Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator Annual Report 2001
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator, 2001
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It has been a privilege to assist the Government in operating the inaugural year of the world’s first national tradeable renewable energy certificate program. The year has been challenging and rewarding for not only the staff of the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator but also for the participants and potential participants in the scheme put in place by the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000.
The year opened with the knowledge that the enabling legislation was in place, Regulations were being drafted and deadlines were rapidly approaching.
The detailed and consistent application of the requirements of the Act to a diverse range of industries was a considerable challenge met head on by industry and my staff. The cooperation that developed between these two parties is to be admired as often solutions to the many issues arising from the application of the framework of the legislation and the very prescriptive requirements of some Regulations were not immediately apparent. I must congratulate industry representatives and my staff who participated in workshops and discussions to resolve these issues on their tolerant persistence towards equitable and efficient mechanisms to legally and effectively meet the needs of the Act.
While this need for detail to underscore the Act and its Regulations took time to develop it did not inhibit the operation of the scheme. Where ORER received substantially complete applications for accreditation and a delay occurred because of methodological matters in determining accreditation, accreditation was ultimately backdated to the date of receipt of the application.
The year closed with the knowledge that over twice the number of renewable energy certificates needed to meet the 2001 target of 300,000 had been created and that this performance would assist towards the achievement of 2002’s larger target of 1,100,000 certificates. The current performance is a strong accolade for both liable and eligible participants in the scheme who seem to have adopted this innovative way of establishing a market for renewable energy with great vigour.
Over the next year we look forward to building on this successful start and further improving and refining our operation of the renewable energy certificate system.
Again I would like to thank all those who have been involved in this major change in the way renewable energy is valued in Australia. With several other countries (including the United Kingdom and Japan) now taking up and considering similar schemes I think Australian industry and Government should be proud of the international lead they have demonstrated in the area of climate change through pioneering this measure.
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