Barriers to maximising compliance with energy effi ciency policy

Th e acceptance of energy effi ciency as an important policy tool to achieve a range of public policy outcomes appears to be gaining momentum globally. Yet at the same time, most energy effi ciency practitioners and policymakers are aware of an “implementation gap”, where the actual, measured outcomes of a policy fall short of its projected or anticipated energy savings. Th is paper focuses on one of the many causes for this gap which remains under explored, that of poor compliance by industry with energy effi ciency policy. Th e lack of comprehensive data on levels of non-compliance within energy effi ciency programmes is itself indicative of the low priority given to this area in many countries. Th e evidence that is available suggests that non-compliance is a real problem across countries and policy types, refl ecting inadequate planning and under-resourcing as well as limitations in enforcing energy effi ciency policies. Th e authors postulate that among the explanations for this is an unwillingness to undermine energy effi ciency eff orts has prevented this issue from being fully discussed and publicly reported. Th is paper argues for the importance, and cost eff ectiveness, of addressing non-compliance in order to reach policy objectives. A better understanding of the extent of non-compliance, and the identifi cation of a key set of activities which can improve compliance rates is required for policymakers to eff ectively plan, resource and implement energy effi ciency policy. Based on experience of good practice within the energy effi ciency and other fi elds, a range of key compliance and enforcement mechanisms are highlighted.