Responsible emitters of safeguard facilities that exceed their baseline may be eligible to purchase Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs) from us under the cost containment measure.
The measure allows responsible emitters to buy ACCUs at a fixed price. It gives responsible emitters certainty about their maximum compliance costs when ACCU market prices are higher than the cost containment price.
The measure was introduced in 2023–24 with an ACCU price of $75. The price is indexed each financial year to the consumer price index plus 2%.
2024–25 price
An ACCU purchased under the measure in 2024–25 costs $79.20.
ACCUs delivered under carbon abatement contracts are allocated to the cost containment measure reserve. You can find the number of ACCUs held in the cost containment account on the project and contract register.
How the cost containment measure works
Only responsible emitters of safeguard facilities that exceed their baseline can buy ACCUs under the measure. The ACCUs must be immediately surrendered to eliminate the facility's excess emissions position. They can't be traded or held for future use.
Responsible emitters can apply to purchase ACCUs under the measure from mid-February to early March. We will communicate the specific timing of the window each year.
We will publish details on any ACCUs bought under the measure.
2024–25 application window
Responsible emitters can apply to purchase ACCUs under the measure from 17 February to 5 March 2025.
We don't expect responsible emitters to use the measure in 2024–25 as ACCUs are readily available and can generally be acquired from the secondary market for less than $79.20, including through a range of brokers and intermediaries.
More information about carbon markets and ACCU prices can be found in our Quarterly Carbon Market Reports.
If you can't buy ACCUs from the market for less than the cost containment price and are considering using the measure, contact us for an application form.
Contracting principles
Supply of ACCUs must ensure an excess emissions position does not exist
We will only supply cost containment ACCUs to responsible entities of safeguard facilities for the purpose of reducing their facility's net emissions below or to its baseline. We must be satisfied that this requirement will be met.
Find out how to surrender ACCUS.
Responsible emitters must not be able to buy ACCUs from the market for a lower price
Responsible emitters that want to buy ACCUs under the measure must confirm they can't buy ACCUs from the market for less than the cost containment price. The measure is not intended to operate where ACCUs are available at a lower price in the market.
Good faith
We will act in good faith in accordance with the law and our contracting principles during the contract process.
Responses and engagement
We will deal with all buyer enquiries efficiently and effectively. We will provide accurate information but not advice.
We will operate the trading window according to our specified timelines.
Fair and proportionate action
We will exercise our discretion fairly. Our decisions will be proportionate and will consider the specific facts of each situation.