Australian Capital Territory
Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement (Priority Household Target) Determination 2013 (No 1)
Disallowable Instrument DI2013–229
made under the 
Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Act 2012, Section 8 (Priority Household Target)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Overview
Section 6 of the Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Act 2012 provides that one of the key objects of the Act is to increase opportunities for priority households to reduce energy use and costs. This is in line with the Government’s commitment to support households particularly vulnerable to rising energy prices.
A key component that ensures priority households benefit under the Act is the ability of the Minister to set the Priority Household Target (PHT) under section 8 of the Act. The PHT determines the level of greenhouse gas emissions reductions that must be achieved by Tier 1 electricity retailers by undertaking activities in priority households.
Households eligible for ‘priority’ status are defined in the Dictionary of the Act. 
Consistent with the PHT set for the first compliance period in 2013, and the success of the target to date, the PHT is set at 25 per cent for the compliance period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014. 
Section 34 of the Legislation Act provides that a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) must be prepared if a Disallowable Instrument is likely to impose appreciable costs on the community, or a part of the community.
A regulatory impact assessment, incorporating feedback from consultation with industry, community organisations and government stakeholders, was undertaken to inform the development of the Act. This instrument does not impose new obligations on a NERL retailer with an energy savings obligation under the Act, and it is consistent with the assumptions in the RIS.
The RIS is available at http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/b/db_44295/default.asp.
The determination takes effect the day after notification.