Given: (a) the announcement of the then Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on 20 February 2007 that conventional, incandescent light bulbs are to be phased out over the next 3 years and replaced with energy-saving globes; (b) the release of a discussion paper on 17 December 2007 on the proposed phase-out of incandescent bulbs and a minimum energy standard of 15 lumens per watt by 2010 and 20 lumens per watt by 2013; (c) that market-proven compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) represent more than 15 per cent of the market share, with sales increasing rapidly and exponentially; (d) that CFLs are typically 60 lumens per watt, which is four times more efficient than the cut-off threshold proposed in the discussion paper; (e) that the additional benefits of high efficiency lighting are the energy savings and longer lifetime; and (f) that compared to incandescent lamps, high efficiency lighting saves in the order of $50 to $100 over its lifetime, has, on average, a 3 year payback and delivers a very competitive greenhouse abatement cost of $3 per tonne:

(1)   What policy options, other than the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), were considered.

(2)   Was a simplified energy label, supported by government promotion of high efficiency lighting solutions or rebates for efficient lamps, considered.

(3)   What role did industry play in forming this standard.

(4)   Given that setting a higher MEPS level and faster timetable or faster MEPS would be consistent with the Minister’s policy objectives, why is a lower and slower MEPS being implemented.

(1)   In addition to mandatory Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), the Government has considered policy options for voluntary and mandatory labelling.  The current proposal incorporates a combination of mandatory MEPS and labelling initiatives.  The initiative will commence with the introduction of the minimum standard which will establish the baseline of acceptable efficiency for lighting.  It is also proposed that a mandatory labelling scheme will be developed in consultation with industry to provide the consumer with information on energy efficiency and lighting quality issues.  This matter will be further discussed in the draft lighting Regulatory Impact Statement which is scheduled for public release later in 2008.

(2)   Labelling is proposed to be part of the approach to improve lighting energy efficiency.  Rebates were considered but not supported as the preferred policy instrument where information has a high probability of changing consumer purchase behaviour.

(3)   The lighting industry, through Lighting Council Australia, was regularly consulted during the development of these proposals.  The lighting industry provided information on current usage of lighting products in Australia, and on present and likely future availability of efficient alternatives to inefficient lighting products.  As is usual with the MEPS program, the new lighting standards were developed though Standards Australia Committees, which include key industry representatives.

(4)   The introduction of more stringent MEPS with a faster timetable would need to consider the availability of suitable low cost replacement products.  In particular, consideration would be needed for more complex lighting systems including those that incorporate dimmers, sensors, timers and other forms of electronic control. The phase-out will be undertaken in stages from 2009-2015.  The first step of the phase-out will eliminate all General Lighting Service (GLS) bulbs - normal incandescent bulbs.  This plan presents a practical solution that allows the continued use of the most efficient and specialised forms of incandescent lighting until alternatives are readily available. The timing of the phase-out will be subject to annual reviews investigating the availability of cost effective and energy efficient alternatives.  Should the timing of the availability of alternatives change significantly against current industry expectations, the phase-out schedule will be adjusted accordingly.