Governance structure and decision-making process

How Home Energy Rating is governed

Home Energy Rating governance is designed to balance national consistency with industry expertise and stakeholder input.

Home Energy Rating assessments are part of the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), which is administered by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on behalf of all state and territory governments.

The NatHERS Administrator is responsible for delivering and developing the scheme, including:

• scheme management, setting new protocols and procedures
• software accreditation
• communications, with industry, government and consumers
• approving assessor accreditation service providers. 

Decision making involves collaboration between the Australian, and state and territory governments, supported by industry consultation and expert input. This ensures the scheme reflects both national policy objectives and practical, on-the-ground insights.

Governance framework

NatHERS is delivered under the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council (ECMC). ECMC is a forum in which the Commonwealth, Australian states and territories, and New Zealand governments work together on priority issues of national significance and key reforms in the energy and climate change sectors.

ECMC has assigned the Energy Efficiency Working Group (EEWG) responsibility for the adoption of energy efficiency and performance measures across all sectors of the economy, including implementing NatHERS. EEWG is supported by the NatHERS Steering Committee, which provides technical advice about NatHERS and makes operational decisions necessary to deliver EEWG’s strategic decisions.

EEWG and the NatHERS Steering Committee consist of representatives from the Australian state and territory governments.

Advisory groups 

Expert bodies provide stakeholder and industry advice to the NatHERS Administrator on technical matters relating to the scheme. 

These expert bodies include the NatHERS Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the NatHERS Stakeholder Consultative Group (SCG). Members represent:

• the building industry
• architects and designers
• appliance manufacturers and suppliers
• other stakeholder and community groups. 

Roles and responsibilities

• Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council (ECMC): NatHERS is delivered under the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council (ECMC). ECMC is a forum in which ministerial representatives from the Australian Government, and all states and territories, convene to work on priority energy and climate issues and key reforms of national significance.
• Energy Efficiency Working Group (EEWG): ECMC has assigned the Energy Efficiency Working Group (EEWG) responsibility for energy efficiency measures, including implementing NatHERS.
• NatHERS Steering Committee (NSC): The EEWG is supported by the NatHERS Steering Committee (NSC), which provides technical and policy advice about NatHERS and its operations. Both EEWG and NSC consist of representatives from the Australian Government and all state and territory governments.
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW): DCCEEW, as the NatHERS Administrator, provides overall scheme administration including scheme management, setting new protocols and procedures, software accreditation, communications, and manages service providers.
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO): CSIRO provides the benchmark tool and science that underpins the benchmark tool
• Assessor Accrediting Organisations (AAOs): Australian Building Sustainability Accreditation (ABSA), Design Matters National (DMN) and Home Energy Raters Association (HERA) provide and manage assessor accreditation for new homes assessors
• Assessor Accrediting Service Provider (AASP): Design Matters National (DMN) provide and manage assessor accreditation for existing homes assessors
• Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) provide training for assessors
• Software providers develop software in accordance with NatHERS requirements
• Advisory committees and consultative groups provide technical, industry and consumer perspectives.

Together, these entities maintain the credibility of the scheme while ensuring decisions are evidence-based, transparent and appropriate for all jurisdictions.