ESCs, or Energy Savings Certificates, are created under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS). Unlike the federal STC, there is no clearing house price, so the ESC price floats with supply and demand. The ESC price is a market number, not a fixed one, so any page quoting a single price is out of date within days.
Reported level in September 2026
Market updates reported ESC spot at around $28.75 in early September 2026 and about $29.00 to $29.50 through the month, with $29.40 reported on 23 September. Treat those as reported snapshots at the time of writing, not a quote. See what an ESC is and its price.
Why the market looks the way it does
Supply is soft. The Commercial Lighting Energy Savings Formula was discontinued from 1 April 2026, so standard commercial LED upgrades no longer create ESCs. Commercial lighting was about 30% of ESCs created in 2023, so its removal cut weekly supply to roughly 37,000 ESCs against about 115,000 a week needed to meet the target, according to a September 2026 market update. That gap supports price. Other activities and methods continue; see what activities can create ESCs.
From spot to what you receive
| Step | Note |
|---|---|
| Spot | Reported about $29 |
| Trader’s buy rate | Below spot to cover cost and risk |
| Your net | Depends on the trader’s rate, any fees and timing |
Compare trader terms: rate, when it is locked, settlement time and fees. See selling ESCs and ESC traders.
NSW price points that are not ESCs
Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs) from the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme trade separately, reported at about $3; see how PRCs are created.
How to track the price
Watch two or three trader market updates and note the same day’s spot from each. Keep a simple weekly log, because movement over weeks tells you more than one day’s number. Ask your ACP or trader whether they pay on spot at lodgement or on a fixed forward price, since the difference decides your margin on a larger project.
Remember that an ESC price quoted by a retailer or broker may refer to a different delivery date, such as forward certificates for later in the year. When you compare numbers from different sources, confirm whether each is a spot price for immediate transfer or a forward price, because the two can differ by more than a dollar.
What this means for installers
Know your trader’s rate on the day you complete the job. Energy Merchants’ focus is STCs, VEECs and battery STCs, with published daily rates on pricing and no fees; for NSW activity, see the NSW ESCs and PDRS hub and STC trading in NSW.