Yes, PureEnergy10, 25, 50 and 100 are accredited GreenPower options, which means they satisfy the requirements of the National GreenPower Accreditation Program. These requirements ensure, amongst other things, that:

Electricity is generated from government accredited renewable energy sources; and
PureEnergy customer contributions drive additional investment in the Australian renewable energy industry above the Federal Government�s �Renewable Energy Target�

For more information about GreenPower accreditation visit www.greenpower.gov.au

Q2. What is GreenPower accreditation?

GreenPower accreditation occurs under the National GreenPower Accreditation Program. This is a national program that sets environmental and reporting standards for renewable energy options offered by energy retailers. The GreenPower program also ensures independent auditing of energy retailer�s sales and purchases, making sure retailers are investing in renewable energy on your behalf.

For more information about GreenPower accreditation visit www.greenpower.gov.au

Q3. Why should I choose GreenPower accredited options?

If you choose a GreenPower accredited option, your energy supplier agrees to ensure that an amount of electricity (according to the agreed percentage of your electricity) is produced from GreenPower Generators using renewable energy sources. Generating electricity from these sources is less greenhouse intensive.

By taking up a GreenPower accredited option, you are helping drive demand for renewable energy and the growth of the renewable energy industry (i.e. helping it compete with more greenhouse intensive coal and natural gas based generation). You will be one of over 900,000 Australian households and businesses, who choose an accredited GreenPower option.

Q4. What is a REC?

A �REC� is a �Renewable Energy Certificate�. RECs are essentially tradeable certificates which a generator receives under the Federal Government�s �Renewable Energy Target� program (known as �RET�) for generating electricity from an accredited power station using an �eligible energy source�. These certificates provide an additional source of income to renewable electricity generators.

We recommend that you visit the website of the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator for more information on Renewable Energy Certificates.

Q5. Will electricity generated from renewable energy sources actually come to my house if I purchase PureEnergy?

No, purchasing PureEnergy or any other GreenPower accredited option will not mean that electricity generated from renewable energy sources will be delivered to your house. Once generated and delivered to the national electricity grid, the electricity (which is largely the same in character irrespective of the energy source used in its generation) becomes pooled and cannot be identified by its generation source. The electricity which is supplied to your house from the grid may be electricity generated from renewable or non renewable sources.

If you choose a PureEnergy option, the reliability of your electricity supply will not be affected because there will be no change to the way that electricity is currently distributed from the national electricity grid to your home.

Q6. How do I know that PureEnergy is matched to electricity generated from renewable energy sources?

An independent audit is conducted annually to identify how much electricity has been generated from renewable energy sources and from what sources that electricity was generated.

The audit also identifies whether EnergyAustralia has met all other accredited GreenPower option requirements. (For example, whether EnergyAustralia acquired sufficient additional Renewable Energy Certificates to those required for compliance obligations).

A summary of the outcome of the audit is available here:

Q7. How do you ensure that the correct amount of electricity is generated by accredited GreenPower Generators?

We ensure that the correct amount of electricity is generated by accredited GreenPower Generators using renewable energy sources by purchasing the Renewable Energy Certificates (and GreenPower Rights if applicable) associated with that electricity and reporting these purchases as required under the National GreenPower Accreditation Program.

Q8. What GreenPower accredited options does EnergyAustralia offer?

Our GreenPower accredited renewable energy options for NSW households are PureEnergy10, 25, 50 and 100. If you choose PureEnergy, we will ensure that an amount of electricity (equal to 10%, 25%, 50% or 100% of your electricity account) has been or will be generated by accredited GreenPower Generators using renewable energy sources and delivered to the national electricity grid.

Q9. How much does PureEnergy cost?

PureEnergy tariffs apply in addition to your electricity rates and can be summarised as follows:

Our GreenPower accredited renewable energy products for EnergyAustralia households in NSW are PureEnergy10, 25, 50 and 100. So, if you choose PureEnergy, we will ensure that an amount of electricity (equal to 10%, 25%, 50% or 100% of your electricity account) has been or will be generated by accredited GreenPower Generators using renewable energy sources and delivered to the national electricity grid. You are able at any time without penalty to cancel, increase or decrease your PureEnergy option.

PureEnergy Options	Tariff (Incl. GST)	What you would pay monthly* (approximate Incl. GST)
PureEnergy10	$14.30 p/quarter	$5.00
PureEnergy25	33.00 cents/day	$10.00
PureEnergy50	3.300 cents/kWh	$19.00
PureEnergy100	6.600 cents/kWh	$39.00

Prices are applicable until 30 June 2012.

*Applies in addition to your electricity rates. Approximation based on an average home using 7,000 kWh of electricity per year, rounded to the nearest dollar amount.

Note: Some existing customers may have PureEnergy10 or PureEnergy Premium although these products are no longer available for new PureEnergy customers.

PureEnergy Options	Tariff (Excl. GST)	Tariff (Incl. GST)
PureEnergy10	$12.00 p/quarter	$13.20 p/quarter
PureEnergy Premium	$99.00 p/quarter	$108.90 p/quarter

(applicable for consumption less than 15MWh)

Q10. Am I able to change my PureEnergy option?

You are able at any time without penalty to cancel, increase or decrease your PureEnergy option.

Q11. Why do PureEnergy options cost more than my normal electricity supply?

PureEnergy involves additional costs to EnergyAustralia such as the purchase of the Renewable Energy Certificates associated with the relevant amount of renewable electricity.

Q12. Will my electricity supply be affected in any way if I become a PureEnergy customer?

No. The reliability of your electricity supply will not be affected in any way because there will be no changes to the way it is currently distributed from the national electricity grid to your premises.

Q13. What are PureEnergy�s renewable energy sources?

PureEnergy�s renewable energy sources are:

Hydro	Falling water is used to drive turbines to generate electricity
Solar	Solar cells convert the energy from sunlight into electricity.
Biomass (Landfill Gas or Bagasse)	Landfill Gas: Methane gas and other landfill gases produced by decomposing organic matter are captured and burned to produce electricity. Bagasse: Bagasse is the residual fibrous waste from raw sugar processing and is sourced from various sugar mills. It is burned to produce electricity.
Wind	Wind drives turbines to generate electricity. Recent advances in wind turbine technology have allowed this source of electricity to become more widespread.

Q14. What is landfill gas?

Landfill gas is a gas from the decay of biomass and one of the lesser known fuel sources for producing electricity. Organic matter, such as that buried in landfill sites, breaks down to produce methane gas and other landfill gases. Capturing and burning these gases enables the generation of electricity. The advantage of this method is that it prevents methane - a potent greenhouse gas – and other landfill gases from escaping into the atmosphere. Our current sources of landfill gas generation are located in Queensland, Victoria and NSW.

Q15. What is bagasse?

Bagasse is a form of biomass which is derived from sugar cane. When sugar juice is extracted from sugar cane at the sugar mill, there is a fibrous cane material left over. This material is called bagasse. This bagasse is then burnt and the heat generated drives a steam powered electricity generator, which, in turn, supplies electricity to the national electricity grid. The electricity generator is normally located at the sugar mill so that no transport is required for the bagasse. This is one of the reasons why bagasse is so cheap. Our current sources of bagasse generation are located at various sugar mills.

Q16. What is low impact hydro?

It means that there is low impact on the environment. It is a hydro electricity source which does not divert rivers ensuring natural environmental flows, or is generated from facilities built next to existing dams built for other purposes.

Q17. What are greenhouse gases and how do they cause the greenhouse effect?

Greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorocarbons. These gases absorb and re-emit infra-red radiation, trapping heat and warming the Earth�s atmosphere, in a similar way to the glass in a greenhouse. Human activity such as land clearing and burning fossil fuels (e.g. coal and oil) have been increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere resulting in an enhanced greenhouse effect (i.e. global warming).

Q18. What is global warming?

The Earth is wrapped in an insulating blanket of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. As the sun�s rays shine on the Earth, this blanket of gases traps some of the heat – which has the effect of warming the planet and keeping it at a relatively constant level. Without it, the earth would either get too hot or too cold and life would not be able to survive.

In effect the Earth is like a giant greenhouse. But instead of having glass panes which trap heat, the Earth has greenhouse gases.

Global warming is a gradual warming of the Earth's atmosphere and is believed to be caused by too many greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere by human activity such as burning fossil fuels (e.g. coal and oil), land clearing and increased farming. The increased concentration of these gases is like constantly adding more glass layers to the greenhouse, ultimately raising the temperature inside. Global warming has serious repercussions for our planet�s biodiversity, sea levels and weather patterns.

Q19. How do PureEnergy options help protect the environment?

The generation of electricity from renewable energy sources (such as wind, low impact hydro, landfill gas and bagasse) produces less greenhouse gases than the generation of electricity from coal. When you buy PureEnergy you are financially supporting the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources.

All green energy product alternatives are subject to terms and conditions.

Energy Australia

PureEnergy FAQs

Ask more about green

Q1. Is PureEnergy an accredited GreenPower option?