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A new activity under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program
Residential Efficiency Scorecard assessments are included under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program from 31 May, 2023.
VEU is a Victorian Government program helping Victorians to reduce energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions by providing access to discounted energy efficient products and services. The installation of VEU approved products and delivery of approved services are referred to as ‘VEU activities’, as prescribed by the VEET regulations. Scorecard assessments will be available under the VEU Home Energy Rating Assessment (HERA) activity.
Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) are created when VEU activities are carried out in homes or business premises. Each certificate represents one tonne of greenhouse gas prevented from entering our atmosphere. VEECs are traded in a market, with demand for VEECs coming from energy retailers. These retailers must surrender a certain number of certificates to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) each year to meet annual emissions targets set by the Victorian Government. The target for 2023 is 6.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gas abated, meaning retailers will have to surrender 6.9 million VEECs.
In 2022 over 500,000 households and 47,000 businesses undertook an energy efficiency upgrade through VEU. This reduced 7.89 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, which is the equivalent of taking 2.4 million cars off the road. This exceeded their 2022 target of 6.9 million tonnes.
The value of incentives is determined by the number of VEECs generated by an activity and the VEEC price. VEEC prices are not set by VEU or ESC. The VEEC price is determined by the market for VEECs, and varies over time with changes in supply and market demand. The HERA activity provides two VEECs per assessment. An additional VEEC can be generated in 2023 if the property is in regional Victoria.
Only Accredited Providers/Persons (APs) registered with the ESC can generate VEECs. An assessor wanting to access HERA incentives would have to work with an AP or become an AP (more information on both options below).
How can Scorecard assessors be involved?
There are two options. Please review the information and make the right choice for you:
Option 1: Work with an Accredited Provider (AP)
Assessors can choose how they work with APs, as APs can offer a range of services from certificate aggregation through to project management, value add and lead generation. This, as well as the payment approach, would be established in a private agreement between the assessor and AP.
Points to consider
- Consider what type of relationship you want with the AP – do you want them to just generate VEECs for you, or do you want a more direct relationship as a contractor, employee or partner?
- Do your research and check out different APs. Consider their reputation, what administration fees they may charge, and what type of relationship they want.
- Consider how you would prefer to be paid: some APs may offer to pay assessors an hourly rate, some provide the assessor with the dollar value of the VEECs (minus administration fees and costs), while others have different approaches.
- If the AP is paying you the dollar value of the VEECs, make sure you agree on how that value is determined, factoring in the fluctuating price of VEECs.
- Ensure you have a written agreement outlining the terms of your relationship, including how you will be paid, what fees or costs are involved and how consumer data will be used.
Next steps
- The assessor comes to a private agreement with one or more AP to work together.
- The AP registers the assessor’s details with the ESC via the VEU registry.
- The assessor completes Scorecard assessments, filling in a VEEC assignment form for each assessment in addition to the standard Scorecard forms.
- For the assessment to be recognised under the activity, the Scorecard certificate must be provided to the householder, in line with standard Scorecard processes.
- The assessor provides the AP with documentary evidence as needed to verify a Scorecard assessment has been undertaken in compliance with VEET legislation.
- VEECs once registered are available to the AP to trade.
- AP pays the assessor in line with their private agreement.
Option 2: Become an Accredited Provider (AP)
Assessors may choose to become an AP, and could work with other assessors or VEU scheme participants.
Points to consider
Before commencing the process of becoming an AP, it is important to consider financial and administrative questions such as:
- Who will you sell VEECs to?
- How will you convert the VEECs you create into money? e.g. Will you sell at the variable spot price, or enter into long term contracts, which may have different prices?
- How many VEECs will you sell at once? Often VEECs are traded in batches of several hundred, although it depends on the arrangement.
- How will your business be impacted if VEEC prices rise or fall?
- Will you be able to manage administrative fees and costs, including if they increase?
- If you plan on offering other products or services, you must apply for approval from the ESC to undertake each activity type under the VEU program.
- The AP is responsible for:
- the conduct of anyone working for them,
- for lodging applications to create VEECs,
- and for ensuring that the VEECs being claimed comply with the requirements of the relevant legislation (including the VEET Regulations and VEU Specifications).
Next steps
- Follow the AP accreditation application process outlined on the ESC website
- The ESC guide for participation and accreditation forms to carry out the HERA activity are available on the ESC website.
- Once accredited as an AP, you will need to register the assessors delivering HERA via the VEU registry.
Please review the information on the VEU and ESC websites to make the right choice for you. You might choose to wait until this decision has been published before taking action.
Not a Scorecard assessor, but want to be involved?
There are two options:
Option 1: If you are an AP, you could work with accredited Scorecard assessors.
- You can contact assessors directly to see if they are interested in working with your business. For further information, please see ‘How can Scorecard assessors be involved?’ [ANCHOR LINK].
- To find Scorecard assessors in your area, please see our locality listing.
Option 2: Become a Scorecard assessor
Scorecard assessors are home energy efficiency experts who assess the comfort and energy costs of a home and make tailored improvement recommendations. A high level of skill, knowledge and experience is required to undertake an accurate home energy assessment. Assessors might work directly with the householder, rental provider, community organisation or with a builder or architect.
Only accredited Scorecard assessors can deliver assessments, access the Scorecard software and create Scorecard certificates.
How to start your Scorecard assessor application
There are 6 ways to enter the Scorecard assessor accreditation process. There are options for everyone, whether you are new to the industry, have recognised qualifications or are an experienced home energy assessor. Please review the requirements for each of the 6 entry streams and see which is the best fit for you.
Once you have been accepted into the accreditation process, you will need to complete the below process to become accredited.
There are 5 stages in the accreditation process:
Stage 1: Application
Stage 2: Training
Stage 3: Practice assessments
Stage 4: Written and oral exams
Stage 5: Accreditation documents
- Once this process is complete you are accredited to access the live Scorecard software tool and complete Scorecard assessments. Scorecard assessors are subject to strict quality controls, such as auditing.
- Please note, the accreditation process is self-paced. Some applicants have completed Stages 2-5 in as little as 6 weeks, although it generally takes 3 months.
Information session: Home Energy Rating Assessment (HERA) activity
The Scorecard team recently hosted an information session for existing APs and those interested in becoming an AP or Scorecard Assessor, in collaboration with the ESC.
You can download the HERA Information session slide deck here.
The session included:
- Details of the HERA activity
- What is the Scorecard program?
- The Scorecard assessor accreditation process
- How to participate in HERA
- Scorecard, ESC and VEU record-keeping requirements and quality assurance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can HERA assessments be eligible for VEECs before APs receive HERA accreditation?
Yes, however there are requirements which must be met:
1. The Scorecard tool requires updates for VEU assessments including: 2-factor authentication, address validation and a VEU tag to enable VEECs to be claimed. It is expected these updates will be launched by the end of June, 2023. Until these are launched assessors should not finalise assessments they are intending to claim VEECs for, so that these fields can be updated before finalising. Further information will be shared shortly.
2. Once approved to undertake the HERA activity, APs can create VEECs for Scorecard assessments undertaken from the submission date of their HERA application to the ESC.
For example:
- AP submits an application for approval for the HERA activity on 1 June 2023.
- AP is approved for the HERA activity on 16 June 2023.
- AP can now create VEECs for HERA assessments undertaken from 1 June 2023, provided that the manner of assessment complied with the VEET Act and Regulations at the time of the assessment.
What are VEECs?
Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) are created when VEU activities are carried out in homes or business premises. Each certificate represents one tonne of greenhouse gas prevented from entering our atmosphere. VEECs are traded in a market, with demand for VEECs coming from energy retailers. These retailers must surrender a certain number of certificates to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) each year to meet annual emissions targets set by the Victorian Government. The target for 2023 is 6.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gas abated, meaning retailers will have to surrender 6.9 million VEECs.
The value of incentives is determined by the number of VEECs generated by an activity and the VEEC price. VEEC prices are not set by VEU or ESC. The VEEC price is determined by the market for VEECs, and varies over time with changes in supply and market demand. The HERA activity provides two VEECs per assessment. An additional VEEC can be generated in 2023 if the property is in regional Victoria, therefore 3 VEECs per regional home in 2023.
Only persons/businesses accredited with the ESC (i.e. an AP) can generate VEECs. An assessor wanting to access HERA incentives would have to work with an AP or become an AP (more information on both options on this page).
Is there a VEU registration cost for assessors to work with an AP?
There is no VEU registration cost for assessors to work with an AP. The proposed accreditation fee of $1500 enables APs to create VEECs for additional VEU activities they are approved to undertake, such as the HERA activity. Therefore, this additional accreditation fee is per AP, not per assessor. APs may choose to work with more than one assessor. The payment of this fee is negotiated privately and can be included in the written agreement between the AP and the assessor.
APs working with assessors are responsible for registering each assessor with VEU. For further information, please refer to ‘How can Scorecard assessors be involved? Option 1: Work with an Accredited Provider’ above.
How do I partner with an AP?
Consider the points under ‘How can Scorecard assessors be involved? Option 1: Work with an Accredited Provider’ above. Then contact APs directly to learn what options may be available.
How do I become an AP?
Information can be found on this page under 'How can Scorecard assessors be involved? Option 2: Become an Accredited Provider (AP)'.
How do I become a Scorecard assessor?
Information can be found on the Scorecard assessor accreditation process page.
I understand the scorecard is currently FREE as part of the Cert IV in Energy Assessment...what is the cost for just the Scorecard component and timeline to completion for both?
The Scorecard is not included in the Cert IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (course code CPP41119).
Minimum qualifications are required to be held by a person before they apply to become a Scorecard Assessor. These qualifications are delivered by Registered Training Organisations and fees are payable to those organisations.
The Scorecard training is delivered by the Scorecard team as part of the accreditation process and is currently free. Further information on entry streams and accreditation process, including pre-requisite qualifications is available here: The Scorecard Assessor accreditation process.
2. If someone is in the process of completing CPP41119 Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, can he or she become an assessor and what is the process?
If the person has completed the following four units within the Cert IV course, they may apply for entry into the Scorecard program and complete the remaining units and Scorecard accreditation in parallel:
- CPPHES4005 - Assess household energyuse and efficiency improvements
- CPPHES4007 – Assess thermal performance of existing residential buildings
- CPPCOM4001 – Manage own work, professional development and ethical behaviour
- CPPCOM4002 – Implement sage work practices in the property industry.
Applications are submitted through the Administration Portal and there are links to the Portal on the Scorecard website under each entry stream: The Scorecard Assessor accreditation process.
With newcomers to the industry, given that some CERT IV courses are not available or have changed, what is the best way to get on board and which course should we aim for?
You can apply through Stream 1 after completing the four units described, or you can complete CPPHES41119 – Certificate IV in Home Energy Efficiency and Sustainability including the unit CPPHES4005 – Assess household energy use and efficiency improvements and apply under Stream 4.
Completing the full Cert IV course will give you a broader education in the energy and sustainability fields and may open other professional opportunities for assessors such as NatHERS desktop assessments. However, completion of the four units is the minimum requirement for entry into the Scorecard program. A number of Registered Training Organisations are running both the four-unit package and the full Cert IV course.
If I am a Registered Green Building Practitioner with experience specialising solely in building high performance, sustainable homes for 10+ years, which stream is most suitable to apply for?
Entry Stream 6 allows for applications to be submitted by people with a considerable amount of experience delivering assessments and high levels of skills and knowledge around energy and energy efficiency.
Applicants need to be able to demonstrate this is their application by completing the Application Form with examples of their experience and submitting a de-identified assessment report that has been provided to a customer. Further information is available here: Scorecard entry stream 6.
How long does it take to complete the Scorecard accreditation?
The shortest time an applicant has taken to complete the accreditation process is approximately 6.5 weeks. Generally, applicants take longer to move through the accreditation process as they are juggling work or family responsibilities as well.
There is a maximum time limit for applicants to become accredited of nine months once they have attended the first training webinar.
What is the allowable rates to charge when carrying out basic/average/large scorecard assessments?
Assessors are accredited by government but do not work for government, so they are free to set their own price for assessments. Typically, full price assessments cost between $250 to $500 and the cost relates to the size and complexity of the dwelling as well as any other services provided by the assessor, such as blower door testing or an additional written report.
With the introduction of the HERA activity, a discount would be applied to the full price in line with the number of VEECs available per assessment.
In addition, some councils and state governments are offering discounts, rebates or free assessments as part of an
upgrade or research program.
8. What kind of engagement is being carried out to inform the public about the need/benefit of having an assessment?
The Scorecard Program has 3 social media channels to help get the word out as well as a quarterly newsletter and a website.
As with any type of business, Assessors and APs can use their own marketing channels to help get the word out to the public. The Scorecard team has developed a range of materials and presentations that can be used to promote Scorecard assessments and their benefits.
Are there any plans to add the following software into the HERA activity as some of them are owned and maintained by state and federal governments? AccuRate Sustainability. BERS Pro, FirstRate5, and Hero.
NatHERS accredited software currently provides ratings for new homes and significant renovations. These ratings are completed before the homes is built, based off plans and specifications, most commonly to demonstrate compliance with the energy efficiency provisions of the National Construction Code. NatHERS software can be used for both thermal (building shell) and Whole of Home assessments. See the Software updates on the NatHERS website for further information.
Scorecard has been designed to rate existing homes. Data is collected on site by visually confirming each feature in the home. The rating takes into account the cost of each energy source to produce a cost efficiency rating.
Any other tool introduced into the HERA activity would need to provide the same type of rating as Scorecard to allow for consistent rating results and for households to be able to compare between similar homes.
Will there be any limit placed on the number of Scorecard assessors accredited under the program?
There are no limits in place at this stage. There are many projects and programs contemplating the use of Scorecard in the
future, so we are planning for large scale growth across the whole of Australia whilst maintaining the high quality of services provided to householders.
Can the APs collect assessment information for record keeping purposes or does all the information for the assessment have to be put in the software only?
APs will need to keep customer records such as name, address and contact details and any other details required for the VEEC Assignment Form. A copy of the Scorecard Certificate must also be submitted with the VEEC claim.
Features of the house or potential upgrade information should only be stored in other forms by the AP if the customer has consented to their details being given to a third-party supplier (including the AP) for the purposes of offering energy efficient products or complementary services.
That consent needs to be documented and signed by the householder on both the Scorecard Privacy Statement and the VEEC Assignment Form.
Can more than one Scorecard assessment at the same property attract VEECs?
Only one HERA can be used to claim VEECs per dwelling within a five year period unless the owner/occupant of that property has changed. If a householder has a second assessment done after completing upgrades, only one of the two assessments can attract VEECs
Can we please get the link for the software that needs to be used for the Scorecard assessment, also the link for training software?
Only applicants admitted into the Scorecard accreditation process are able to access the training software. Only accredited assessors are able to access the production software. Assessors are not allowed to share their login details with other parties, nor allow access to the tool of unaccredited persons.
Is it a conflict of interest to do weather sealing while doing an assessment?
Throughout Scorecard’s stakeholder consultation it was clear that one of the major barriers to completing upgrades was difficulty in finding trusted suppliers. For this reason Scorecard allows Accredited Assessors to supply other products and services as long as they are only declared to the householder prior to commencing the assessment.
The Privacy Statement that is explained to and signed by the customer contains a section where Assessors can list any products or services they provide and any financial benefit they might receive from another party for referrals or leads. The Assessor must explain these conflicts to the householder and to tell them they are not obliged to purchase any item from the Assessor or a third party.
If the householder consents to the Assessor installing weather sealing or any other product and it has been declared
as a conflict of interest on the Privacy Statement, then the work can proceed.
Will HERA incentives be increased?
In its consultation on the HERA activity in early 2022, the department proposed that a Scorecard assessment would lead to a household reducing energy use by an average of 9%. The current activity awards a more conservative energy savings rate of 7.5% due to uncertainty around the 9% figure.
The department’s rationale for this approach is outlined in the HERA response to consultation document on the Engage Victoria website: https://engage.vic.gov.au/home-energy-rating-assessment
After the activity has been established and as new data emerges on household energy savings following an assessment, the department will review the emissions savings awarded to this activity.
Will accredited providers be able to engage in telemarketing or door knocking as lead generation for the HERA activity?
On 22 June 2023, the Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio announced a ban on telemarketing and other high-risk forms of unsolicited marketing under the VEU program to protect consumers from high-pressure sales tactics and other inappropriate marketing. Under the ban, accredited providers will no longer be allowed to use cold-calling and other high-risk forms of unsolicited marketing to spruik products and services included in the program.
The ban forms part of a suite of reforms to further protect not just VEU customers but accredited providers and program participants. This is to ensure the VEU program continues to be one of the largest contributors to emissions reductions in Victoria.
The department has sought feedback from stakeholders on the design and implementation of this ban, so that consumers are protected as quickly and effectively as possible, while supporting industry to transition to other methods to market energy efficient products and services.
The consultation was open from 7 July to 24 July 2023. Stakeholder feedback will inform the design and implementation of the ban. A response to consultation will then be published on Engage Victoria here: https://engage.vic.gov.au/marketing-under-the-victorian-energy-upgrades-program.
The Scorecard program has its own Code of Conduct as well as program rules that govern assessor behaviour. Scorecard requires all accredited assessors to comply with all relevant legislation and regulations and will be working closely with the ESC to enforce both the Scorecard and ESC Codes of Conduct.
When a Scorecard assessment is conducted, the assessor must provide the householder with the Scorecard Privacy Statement and inform them of what each part means. Included in the Privacy Statement is a section where the customer can choose whether or not to give consent to being contacted by third party suppliers who may offer upgrades or complementary services. Scorecard customers can only be contacted regarding other energy efficiency upgrades or services if they consent to receiving those communications.
Are there limits on the number of assessments that an assessor can conduct in one day?
The HERA activity was designed to meet the objectives of the VEU program and ensure activity integrity while minimising barriers to uptake.
The ESC actively monitors activity compliance and conducts regular audits to ensure these standards are met and that all VEU program participants comply with activity requirements and the VEU Code of Conduct. Where any safety and consumer law issues are identified, the ESC will also refer these matters to the relevant authorities.
For Scorecard assessors, an established audit and compliance framework is already in place. Scorecard assessors are accredited by government, are regularly audited by the department and must comply with the Scorecard Code of Conduct and Scorecard Assessor Agreement requirements, which sets out a range of requirements that ensure the quality and integrity of assessments.
The Scorecard Code of Conduct requires assessors to exercise due skill, care and diligence in the performance of their duties and to perform all work in a competent manner and to a professional standard. Assessors who conduct assessments in a manner inconsistent with the Scorecard Code of Conduct may be sanctioned, suspended or have their Scorecard accreditation terminated. To meet the professional standards expected of assessors, completion of 2-3 assessments per day is typical. The number could be slightly higher if conducting assessments on smaller dwellings located close to each other.
Page last updated: 24/01/24