If you are searching for the NSW ESC price, the first thing to know is that it is a market price, not a published rate. This page covers the NSW context. For the general price drivers, see ESC price.
The NSW schemes
NSW runs two certificate schemes that matter for installers and efficiency providers:
- The Energy Savings Scheme, ESS. It creates ESCs for each megawatt hour of energy savings from approved activities such as efficient hot water and lighting.
- The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, PDRS. It creates PRCs for activities that reduce demand at peak times. It also includes an incentive for connecting a battery to a virtual power plant. The older NSW battery incentive moved into the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program in 2025.
IPART administers both.
Who buys
Electricity retailers have annual targets. They buy certificates to meet them, either directly or via traders. Because the obligations are set by regulation, demand is predictable, and the price reflects whether supply is meeting the target.
Reading a quote
When a trader quotes an ESC price, check:
- Whether it is for ESCs or PRCs. They are different certificates.
- The volume it applies to.
- The delivery and settlement terms.
- Whether it is for certificates already registered in the registry.
Official sources
Scheme rules, activity methods and registry data are on IPART’s website. They do not tell you the price, but they tell you whether the activity you are doing qualifies and what is needed to create the certificate.
From the desk: the paperwork for ESCs is more varied than STCs because each activity method has its own evidence rules. Read the method before you start the job, not after.
Keeping an eye on the rules
The Energy Savings Scheme has been amended several times, and activity methods are updated. A method that created a healthy number of certificates last year may be changed or closed. Subscribe to IPART’s updates, and re-check the method before you commit to a large batch of jobs.
What this means for you
If you work in NSW on hot water or other efficiency upgrades, check the method and talk to a buyer before you quote. For STC settlement and rates, see pricing and STC trading, and for the wider guides see the resources hub.