Overview
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is consulting on possible changes to the energy efficiency requirements applying to external power supplies (EPS) sold, supplied or imported into Australia or New Zealand. The proposed changes would update Australian and New Zealand regulations to increase minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) applying to EPS, as well as expanding the scope of products covered by MEPS.
If approved by Energy Ministers, these new requirements would be established in Australia under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (“the GEMS Act”) and in New Zealand under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Act 2000, and the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002.
The consultation regulation impact statement (RIS) sets out a range of options to improve the energy efficiency of external power supplies. The RIS recommends increasing the MEPS for EPS to Mark VI of the International Efficiency Marking Protocol (IEMP) from 2025 and expanding the scope to include multiple voltage (simultaneous output) devices and adaptive voltage EPS. The RIS also recommends a further increase in MEPS to Mark VII two years after this higher level comes into force in the United States or the European Union.
We are hosting an online forum on Thursday, 3 April 2025 where we will present findings from the analysis and the underlying assumptions and inputs. There will be opportunities to ask questions during the forum. Please email GEMSProductReview@dcceew.gov.au by Friday, 28 March 2025 if you would like to attend and we will send you the invitation link prior to the forum.
Have Your Say
We would welcome your comments and submissions on this RIS, particularly any information or data that you can provide and that the department could use to improve the analysis underlying this review.
The department will review all comments and submissions received and consider what changes may be needed to the RIS for consideration by Energy and Climate Change Ministers.
Your feedback will help to ensure that any changes to the energy efficiency requirements for supplying EPS in Australia and New Zealand operate as intended by Ministers with the least burden placed upon suppliers.
To have your say:
Submit your feedback by 9pm Monday, 28 April 2025.
The E3 Program
This work is part of the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Program. The E3 Program integrates energy efficiency standards and labelling requirements for equipment and appliances. This cross-jurisdictional program is run and overseen by:
the Australian Government
Australian state and territory governments
the New Zealand Government.
