NGER eNews
Volume 26, November 2011
Download PDF version of NGER eNews
Welcome to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) eNews.
Thank you for your NGER data!
Congratulations to all the corporations that submitted their NGER data by the 31 October 2011 deadline.
The data is now being assessed to better determine the total volume of carbon dioxide emissions and energy produced and consumed in Australia during 2010-11.
Clean Energy legislation passed
On Tuesday, 8 November 2011 the Clean Energy Future legislation passed the Senate. This represents an important environmental and economic reform.
The Clean Energy Regulator will start work on 2 April 2012 to monitor and promote compliance with the legislation, conduct and co-ordinate educational programs and advise and assist liable entities to understand their obligations. The Regulator will administer the carbon pricing mechanism, the Renewable Energy Target, the Carbon Farming Initiative and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System.
A separate Climate Change Authority will be set-up to advise on pollution caps and progress towards meeting Australia’s targets and will undertake reviews of the carbon pricing mechanism. In addition, the Productivity Commission will undertake reviews relating to industry assistance, fuel tax arrangements and carbon pollution reduction activities internationally.
Reviewing NGER reports
Part of the process of analysing NGER reports is to determine the accuracy and integrity of the information. If, during this process, the Department identifies any significant issues with any information submitted, it will seek clarification from the relevant reporters and allow them to resubmit reports prior to the publication deadline.
The review of reports and liaison with corporations about potential issues is a continuous process and over the next six months the Department will have a particular focus on corporations expected to have carbon price liabilities.
This review process helps the Department to better target outreach activities and identify changes to processes and systems. In addition to the Department’s analysis of reports, a number of corporations will be audited during 2011-12.
2011-12 NGER audits
The Department will commence the 2011-12 NGER audit program from November 2011. The Department will directly contact NGER registered corporations selected to participate in the program. The auditing of data is standard business practice for many large corporations, allowing for independent assurance and verification of NGER data. A number of corporations have already voluntarily used NGER registered auditors to assure their reporting accuracy and compliance under the NGER Act.
New Section 25 form available
Corporations that want their reported NGER data withheld from publication need to complete and submit a Section 25 application form.
The form has been updated for the 2010-11 reporting year. The form must be submitted by 23 December 2011. This deadline is to provide enough time for applications to be considered before the annual publication of data by the Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer (GEDO).
The GEDO must publish by 28 February 2012 the scope 1, scope 2 and energy consumption totals for corporations that met the prescribed emissions threshold for 2010-11. The threshold for the 2010-11 reporting year is 50,000 tonnes of total emissions.
New NGERS-related discussion paper released
The Department has released a discussion paper entitled Adjustment and publication of energy consumption which focuses on the adjustment of energy consumption figures prior to publication.
The purpose of the paper is to seek feedback on possible adjustment approaches and it will be most relevant to corporations that consume and produce energy. Submissions should be made by 25 November 2011.
Item 371 of the Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 revises section 24 of the NGER Act to allow the publication of an adjusted energy consumption figure. The method for adjustment will be described in amendments to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2011 (the Regulations).
It is intended that any amendments would be applicable from the 2012-13 reporting year following a draft exposure release of the regulations.
Are your primary contact details up-to-date in OSCAR?
The Department sends priority NGER correspondence and receipts for submitted reports to primary contacts as listed in OSCAR so it is important that these contact details are correct.
Any person listed in OSCAR as a coordinator for a registered corporation is able to update or create new contacts and update the details of the corporation’s CEO (or equivalent).
If the current primary contact is leaving the corporation, they can assign the role of primary contact to another existing coordinator. In the event that a coordinator cannot be identified for the registered corporation, please email reporting@climatechange.gov.au for assistance.
Further information
If you require any NGER-related advice or assistance simply email reporting@climatechange.gov.au or phone 1800 018 831 during business hours (AEST).