New South Wales to impose mandatory emission requirements

The New South Wales Government will impose mandatory requirements on energy retail companies because voluntary compliance is ineffective. By 2007, retailers such as Energy Australia and Integral Energy must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 % or face fines.

Consumers in New South Wales already pay a A$ 1.50 charge per MWh to cover such environmental costs, and the new compliance measures will add an estimated A $ 1.15/MWh to an electricity bill. Energy retailers said meeting the new requirements will take time, as new sources of power from wind, sun, water, and landfill gases are developed.