COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – COAG Energy Council
On 19 December 2018, the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council agreed, based on modelled benefits, that minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and mandatory labelling would be introduced for swimming pool pumps.
The new regulations would commence with a low level MEPS and mandatory labelling requirement, and are expected to be introduced in 2020 - 12 months after Australian Standard AS 5102.1‑2009 is updated with a more reliable and robust method for testing pool pumps. Following a review to consider the effect of MEPS and mandatory labelling on the market, a medium level MEPS would be introduced two years later in 2022.
The new regulations will remove most of the least efficient pool pumps from the market, significantly increasing the energy efficiency of pool pumps used in Australia. Modelling shows that benefits of up to $658.4 million between 2018 and 2030 will be achievable. Over that same period, electricity savings of 2,767 gigawatt hours and greenhouse emissions reductions of 2.21 million tonnes may also be achieved. Externalities would also be removed, including peak loads on the electricity network that impose higher than necessary costs on consumers and society more broadly.
A Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) Swimming pool pumps: Proposed Energy Labelling and Minimum Energy Performance Standards was prepared on behalf of the Energy Council, and has been assessed as compliant by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) in accordance with the Council of Australian Governments’ RIS best practice requirements.