New gas efficiency activities have commenced under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
Introduction of gas energy efficiency activities
From 1 March 2019, new gas efficiency activities commence under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
We have released documentation to provide program participants with guidance on how to participate in this activity, including their obligations.
You can now apply to become accredited for these activities.
New gas efficiency activities
The 2018 VEET Regulations introduced six new deemed gas efficiency activities to the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. The six activities can be summarised in two groups:
- decommissioning and installing primary infrastructure (activities 37, 38 and 41)
- installing secondary components on existing primary infrastructure (activities 39, 40 and 42).
A description of each new activity is provided in the following table.
| Activity | Baseline | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Decommissioning an existing inefficient gas-fired steam boiler | Energy efficient gas-fired steam boiler |
| 38 | Decommissioning an existing inefficient gas-fired Type B appliance (hot water boiler or water heater) | Energy efficient gas-fired hot water boiler or water heater |
| 41 | Burner on a gas-fired Type B appliance (steam boiler, hot water boiler or water heater) | Installing electronic gas/air ratio control on that burner |
| 39 | Burner on a gas-fired Type B appliance (steam boiler, hot water boiler or water heater) which has an existing gas/air ratio controller | Installing combustion trim control on that burner |
| 40 | Decommissioning an existing inefficient old burner on a gas-fired Type B appliance (steam boiler, hot water boiler or water heater). | Installing a new burner |
| 42 | Gas-fired Type B appliance (steam boiler, hot water boiler or water heater) | Installing an economizer |
Eligibility requirements
For an upgrade to be eligible it must:
- involve gas-fired equipment classified as Type B appliances under the Gas Safety Act 1997
- take place in a class 2 or 3 building, or in a business/non-residential premises.
Activity documentation
The relevant documentation for undertaking these activities is now available, including:
- gas efficiency activities application form
- VEEC assignment form templates for each of the six activities
- the activity guide (including evidentiary requirements) for the six activities.
Overview of our regulatory approach
These new activities are tailored towards simple replacements or installations. If your gas efficiency upgrade is of a complex nature or linked to other upgrades, we recommend that you consider using one of the program’s project‑based activities methods.
Becoming accredited
You can become accredited for all gas efficiency activities by completing the gas efficiency activities application form.
Installer requirements
All activities must be conducted by a person licensed by the Victorian Building Authority as a Type B gas-fitting plumber, and an acceptance letter must be collected from Energy Safe Victoria prior to creation of certificates.
Decommissioning requirements
These gas efficiency activities need to meet relevant baseline and decommissioning requirements.
If your upgrade involves decommissioning a baseline appliance, you must decommission that appliance prior to certificate creation. You must provide details of your decommissioning practices to us for review as part of your accreditation application for these activities.
VEEC assignment
A VEEC assignment form must be completed by the energy consumer for an activity for you to create VEECs under the program. You must provide a copy of this form to us for review as part of your application for accreditation/approval to undertake these activities.
Activity assessment
Products to be installed under the program’s gas efficiency activities do not need to be listed on our Register of Products.
Given the complex nature of these upgrades and the potential VEEC volumes involved for a single installation, we intend to conduct a detailed assessment of each activity submitted for VEEC creation. All installations will be assessed as first creations prior to the registration of certificates. You will be required to collect and maintain documentation for each activity which must be provided to us upon request. All evidence required for each activity is outlined in the activity guide.
Where to get help
We would like to hear from you if you have any feedback on our requirements.
To provide feedback or ask questions with respect to matters set out in this program update or related documentation, please contact VEU Support on (03) 9032 1310 or veu@esc.vic.gov.au.