GEMS Compliance and Enforcement Update for 2023-2024

The GEMS Energy Efficiency Compliance and Enforcement division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water has published its report to AREMA for the 2023-2024 period, detailing the results of store inspections, check testing, and enforcement activities. This update covers market surveillance efforts and outcomes from both physical and online store monitoring, check testing procedures, and compliance enforcement actions.

Market Surveillance

In 2023-2024, GEMS conducted 159 physical store inspections, with the following key findings:

• 97% of household GEMS products were correctly registered.
• 91% of products displayed a correct Energy Rating Label (ERL), though 9% had either missing, obscured, or incorrect labels.
• For air conditioners, 345 out of 397 products in stores had the correct ERL, resulting in an 87% compliance rate. The primary issue was missing labels on display units.

In addition, GEMS monitored 77 online retailers, with 84% of household GEMS products correctly registered:

• 91% compliance for air conditioners, with 1,036 of 1,137 products being correctly registered.
• 54% compliance for refrigerated cabinets, with 429 out of 791 products properly registered. Some 319 unregistered products were addressed through supplier engagement, leading to voluntary compliance.

Check Testing

The 2023-2024 check testing program reviewed 63 product models across 10 GEMS determinations, including air conditioners, white goods, and televisions:

• 45 models passed testing, 17 are pending, and 1 failed, leading to registration cancellation.
• For air conditioners, 3 passed testing, with 4 results pending.
• For refrigerated cabinets, 1 passed, 1 is pending, and 1 failed.

A new NATA-accredited laboratory for refrigerated cabinets was introduced as part of the check testing program in January 2024. The open tender process for check testing engaged six NATA-accredited labs for the next 3-4 years.

Publications and Enforcement

The Energy Rating website has been updated with detailed reports on 2023-2024 market surveillance and check testing results, as well as the 2024-2025 GEMS Compliance Monitoring Program. This program outlines annual priorities, focusing on air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerated cabinets. Increased monitoring of air conditioners is planned for 2025, as all models are expected to comply with the new ZERL standards by April 2025.

As part of enforcement efforts, the GEMS Regulator is focused on state energy efficiency incentive programs, verifying that products meet registration and labelling standards. In response to non-compliance, two registrants received notices requiring them to submit products for testing. Instead of providing products, these registrants opted to cancel the registrations of four air conditioners and 14 refrigerated cabinets.

The GEMS division continues its efforts to ensure that energy efficiency products in Australia comply with national regulations, promoting sustainability and energy efficiency across sectors.