Frequently asked questions

Established in 1993, Fieldforce Services Pty Ltd is a leading provider of energy and water efficiency and conservation programs and services. They offer utility services, carbon abatement and carbon offset creation, energy and water conservation, electrical and gas metering and data management solutions to major clients across Australia.

Fieldforce Services Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract after a comprehensive tender process.

Fieldforce Services Pty Ltd has recruited highly-trained energy experts to perform home power assessments. All energy experts must meet strict criteria before performing the assessments. This includes police checks, occupational health and safety training and capability testing.

For more information, call Fieldforce Services Pty Ltd on 1300 662 416.

No. Home assessments will only be done when the householder has chosen to have an assessment and phoned the call centre on 1300 662 416 to book an appointment. There will be no door knocking or marketing by telephone.

Once a householder has booked an assessment, the energy expert will arrive at the home at the agreed time and introduce her/himself.

They will be wearing a uniform and a photo identification badge. The badge states they are from Fieldforce and also has the NSW Government logo. It includes a phone number which the householder can choose to ring at the Office of Environment and Heritage to confirm that the person is working for the Program.

Fieldforce Services Pty Ltd has recruited highly-trained energy experts to perform the home power assessments. All energy experts must meet strict criteria before performing the assessments. This includes police checks, occupational health and safety training and capability testing. They must adhere to a code of conduct.

The home energy audit or assessment will take around one hour.

• stand-by saver power board
• 4 energy efficient light bulbs
• low flow showerhead
• shower timer
• tap aerator
• draught-proof strips around the door
• door snakes.

The stand-by saver power board is a device to turn off standby power.

'Stand-by mode' can account for around 10% of an average household's yearly power use. This power board automatically turns power off to appliances such as TVs, DVDs and computer screens when not in use - with one easy switch or click of your TV remote.

The Power Savings Action Plan is generated by the energy expert using the data during the assessment and lists the top 10 power savings tips.

The Action Plan includes figures on how much more financial and carbon pollution savings the household can make by putting the plan to work.

Participating households will also be mailed a Power Savings booklet to help make the most of the Action Plan.

Using the free Power Savings Kit items and putting your Power Savings Action Plan to work will reduce your power use by up to 20%.

This is a conservative estimate taking into account that some households are already using power saving devices and practising energy efficient behaviours. Each household is different and you may be able to save more.

* Annual savings based on a typical eligible household, use of all Kit items and following your Action Plan.

The Fieldforce call centre has bi-lingual staff available to help you when booking an appointment for a home power assessment. Call 1300 622 416.

In 2011/12 – based on an average residential customer's annual usage of 7000 kilowatt hours a year, customers expect to pay:

• EnergyAustralia $1513
• Integral Energy $1619
• Country Energy $2063, a year.

Energy suppliers offer a range of options to assist people who have difficulty paying their bills.

If you need assistance, contact your energy supplier and ask about flexible payment options and/or becoming a member of their hardship program. You'll find the contact details for your energy supplier on your power bill.

Standard Electricity Suppliers:

• EnergyAustralia: 13 15 35
• Integral Energy: 131 002
• Country Energy: 13 23 56

The program is open to all eligible renters including social housing tenants.

The energy expert will seek permission from your landlord before the assessment to install some of the items in the Power Savings Kit.

If permission cannot be obtained, the energy expert will go ahead with the assessment, but will not install the showerhead, draught-proof strips or the tap aerator as these are considered to be structural changes to the property.

After your home power assessment you will get your Power Savings Action Plan which will list free or low cost changes you can make to save power.

Your landlord will also get an Action Plan recommending structural changes that will improve the energy efficiency of the property.

There are many ways that your household can save power and cut carbon pollution.

If you are not eligible for this program, you can access free power saving tips and/or make a power pledge.

All participating households are asked to sign consent forms giving permission to Fieldforce's energy experts to collect personal and power use data.

Fieldforce will share this data with the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH). Fieldforce Pty Ltd and OEH will manage personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1988. As a national company, Fieldforce Pty Ltd are also obliged to comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth).

Personal information submitted to OEH will be used for the stated purpose of collection. OEH will not use personal or private information for any other purpose without written consent of the owner of personal information except for purposes listed as exemptions in the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPPA) e.g. prevent danger to someone. See OEH's Privacy Management Plan for further information.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of your home power assessment (including the Power Savings Kit items and Power Saving Action Plan), please raise your concerns with Fieldforce Pty Ltd by calling 1300 662 416.

If your issue is not resolved, please contact the Home Power Savings Program staff at the Office of Environment and Heritage on (02) 9995 5479 or email powersavings@environment.nsw.gov.au

The Home Power Savings Program's commitment is to deliver 220,000 household assessments before 30 June 2014.

Fieldforce Services Pty Ltd has recruited trained energy experts (including licensed plumbers) to perform home power assessments. Please direct all recruitment enquires to Fieldforce Pty Ltd by calling 1300 662 416.