Under the Clean Energy Future Plan the Australian Government committed to do further work to investigate the merits of a national Energy Savings Initiative (ESI). An ESI is a market-based tool for driving economy-wide improvements in energy efficiency. It would place obligations on energy retailers to find and implement energy savings in households and businesses. An ESI would help consumers to save money by encouraging the identification and take-up of energy efficient technologies.
Schemes currently operate in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and one is planned to commence in the Australian Capital Territory in 2012. The further work under the Clean Energy Future Plan will explore the costs and benefits of replacing existing and planned schemes with a national scheme, including whether this would reduce complexity and duplication, and allow energy consumers in states without existing schemes to benefit. ESI schemes also operate in many European countries and the United States, often alongside and complementary to a carbon price. India has introduced a white certificate trading scheme and a number of Chinese provinces are finalising the design of such schemes.
The Clean Energy Future Plan states that the further work on a national ESI will be 'the subject of detailed policy analysis, economic modelling and consultation with the community, industry and state and territory governments'. The commitment outlines a number of key policy issues that the design work will consider:

Submissions in response to the Issues Paper close at 4 pm AEST, Monday 27 February 2012.

Submissions in response to the Modelling Assumptions Report close at 4 pm AEST Friday 17 February 2012.

Mid February 2012—possible session at the Energy Efficiency Summer School, hosted by A2SE—Sydney

End March, early April 2012—Progress report

September 2012—Regulation Impact Statement issued for consultation including analysis of a range of scheme options.

2013—Commonwealth/state discussions through COAG

Membership of advisory group
List of organisations
All state and territory governments have been invited to participate on the Advisory Group along with a number of peak industry, environment, consumer, labour and energy market organisations (listed below).
Organisations

Australian Council of Social Services
Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Energy Markets Commission
Australian Industry Group
Choice
Clean Energy Council
Climate Institute
ClimateWorks Australia
Energy Efficiency Certificate Creators Association
Energy Efficiency Council
Energy Networks Association
Energy Retailers' Association of Australia
Energy Supply Association of Australia
Energy Users Association of Australia
Property Council of Australia
Mr Neil Marshman (of Rio Tinto)