What does ACP stand for and how does its meaning vary across NSW energy schemes?
ACP has two meanings depending on context. Under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS), ACP stands for Accredited Certificate Provider—an organisation authorised to create Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs) for eligible energy-saving activities. Under the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS), ACP means Authorized Certificate Provider, which creates Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs) using applicable activities and methods. The distinction matters because each scheme has different eligibility rules, calculation methods and record-keeping requirements. When assessing a project, confirm which scheme applies to determine the correct ACP role and obligations.
What are the key responsibilities of an Accredited Certificate Provider under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme?
An ACP under the NSW ESS must create Energy Savings Certificates using the relevant approved method, obtain customer nomination and supporting evidence as part of the entitlement process, and follow method-specific record-keeping guidance published by IPART rather than generic checklists. An installer invoice alone does not establish certificate entitlement; proper documentation of the energy saver's identity and the activity's implementation is required. ACPs must also select the calculation method early—either prescribed or project-based (PIAM&V)—and ensure baseline measurement procedures are deemed appropriate by an approved M&V professional before implementation.
How does customer nomination fit into an ACP's certificate creation process?
Customer nomination is a required component of the Energy Savings Scheme process under which an ACP documents the energy saver—the party implementing the energy-saving activity—and establishes certificate entitlement. Nomination must be supported by appropriate evidence; simply having an installer invoice does not satisfy this requirement. The nominated energy saver's identity and authorization to claim the savings must be clearly documented. This nomination step is essential because it determines who is entitled to the certificates created, affecting ownership, sale rights and the commercial arrangements around certificate proceeds.
What does it mean that an ACP must use 'method-specific record-keeping guidance'?
ACPs are required to follow record-keeping requirements tailored to the specific calculation method used for each activity, as published by IPART. This means a generic checklist or a previous project's documentation approach cannot substitute for the actual requirements of the chosen method. Each ESS activity and calculation pathway has particular documentation, evidence and procedural prerequisites. ACPs should consult the applicable method guidance directly rather than adopting a standardised template. This ensures compliance with scheme requirements and supports independent audit of the certificate creation process.
How should an ACP approach baseline measurement procedures under PIAM&V projects?
Under PIAM&V (Project Impact Assessment with Measurement and Verification), an ACP must establish the project boundary and measurement approach while meaningful baseline data can still be obtained. Clause 7A.5A of the Energy Savings Scheme Rule requires baseline measurement procedures to be deemed appropriate by an approved independent M&V professional, with written explanatory reasoning provided before the implementation date. This means ACPs must engage the baseline planning and professional review early in the project cycle, not after installation. Waiting until commissioning to plan measurement can make the intended analysis difficult or impossible.
What practical steps should an ACP follow when preparing an initial certificate estimate?
An ACP should request and disclose the activity, rule version, energy calculation method, certificate assumptions, commercial price date and any outstanding conditions before finalising an estimate. A preliminary estimate is useful for screening purposes but should be explicitly labelled as such until its assumptions and supporting evidence have been verified. ACPs must keep engineering savings, scheme-recognised savings, created certificates and customer proceeds as separate quantities rather than combined figures. This transparency allows project sponsors to understand what is estimated, what is confirmed and what conditions remain unresolved before committing capital.
How can Northmore Gordon assist ACPs with their certificate creation obligations?
We provide environmental certificate services including project registration support, certificate creation and trading assistance, and engineering and commercial assessment. For ACPs, we can help with measurement and verification planning, baseline modelling, savings calculation and reporting aligned with scheme requirements. We also offer certificate support to installers for project nomination and evidence gathering. Our knowledge library covers method-specific requirements for NSW ESS and PDRS, enabling ACPs to navigate eligibility, record-keeping and calculation obligations alongside the technical and commercial dimensions of energy projects.
What is the difference between an ACP's responsibility and liability if an installer invoice does not establish entitlement?
An installer invoice documents equipment installation but does not by itself create a valid certificate claim. An ACP remains responsible for ensuring proper customer nomination, evidence of the energy-saving activity's implementation, and compliance with method-specific requirements. If an ACP issues certificates based solely on an installer invoice without obtaining adequate supporting documentation and M&V sign-off, the certificates may be challenged or revoked by the scheme administrator. ACPs therefore need to establish their own internal checklist and quality-assurance process to verify that all required evidence exists before submitting a certificate claim, protecting both the customer's entitlement and their own accreditation standing.
