CERT

The CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) is the name for the obligation previously referred to as the Energy Efficiency Commitment 2008-11 or EEC3. The CERT has the same underlying framework and purpose as the EEC mechanism, with the additions allowed by the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 to include microgeneration and behavioural measures within the scheme.

CERT refers to the specific obligation to be imposed during the period April 2008 to March 2011.

The Government proposes to:

• impose the CERT mechanism to 2011 at around double the level of activity of the current EEC 2005-08
• extend its scope to include, in addition to energy efficiency measures, microgeneration and other measures for reducing the consumption of supplied energy
• introduce new approaches for innovation and flexibility
• maintain a focus on low-income consumers.

In developing our proposals for the scale and framework of the CERT there are a number of key priorities which the Government aims to balance: to keep costs at a reasonable level (and thereby minimise the cost passed through to consumers); to maximise cost-effective carbon savings; to maintain equity and contribute to the delivery of our statutory fuel poverty objectives, by ensuring that low-income households benefit.

Read the full report (pdf 436kb)