This method is closed – new projects can’t be registered
The aggregated small energy users method expired on 31 March 2025.
Projects that started their crediting period before the method expired aren’t affected. They’ll continue for the duration of their crediting period.
Refer to our guidance for ACCU Scheme participants impacted by the expiry or sunsetting of a method for more information.
Projects under the aggregated small energy users method can earn Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs) by helping lower the energy use of a large number of:
households
small businesses.
When to use this method
The aggregated small energy users method may be suitable for your business if you:
- have access to energy usage data for small energy users and the right to use it
- can engage an accredited statistician to assist with running the project
- offer goods and services to small energy users, such as households or small businesses, to help reduce their electricity or gas use.
The goods and services you offer must help reduce consuming grid electricity and natural gas.
You can find out more about this method, and its sub-methods, by referring to our full aggregated small energy users guide.
Legislation
Before you plan or register your project, make sure you read and understand the legislative requirements and the method.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this method, you must:
- have access to energy consumption data and have the right to use that data for calculating carbon abatement
- set up a control group and a treatment group
- engage with an accredited statistician from the Statistical Society of Australia to certify the selection process.
You must also meet general eligibility requirements for the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme.
Relevant legislation:
- Part 3 of the Act
- Part 2 and Part 3 of the method
Method requirements
Project activities you conduct under this method are flexible, as long as they encourage reducing the energy use of households or small businesses.
Activities under this method can reduce energy use through:
- the upgrade of equipment, such as installing energy efficient light bulbs or heating
- change in equipment use, such as installing standby power controllers for audio-visual equipment
- change in building elements, such as installing draft seals on external doors
- providing information to influence household energy consumption behaviour.
Your project must be divided into 2 groups:
- a treatment group with goods and services offered
- a control group that isn’t targeted with the offers.
It’s important that you understand and manage your project with the restrictions on interactions with the control and treatment groups.
You must engage with a statistician accredited by the Statistical Society of Australia when selecting sites for the control group and treatment group.
You may also require a qualified energy manager.
Relevant legislation
- Section 13(f) of the Rule
- Part 5 of the method
You must notify us if you undertake new activities that aren’t included in your original project application or haven't been previously noted.
This must be done at least 30 days before starting the new activities.
Relevant legislation
- Section 66 of the method
7 years.
Relevant legislation
- Part 5 of the Act
Abatement is calculated by finding the difference in your group's energy consumption. This is found between:
- the amounts of energy used by a treatment group
- the control group during your project.
For the results to be statistically valid, each group needs to include thousands of small energy users.
If the difference is statistically significant, the net abatement for the reporting period is calculated. If it isn’t statistically significant, abatement achieved for that reporting period is zero.
The method has 3 different sub-methods to calculate abatement. Each sub-method has different data requirements.
You must decide which sub-method you'll use before selecting any populations in the project.
You can find more information on how to calculate abatement for each sub-method in our full method guide.
Relevant legislation
- Part 4 of the method
You must collect data by the consumption of electricity, natural gas or both at sites in control and treatment groups.
The method includes options for collecting this data. This includes data that's already being collected for billing purposes.
Relevant legislation
- Part 17 of the Act
- Sections 70–73 of the method
You must keep records of:
- evidence of the day of decision for when choices for the project were made
- information about sites included in a project
- disposal records for any equipment removed or replaced as part of a project.
Relevant legislation
- Part 17 of the Act
- Part 17 of the Rule
- Section 68 of the method
You have to report either every one or 2 years.
Relevant legislation
- Part 6 of the Act
- Part 6 of the Rule
- Section 64 of the method
We provide you with an audit schedule when your project's declared.
You must provide audit reports according to this schedule.
We schedule at least 3 audits and additional audits can be triggered.
For more information, you can refer to our audit page.
Relevant legislation
- Part 19 of the Act
- Part 6 of the Rule
Documents and resources
- Information about the aggregated small energy users method on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's website
- Statistical Society of Australia’s list of accredited statisticians
- A guide to the aggregated small energy users method
Explore all ACCU Scheme guidance using the guidance library.