On June 25, 2024, the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program announced its compliance and enforcement priorities for the upcoming financial year. This ongoing commitment is aimed at enhancing consumer safety and program integrity, emphasizing a culture of voluntary compliance among stakeholders and ensuring robust enforcement when needed.

Core Compliance Drivers

The VEU's compliance framework seeks to protect consumers and uphold the program's credibility. The outlined priorities for the year are specifically designed to minimize risks to consumers and address areas where compliance has been challenging. These priorities are supported by a policy framework that offers stakeholders education and guidance, helping them understand and meet their legal obligations.

Enduring Priorities: Safeguarding Consumers and Integrity

The VEU has identified five key enduring priorities for compliance:

1. Protection Against Exploitation: Vigilantly addressing practices that exploit consumer vulnerabilities.
2. Safety First: Preventing actions that pose serious risks of personal injury.
3. Honesty in Conduct: Curtailing misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent behaviors.
4. Upholding Program Integrity: Ensuring all activities align with program objectives and rules.
5. Preserving Reputation: Actions aimed at preventing damage to the program's public image.

These priorities are shaped by potential harms, compliance trends, and consumer feedback, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.

Strategic Priorities: Focused Initiatives

For this financial year, the commission has also set specific strategic priorities:

1. Heat Pump Water Heater Installations: Ensuring these installations meet all legal and programmatic requirements, reflecting the increasing popularity of heat pump technology in energy upgrades.
2. Baseline Manipulation: Accurate reporting by accredited persons on the type and number of products replaced, crucial for the integrity of energy savings claims.
3. Telemarketing and Doorknocking: With upcoming bans, the VEU is focused on aiding stakeholders in compliance and monitoring adherence to these new regulations.

Compliance Support and Enforcement

The VEU provides not just rules but also guidance to stakeholders through compliance. Educational resources and direct guidance are available to help all involved parties understand and meet their legal and regulatory responsibilities. For instances of non-compliance, the commission promises swift and decisive actions in line with their enforcement policies. This approach not only ensures adherence but also integrates compliance into the annual audit and accreditation renewal processes for accredited persons.

Conclusion

For stakeholders in the VEU program, integrating these compliance priorities into their operations is crucial. It ensures consumer safety and satisfaction and safeguards stakeholders' interests by aligning their operations with regulatory expectations. The focus on education and guidance by the commission underscores a commitment to support, fostering a cooperative environment for achieving energy efficiency goals.

This strategic approach ensures that the VEU program continues to benefit Victorian consumers and contributes positively to the environment by reducing energy consumption through sustainable practices.