renewable Energy Efficiency Scheme and the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Scheme to promote energy efficiency in the home. Since January 2009, AGL has carried out almost 3,000 energy audits in both residential and commercial properties under these programs. Audits have been carried out for both AGL and non-AGL customers.
Under these schemes, AGL (along with its contracted parties) has created over 100,000 energy efficiency certificates, resulting in an abatement of over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The certificates have been created from the provision and installation of energy saving light bulbs, low-flow showerheads and energy efficient hot water systems. Installation of the energy efficiency items and completion of the energy audits is predominantly undertaken through AGL Assist, AGL’s franchise electricity and gas home maintenance service business. In rural Victoria, AGL is partnering with community organisations to deliver these services.
AGL continues to provide tools for residential and business customers to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions, and take steps to reduce them. The AGL Carbon Calculator is available on the AGL website, along with Interactive Energy Efficiency Advice and Appliance Cost Guide tools to help customers evaluate the costs and benefits of using different types of household appliances. These tools raise awareness about energy efficiency and assist customers to make informed decisions for their homes.
We have a range of green products available, allowing customers to choose their contribution to greenhouse gas emission reductions.
AGL has a suite of accredited GreenPower products available to residential customers. For a renewable electricity product to gain endorsement from the GreenPower program it must be generated from a new renewable energy facility that was built since January 1997. AGL’s green electricity products enable customers to choose the proportion of accredited GreenPower they wish to purchase: 10%, 20% or 100%. We then ensure that the electricity grid is supplied with energy generated from GreenPower approved renewable sources, such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass (organic waste and plant material). The products are:
All of these products are GreenPower accredited. The GreenPower accreditation means the government has verified that the percentage of GreenPower renewable energy sold is supporting the growth of the renewable energy industry.
AGL offers both AGL Green Energy® and an additional product, AGL Green Balance® for our major industrial and commercial customers. AGL Green Balance® was the first electricity product certified by the Department of Climate Change under the Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative. Customers who purchase AGL Green Balance® have their emissions from electricity consumption ‘offset’ through landfill gas flaring activities financed by AGL.
AGL’s current market share of GreenPower sales is well below its overall market share of energy sales. As Australia’s leading privately owned renewable generation company, AGL’s objective is to increase the volume of contracted GreenPower fivefold in 2009/10. This will involve contracting over 1 TWh in additional GreenPower accredited energy. This would position AGL as Australia’s largest retailer of GreenPower by volume.
Across Australia we bill customers with solar panels, providing them with the appropriate government rebate (feed-in tariff) for the electricity supplied by their solar panels. In September 2009, AGL’s customers had a total of over 7,700 installations. AGL supports the installation of solar panels, however feedback from complaints indicates that customers are not being provided with enough information at the time of installation to make informed decisions. As a result, during 2009/10 AGL will focus on ensuring that customers have solar panels installed correctly and are provided with all the necessary information to objectively evaluate options and to reap the maximum benefit from this investment.
