The Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (otherwise known as REPS) is a South Australian State Government program which aims to reduce the cost and provide incentives for households and businesses to make energy efficiency improvements. The objective of the REPS is to ‘improve energy productivity for households, businesses and the broader energy system, with a focus on low-income households. This will reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions’ (sourced from the ESCOSA website).
REPS replaced the Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme (REES) which ran from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2020.
The scope of the REPS program is quite extensive. A number of activity providers offer a wide range of services and products. In this article we focus on what’s available to residential customers. If you are involved in a business, check the Commercial Customers section of the ESCOSA REPS website.
Glossary
Obliged retailer: any energy retailer with 5000 or more customers in South Australia. They must achieve targets under the REPS program, by delivering energy productivity activities. Many obliged energy retailers engage the services of activity providers to undertake REPS activities on their behalf and may refer customers to these activity providers.
Activity provider: a business that undertakes REPS activities on behalf of one or a number of obliged retailers.
ESCOSA: The Essential Services Commission of South Australia is the independent economic regulator of essential services (like energy and water) with the primary objective of protection of the long term interests of consumers.
Priority group household: households which meet any of the criteria listed below (bottom), defining them as low-income or financially vulnerable.
What is available?
There are currently eight activity providers listed on the ESCOSA website. You can look at their websites and find suitable products and services for your needs.
Some of the business listed offer energy saving programs across multiple states, like South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
Look at eligibility criteria, costs and other details that apply to South Australian residents.
It does not matter which energy retailer you are with; you can arrange REPS activities through any activity provider listed, or on the ESCOSA website.
What is available?
The activity providers above offer a range of the following services to residential customers. You’ll need to check their websites for service listings. If you need any help doing this, ConnectEd staff are more than happy to help – just email us at connected@ucwb.org.au and we can call or email you back.
- LED lighting upgrade
- Chimney dampeners
- Standby power controllers
- Insulation (roof)
- Hot water heat pumps
- Reverse cycle air conditioners
- Electric vehicle chargers
- New, energy efficient appliance rebates
- Fridge recycling
*ConnectEd staff have engaged with and used the services of YESS, Ecovantage and Trade Services to support clients to access REPS services, with these companies offering high quality services and products.
Middle: LED lights
Right: New energy efficient fridge
Who is eligible?
Households and businesses may be eligible for assistance through REPS; however, some activities are only available to priority group households.
For the purposes of the REPS a ‘priority group household’ is a residential premises in which a person resides who:
- holds a Commonwealth Government pensioner concession card
- holds a TPI Gold Repatriation Health Card
- holds a War Widows Gold Repatriation Health Card
- holds a Gold Repatriation Health (EDA)
- holds a Health Care Card (including a Low Income Health Care Card)
- receives the South Australian government energy bill concession
- has a residential tenancy agreement with the landlord of the premises and the rent for the premises is $400 or less per week
- is actively participating in an energy retailer hardship program
- is actively participating in an energy retailer’s payment plan (offered and applied as per section 50 of the National Energy Retail Law)
- has received a referral from a registered member of the South Australian Financial Counsellors Association (SAFCA). Referral form available here.
More information
Contact us at connected@ucwb.org.au for assistance in navigating what is available, and what is suitable for your needs.
Join our online meeting with YESS on Thursday, 19 January 2023, to find out about the REPS services they offer.
REPs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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