The Minister may grant full or partial exemptions from the scheme under clause 22 of Schedule 4A to the Electricity Supply Act 1995.

The Ministerial Order - Exempt Electricity Loads

Exemptions are published for each compliance year in the Energy Savings Scheme (Electricity Load Exemptions) Order (ESS Exemptions Order).

The Ministerial Order applying to the 2024 compliance year is the Energy Savings Scheme (Electricity Load Exemptions) Order 2023.

The Ministerial Order applying to the 2025 compliance period is the Energy Savings Scheme (Electricity Load Exemptions) Order 2024.

The Exemptions Rule

The Minister authorises the Scheme Regulator to make rules relating to the treatment of exempt electricity loads. This is authorised in the Ministerial Order.

The Energy Savings Scheme - Scheme Regulator Exemptions Rule No 1 of 2016 (ESS Exemptions Rule) outlines:

  • how deductions for exempt electricity loads are calculated
  • how deductions for losses are calculated, and
  • how scheme participants establish their entitlement to the exemption.

Relevant Documentation

ESS Exemptions Order - 2025 Compliance Period
ESS Exemptions Order - 2024 Compliance Period
ESS Exemptions Order - 2023 Compliance Period

Previous ESS Exemptions Orders and versions of the Exemptions Rule can be accessed through our Document Search.