Energy Security Safeguard Rule change

Overview

What’s this about?

The Energy Security Safeguard is making energy upgrades more accessible for a wider range of households and businesses.

The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme and Energy Savings Scheme are delivering the Energy Security Safeguard’s objectives.

We want to hear your feedback on proposed changes to the Rules of these schemes. We are proposing changes to:

• support targeted sectors and consumer groups that are otherwise unlikely to install batteries
• improve the virtual power plant onboarding process
• introduce incentives for larger commercial and multi-dwelling residential batteries
• introduce incentives for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and smart electric vehicle charging
• make multi-split and large air conditioners eligible for Safeguard scheme incentives.

We’re considering these changes to:

• increase access to energy upgrades for a wider range of consumers
• adapt to market changes, with new and emerging technologies
• help NSW achieve its emissions reduction target of net zero by 2050.

Read about our proposed changes and what we’re seeking feedback on in our consultation paper (PDF 1012.18KB).

We will be hosting webinars to talk through the consultation paper and answer your questions. Sign up here to be notified when registrations open.

We have another open consultation seeking feedback on proposed policy reforms to the Energy Security Safeguard. These proposed reforms are supporting these possible rule changes. This consultation is also now open and closes on Friday 20 February 2026 at 5:00 pm. 

If you have questions about this consultation, please email us at sustainability@environment.nsw.gov.au 

Have your say

Have your say by Friday 20 February 2026 at 5pm.

There is 1 way to provide your feedback.

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