NECA has called upon the ACT Government to urge energy provider ActewAGL to consider the ACT’s electrical contractors, retailers and wholesalers for the rollout of its Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (EEIS).

The program, known as the ActewAGL Big Business Light Switch, has been created to offer energy efficient lighting products for businesses that wish to participate, allowing older and inefficient lighting to be replaced at no cost to the company.

No discussions have taken place between ActewAGL and the local ACT electrical supply chain (contractors, retailers and wholesalers) about assisting, and ACT’s electrical contractors feel they have been left in the dark after an advertised job notice called for the hiring of licensed electricians.

“As lighting covered by this program will be upgraded at no cost for business, it seems incongruous that electrical contractors, retailers and wholesalers in the ACT could lose business that they otherwise would have enjoyed had this program not have been implemented,” said NECA CEO Suresh Manickam.

“We call upon the ACT Government to direct ActewAGL to consider the local ACT electrical supply chain more favourably with regards to the EEIS rollout. It would be a great shame if this program resulted in economic loss for some of the ACT’s SME electrical contractors.”