Australia Releases Exposure Draft on MEPS Implementation for Heat Pump Water Heaters, Opens Public Consultation

On September 7, 2026, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) released an exposure draft on introducing Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs) and opened a public consultation period running through October 5, 2026. Based on Australia's Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act 2012, this initiative is being advanced under the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Program, which aims to improve the energy efficiency of appliances and equipment. The proposed regulations target HPWHs used primarily for residential potable hot water supply, outlining requirements for product registration and energy efficiency information disclosure.