Business caught using falsified photos as evidence of energy efficiency upgrades

The Essential Services Commission has placed a six-month restriction on MYOM Australia’s Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) accreditation, alleging it used falsified photo evidence for its energy efficiency projects.  

The VEU program is an energy efficiency program, designed to help Victorians cut their energy bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Accredited businesses undertake energy efficiency upgrades that entitle them to create certificates, which they can then sell.  

The commission investigated 180 of MYOM’s VEU energy efficiency activities after receiving a tip-off from the community about potential misconduct.  

The investigation identified that the same lights appeared in photos submitted by MYOM as evidence of decommissioned lighting across multiple projects. The commission is not satisfied the certificates MYOM claimed are compliant.

MYOM is restricted from undertaking non-building-based lighting upgrades and creating certificates for this activity for six months. This puts an immediate stop to the alleged non-compliance so the commission can investigate all MYOM’s pending and registered certificates and consider additional enforcement action.

The commission has the power to cancel a business’s VEU accreditation, issue penalty notices and instigate civil or criminal prosecution of businesses and individuals where it identifies misconduct. It will not hesitate to use these powers if it considers them appropriate.

The commission has now taken enforcement action against six VEU businesses this year.  

Quotes attributable to Essential Services Commission Chairperson and Commissioner Gerard Brody

“Submitting false evidence is a serious breach of VEU program rules, which is why we have been so quick to place restrictions on MYOM while we continue to investigate and consider appropriate enforcement action.”  

“We’ve taken quick action to protect the VEU program’s integrity, because it plays a vital role promoting energy-efficient products and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

“The community and industry often act as eyes and ears for regulators, so if you’re thinking of breaking the rules, don’t think you’ll get away with it. Between our proactive regulation and tip-offs, you’ll be found out.”  

About the Victorian Energy Upgrades program

The Victorian Energy Upgrades program helps Victorians reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions by providing access to discounted energy efficient products and services. The program also encourages investment, employment and innovation in industries that supply these products and services.

Large energy retailers are required to acquire and surrender Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs) to meet annual targets set in Victorian legislation. ‘Accredited persons’ that carry out eligible upgrade activities by installing energy-efficient products in residential or non-residential premises can create VEECs.