Energy Efficiency Opportunities cuts shock industry

Energy Efficiency Council members are shocked by the surprise funding cuts to the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program.

“The Abbott government has just created a huge uncertainty in a fragile economy - people are absolutely livid,” said Rob Murray-Leach, CEO of Energy Efficiency Council.

“The government hasn’t scrapped the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program, because it is legislated, but it has cut funding to administer the program after June 2014. People are confused and very angry.”

The Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program was introduced under the Howard government in 2006. The program helps Australia’s largest energy users find ways to save on their energy bill. A review in 2013 found that the program had helped participants find well over a billion dollars in energy savings every year, and participants had voluntarily implemented projects to save $808 million a year.

“With manufacturing on a knife edge and energy prices rising, the government should be doing everything it can to help businesses save energy,” said Murray-Leach. “Every dollar invested in the program has delivered $2.90 of benefits to Australian business. Cutting funding to help businesses save energy is just going to hurt business.”