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Energy Action

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FY2016 Annual Report · Energy Action
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2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Contents

About Energy Action                                                                    2

Chairman’s Report                                                                       3

CEO’s Report                                                                               4

Board of Directors                                                                       5

Sales Overview                                                                            8

Energy Procurement                                                                  10

Contract Management & Environmental Reporting                       12

Project & Advisory Services                                                        14

Strategic Initiatives                                                                     17

Market & Regulatory Environment                                               18

Our People                                                                                20

Our Customers                                                                          22

Financial Report                                                                        25

Corporate Information                                                              109

Share and Shareholder Information                                           110

Glossary of Terms                                                                    112

22%

About Energy Action

Energy Action (ASX:EAX) is a leading energy 
management, technology and services firm, 
offering comprehensive energy procurement and 
management services. The Company’s aims are 
to reduce electricity and gas usage and improve 
energy efficiency to deliver positive environmental and 
financial benefits for our clients.

Energy Action offers its business clients a complete 
energy management solution, regardless of their 
size, industry or energy consumption. Over 5,000 
business customers with almost 24,000 sites under 
management across Australia and New Zealand are 
achieving greater efficiency gains and managing their 
risk with Energy Action.

Financial Results

Energy Action booked revenue of $33.98 million 
for FY2016, representing an increase of 6% on the 
previous year ($32.05 million), primarily driven by the 
strong performance of the Company’s Projects & 
Advisory Services (PAS) division, along with growth 
in Contract Management & Environmental Reporting 
(CMER) revenues.

Operating Net Profit after Tax (NPAT) for FY2016 was 
$3.5 million, representing an increase of 47% on 
the previous year’s result of $2.4 million (on a like for 
like basis). This result was achieved through growth 
in revenue contributions from the PAS and CMER 
divisions, as noted above, combined with an ongoing 
focus on cost control and management.

The Company has available liquidity of $5.7million 
comprised of cash and undrawn bank facilities, up 
from $3 million as at June 30, 2015.

In 2016 Energy Action completed the integration 
of previous acquisitions, namely Exergy and 
Energy Advice.

Energy Action has declared a fully franked final 
dividend of 3.52 cents per share for FY2016. The 
Company enters FY2017 with a range of strategic 
initiatives in place designed to drive further growth 
and deliver value to shareholders.

2  

24%

54%

Energy Procurement

Projects & Advisory Services 

Contract Management & Environmental 
Reporting (Energy Metrics) 

Over 5,000 business 
customers with almost 
24,000 sites under 
management

ENERGY ACTIONChairman’s Report

This is my inaugural 
report as Chairman, and 
I was honoured to be 
appointed to this role 
following the decision 
of Dr Ronald Watts to 
step down in November 
2015, and in accordance 
with the Company’s 
Board renewal process 
previously communicated 
in June 2015.

Financial year 2016 has been one of positive change, 
progress and achievement for Energy Action, despite 
challenging market conditions, increased competition 
and some degree of ongoing regulatory uncertainty. 

The Company has maintained its position as a leader 
and innovator in the field of energy procurement and 
management through a range of initiatives, and will 
continue to invest to maintain this position.

The positive result that has been recorded for 
financial year 2016 is encouraging, and reflects this 
progress, as well as a keen focus on controlling 
costs. The increase in revenue delivered by Energy 
Action’s Contract Management and Environmental 
Reporting division has underpinned this result, while 
also assisting margins and profitability, all of which is 
outlined in detail below.

The Company’s Projects & Advisory Services 
division also performed well, with a number of major 
projects delivered during the year. While the Energy 
Procurement division reported a slight downturn, 
this was in line with expectations due to increasing 
competition in the Energy Tenders segment, and 
that has been partially mitigated by growth in 
Structured Products.

I take this opportunity to thank Dr Ronald Watts for 
his outstanding leadership in the role of Chairman 
since Energy Action’s listing as a public company 
in October 2011. We are pleased to have his 
ongoing guidance as a Non-Executive Director 
of the Company. I also acknowledge and thank 
Valerie Duncan, who stepped down from the Board 
in August 2015 following her retirement, for her 
significant contribution to the foundation and growth 
of the Company. 

As noted above, in accordance with our Board 
renewal process, in August 2015 Energy Action 
appointed two new Directors, both of whom have 
the requisite qualifications and experience to help 
us guide the Company through the next phases of 
growth and development. 

While Energy Action no doubt faces some headwinds 
in financial year 2017, I am confident that the strategic 
initiatives we now have in place, along with ongoing 
product and service development and our strong 
team leaves the Company well placed to meet these 
challenges. 

Energy Action remains focused on leveraging three 
significant market trends that have evolved in the 
energy sector, namely, the development of Microgrids, 
the advent of Big Data and the opportunity 
represented by NABERS (National Australian Built 
Environment Rating System) to improve building 
energy efficiency.

It remains for me to thank our CEO, Scott 
Wooldridge, and his entire team for their hard work 
and dedication over the year. I also thank my fellow 
Directors for their support.

The Board and senior management of Energy Action 
are committed to further building on the progress 
we have made in financial year 2016 and to driving 
shareholder value.

Murray Bleach

3  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 CEO’s Report

We are pleased to 
have delivered a 47% 
increase in Operating Net 
Profit After Tax (NPAT) 
of $3.519 million. This 
was underpinned by 
a 6% revenue growth 
in FY2016 with strong 
growth in Projects and 
Advisory Services and 
solid growth in Contract 
Management and 

Environmental Reporting Services. 

The core business focus for FY2016 was to finalise 
the integration of prior acquisitions and improve the 
operational performance from a systems, service 
delivery and a cost control perspective. Strong cost 
management resulted in operational costs decreasing 
by 1% versus the prior period. 

In conjunction with cost synergies, we have delivered 
significant enhancements to our operational systems. 
We simplified and streamlined the organisation, 
launched a unified Energy Action brand and a single, 
integrated IT landscape. The combination of the 
successful deployment of cost management initiatives 
and broader operational initiatives resulted in revenue 
growth translating into a substantially improved 
Operating NPAT.

The solutions offered by the Contract Management 
& Environmental Reporting business were rebranded 
and restructured into a logical suite of three products, 
Energy Manager, Energy Bureau and Energy Metrics. 
An enhanced “Platinum” version was launched in 
June, extending the capabilities of the products with 
near real-time data. Energy Action’s service and 
software offers are now the most comprehensive in 
the market. 

Projects & Advisory Services (PAS) growth came 
primarily in the engineering projects sector. Key 
projects undertaken included a major building 
services upgrade, 500KW of commercial solar 
installations and forty (40) power factor correction 
projects. Staff utilisation within PAS is meeting 
expected levels of performance, delivering improved 
profitability. 

4  

Procurement revenue declined overall with growth 
in Structured Products being more than offset by 
declines in the very competitive Electricity Tender 
sector. Whilst customer numbers who renewed 
their services have been in line with expectations, 
the number of newly acquired customers has been 
lower than forecasted in a very competitive market. 
A focus for FY2017 will be to accelerate new client 
acquisition in the mid-tier market segment to improve 
auction volumes. 

We were excited to launch a new strategic 
plan in June 2016. The plan was developed in 
response to changing market dynamics, emerging 
technologies and maturing client expectations 
towards the management of energy. Key to these 
trends are changes within client buying behaviour. 
For many clients, energy is transitioning from a 
cost management exercise to a risk management 
commodity, or is being identified as an opportunity to 
generate incremental revenue streams. 

Energy Action is accelerating its investment in sales, 
marketing and solution development to capitalise 
on three key emerging energy market macro trends. 
These are the development of Microgrids, the advent 
of Big Data and the opportunity represented by 
NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating 
System) to improve building energy efficiency. The 
solutions targeted to address these trends have been 
successfully piloted over the last 12 months with 
key clients.

We have continued to strengthen the Executive 
team and recently appointed Mathews George to 
the position of CIO. In 2017 we are accelerating 
investment in Energy Action’s technologies (Australian 
Energy Exchange and Energy Metrics solutions) to 
ensure we retain our competitive advantage.

We are pleased with the improvements in operational 
performance achieved and believe the business 
is now well positioned to accelerate its growth.  
In FY2017 we are investing to capitalise on new 
opportunities in energy markets, in conjunction 
with targeted strategies to generate growth from 
our traditional service offers as part of a three year 
growth strategy.

ENERGY ACTIONBoard of Directors

Murray Bleach 
– Chairman

Murray Bleach was 
appointed Chairman 
on 12 November 2015. 
He was previously a 
Non-Executive Director.

Murray has over 35 
years’ experience in 
the accounting and 

Dr Ronald Watts 
– Non-Executive 
Director

Dr Ronald Watts is a co-
founder of Energy Action 
and served as Chairman 
until 12 November 2015, 
when he relinquished 
the role to become a 
Non-Executive Director. 

finance industry. He originally worked as a Chartered 
Accountant for KPMG Peat Marwick in Sydney and 
Dallas, Texas. His move into financial services came in 
1987, when he joined Bankers Trust Australia.

Murray joined Macquarie Group as part of 
Macquarie’s acquisition of Bankers Trust Australia. 
During this time he was CEO of Macquarie’s 
US business and led the building of its US 
infrastructure business.

He was previously CEO of listed toll road group, 
Intoll Group and was a Non-Executive Director of 
Eraring Energy and Zanbato Inc, and Chairman of 
SocietyOne Pty Ltd.

Murray is currently Chairman of Suicide Prevention 
Australia and the Board Investment Committee of IFM 
Investors. He is a partner in Alfred Street Investment 
Partners and a Non-Executive Director of Carlton 
Investments Limited and Together Let’s and is also a 
member of the Advisory Board for Derwent Executive.

Murray holds a Bachelor of Arts (Financial Studies) 
and a Masters in Applied Finance from Macquarie 
University. He is also a Graduate of the Australian 
Institute of Company Directors and a Chartered 
Accountant.

Dr Watts has worked at chief executive and board 
level across a range of technology based enterprises 
and at senior levels in government.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director of UK 
cancer therapy biotech company Biosceptre 
International Limited.

His management experience spans the software and 
telecommunications industries, and as a consultant 
he has worked with companies on strategy and fund- 
raising in biotechnology, utilities, food processing 
and energy.

Dr Watts has held academic posts of Associate 
Professor and Adjunct Research Fellow, and now 
works on voluntary projects training young people in 
Pacific Island nations.

He has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the 
University of New South Wales and a PhD from 
Cambridge University. He has also completed a 
Graduate Diploma in Business, majoring in Finance.

5  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Paul Meehan 
– Non-Executive 
Director

Paul Meehan was 
appointed a Non-
Executive Director on 11 
October 2011 following 
the company’s ASX listing 
after previously being a 
Non-Executive Director of 

the private company from inception.

Paul is a practising lawyer with over 25 years’ 
experience and expertise advising in all facets of the 
law with a range of clients from Top 50 ASX listed 
companies to individuals buying their first home.

He has his own legal practice in the suburban area of 
Sydney with approximately 25 employees.

Paul is also a Non-Executive Director of First 
Commercial Realty Pty Ltd (trading as LJ Hooker 
Commercial Macarthur),one of the largest commercial 
real estate offices in the South West of Sydney.

Paul completed his legal studies through the Law 
Extension Committee, Sydney University (SAB) and 
holds a Diploma in Law (SAB).

Nitin Singhi  
– Non-Executive 
Independent 
Director

Nitin Singhi was appointed 
a Non-Executive Director 
on 12 August 2015.

Nitin has over 20 years’ 
experience in corporate 

transactions and mergers and acquisitions. He 
originally worked as a corporate lawyer in Sydney and 
London at Allens and Lovells respectively, focussing 
on IPO’s, takeovers and private equity. After a stint as 
a Director of Finance/Legal in an online retail venture 
in 1999, he returned to Australia to join the Colonial 
FirstState Private Equity division in 2001.

As an Investment Director, he was involved in 
numerous transactions and Board roles with Colonial 
until 2008 including Mincom, Ambertech, Goodlife 
Healthclubs, Technisyst and the infrastructure vehicle 
Colonial First State Private Capital, which was listed 
on the ASX.

Since 2008 Nitin has been Managing Director of 
Horizon Private Capital Partners, a corporate advisory 
firm that specialises on servicing non-bank financial 
institutions and IT related companies. Its client base 
includes ASX listed and large firms that provide 
funding to finance assets including IT equipment 
and energy related infrastructure. He is also a Board 
Member of TiE Sydney, a not for profit association 
dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship.

Nitin holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Master 
of Laws from the University of Sydney. He is also 
member of the Australian Institute of Company 
Directors.

6  

ENERGY ACTIONMark de Kock 
– Non-Executive 
Director

Mark de Kock was 
appointed a Non-
Executive Director on 17 
August 2015. Mark is a 
Nominee Director with the 
appointment recommended 
by Microequities Asset 
Management.

Mark has over 20 years’ experience in driving superior 
commercial outcomes through strategy and technology 
in companies such as Vocus Communications, 
Optus, Vodafone, Trident Subsea Cable and HP 
(Tandem/Compaq).

Mark started his career designing and developing money 
market and stock exchange trading systems such as 
the Helsinki Money Market System, full automation of 
the Dhaka Stock Exchange, and the design of the 3rd 
generation of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. From 
there Mark focussed on eCommerce systems, managing 
the development of the qantas.com.au platform as GM 
eCommerce IT for Qantas in 2000.

After several subsequent roles in IT with BT Financial 
group, Optus and Vodafone, Mark joined Vocus 
Communications in its infancy as Head of Strategy. Mark 
was responsible for setting strategy, the IPO of Vocus 
and the required acquisitions to execute against the 
stated strategy. During Mark’s tenure on the Board of 
Vocus Communications, the Company grew from having 
a $25m market capitalisation to becoming an ASX500 
Company. Five years from listing, Vocus is now an 
ASX200 Company.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Science (First class honours) in 
Electronic Engineering from University College London, 
an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School 
of Management, and is a Member of the Institute of 
Engineering and Technology.

7  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Energy market conditions continued to be challenging 
throughout the year, with steep increases in energy 
prices nationally, and higher than normal volatility 
levels (South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland). 
These factors have affected client buying behaviour, 
most noticeably with a growing trend towards shorter 
contract terms. Gas markets were challenging with 
less retailer participation to drive competitive tension. 

Energy Action witnessed continued growth in the 
number of competitors in the sector during FY2016, 
most notably in the Energy Procurement and Contract 
Management spaces, both of which created greater 
ongoing competitive tension in Broker Markets.

Entering FY2017, the Group had forward revenue of 
$66.7 million as at 30 June 2016, a reduction on that 
of FY2015 ($75.8 million as at 30 June 2015). This 
reduction is largely in CMER due to higher levels of 
cancellations of future start contracts with start dates 
beyond 2020, and with a number of clients wishing 
to align the length of their Energy Metrics contracts to 
their retail electricity contracts.

The CMER offering has recently been enhanced by 
the launch of the Energy Metrics Platinum service, 
offering near real time data monitoring, and providing 
the business with a significant point of difference to its 
competitors.

Energy Action remains committed to the continuous 
improvement of its comprehensive suite of products 
and services – this will continue to be a key focus 
throughout FY2017.

Sales Overview

Energy Action has three clearly defined business 
divisions: Energy Procurement, Contract Management 
& Environmental Reporting and Projects & Advisory 
Services. The performance and outlook for these 
divisions is outlined in further detail below.

The Company once again booked record revenue 
in FY2016, with full year revenue of $33.98 million 
representing an increase of 6% on FY2015 ($32.05 
million), and reflecting Energy Action’s ongoing 
strategy of directing resources to the areas in which 
they are best utilised to drive sales and growth.

The Contract Management & Environmental Reporting 
(CMER) division was again the main contributor to 
Group revenue in FY2016, delivering an 8% year-on-
year increase (up by $1.4 million to $18.1 million). This 
was primarily due to an increase of 407 in the number 
of sites under management, along with a number of 
product and service enhancements.

The Projects & Advisory Services (PAS) division also 
achieved significant revenue growth in FY2016, with 
revenue of $7.9 million being an increase of 18.4% on 
the previous year’s result ($6.2 million in FY2015). The 
majority of growth came from the Projects, Project 
Management and Engineering businesses.

As anticipated, the Energy Procurement division 
experienced a downturn in FY2016, with revenue of 
$7.6 million an 8% decrease on that of the previous 
year ($8.3 million in FY2015). This decline, due to an 
increasingly competitive Energy Tender sector and 
a number of prevailing market conditions that are 
detailed further below, was partially offset by growth in 
Structured Products.

Throughout FY2016, Energy Action has made a 
sustained effort to better serve its existing client base, 
with a focus on enhancing Customer Relationship 
Management (CRM) systems, improving data integrity 
and continuous service improvement. This has 
resulted in noticeably higher customer engagement 
and retention levels.

During the year the Company also implemented a 
new aligned sales and marketing structure designed 
to drive efficiencies across the Group, focusing on 
sectors in which Energy Action may leverage its 
comprehensive suite of product and service offerings.

8  

ENERGY ACTIONPerth

Adelaide

Melbourne

Brisbane

Sydney

Canberra

Revenue $m

17.4

14.0

10.3

7.8

33.98

32.1

25.8

22.2

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

FY16

The Future

Energy Action offers energy pricing and contracting 
solutions across four distinct market sectors: 
Structured Products (strategic procurement), 
Requests for Proposal (RFPs or tenders), Tariff (mass 
market commercial) and EMarkets (AEX). None of our 
competitors operate in all these markets across the 
whole of Australia to provide the range of services 
that meet the diverse requirements of energy users.

The Company intends to maintain its position as 
market leader by positioning itself as the preferred 
marketplace where energy buyers and sellers 
transact. Implicit in this strategy is the ongoing 
improvement and implementation of robust processes 
and systems to ensure unwavering trust in our 
operations.

As noted above, Structured Products remain a key 
focus in FY2017, particularly with ongoing price 
volatility and uncertainty, and the need for businesses 
large and small to mitigate this risk through a bespoke 
product offering.

Energy Action is confident that through its ongoing 
commitment to customer engagement, education 
and service improvement it will retain its position as 
Australia’s leader in the energy procurement sector. 

Energy Procurement

Energy Action is the leading electricity, natural gas, 
LPG, fuel and environmental certificate procurement 
services provider in Australia. We undertake tailored 
energy pricing and contracting services for large 
commercial and industrial sites as well as reverse 
auction and tariff market services to small to medium 
businesses (SMEs).

Performance

Energy Action conducted 1,550 successful auctions 
in FY2016 via its proprietary Australian Energy 
Exchange (AEX) reverse auction platform, which 
was down on the 1,882 conducted in FY2015. 
The majority of this decline was in the second half 
and largely due to a significant amount of market 
contracts expiring in December 2015 which meant 
volumes of clients in the second half available to 
contract were lower.

Despite an average price increase of almost 
$10/MWh (from $44.56/MWh to $54.16/MWh) this 
was not enough to offset lower auction volumes. Total 
auction bid value (electricity component of contract 
only) for the year was 17% down at $192 million 
versus $231 million for FY2015.

Similarly, electricity tenders were down on the 
previous year with a reduction in both the number of 
tenders performed and the average price realised per 
tender. This continues to be a highly competitive area 
of the energy market.

The Procurement division saw solid growth in 
Structured Products during the year, with an increase 
in the number of service offerings and growing uptake 
by the number clients using them to mitigate against 
pricing uncertainty. Structured Products continue to 
be a key focus for the division in FY2017.

Retail gas prices increased substantially in the second 
half, driven by higher gas demand from power 
generation and a number of LNG projects that have 
now come on line or scaled up. 

The Procurement division maintains a client base 
across a diverse range of industry sectors that is 
largely unchanged from the previous year, with the 
majority of these being retail, commercial property, 
manufacturing, accommodation and food services.

10  

ENERGY ACTION1,550
successful

auctions in FY2016 

average price increases

from $44.56/MWh to
$54.16/MWh

total auction bid value

$192 million

TWhs sold via Auction 1.89

volume of electricity

2.37
tenders

TWh

volume of gas

11,891
tenders

TJ

no. of 
tariff electricity 6,762
contracted sites

Contract Management & Environmental 
Reporting

Energy Action already has a number of clients signed 
up to and currently on-boarding the Platinum service.

Another exciting development during the year 
was the signing of Energy Action’s first micro-grid 
customer, securing a multi-year contract with the 
Charter Hall property group to manage its Shopping 
Centre Portfolio of 17 centres. Service delivery for this 
contract commenced on 1 July 2016.

The Future

The integration of the services provided by the CMER 
division’s teams in Parramatta, New South Wales and 
Glen Waverley, Victoria continues to allow for larger 
Group accounts to be allocated to key personnel, 
increasing the business’s team delivery focus on more 
complex portfolios. 

The reallocation of clients between the two teams 
based on client service requirements highlights 
Energy Action’s new found versatility and ability to 
tailor solutions based on needs. This will continue 
to be a key area of focus for the CMER division 
in FY2017.

As noted above, the division anticipates increasing 
uptake of the Energy Metrics Platinum package in the 
current financial year, driven by ongoing energy price 
volatility and larger clients seeking ways in which to 
mitigate this risk.

The micro-grids sector will also be another key area of 
focus for the CMER division in FY2017.

Energy Action’s Contract Management & 
Environmental Reporting division provides advanced 
electricity monitoring and contract management 
services for Australian businesses under three 
bundled software and service offers: Energy Manager, 
Energy Bureau and Energy Metrics.

These services are built around automated business 
intelligence reports based on energy consumption 
and cost trend analysis, empowering businesses 
to take control of their energy bills through bill 
validations, tariff reviews and demand alerts.

Performance

The Contract Management & Environmental Reporting 
(CMER) division saw pleasing growth in FY2016, with 
an increase in the number of sites under management 
by 407, and with the division now having over 15,688 
sites under contract.

A key focus during the year was on improved service 
delivery and brand integration, with the former 
Activ8 product now rebranded as Energy Metrics. 
This reflected the CMER division’s newly enhanced 
tiered service packages that are now offered under a 
single brand.

Energy Action has renamed this business division 
as Contract Management & Environmental 
Reporting (previously Contract Management & 
Energy Reporting) to reflect its enhanced reporting 
capabilities in response to client needs in terms of 
sustainability data and reporting. 

Similarly, the Energy Bureau Service has been 
renamed Energy Bureau & Environmental Reporting. 
This service, provided in conjunction with Energy 
Action’s specialist platform partners, provides a range 
of multi-site, multi-utility reporting services.

A notable development during the year was the 
introduction of a new premium service package 
named Energy Metrics Platinum, which was launched 
in June 2016. Among many other features and 
benefits, the Platinum package delivers near real time 
(5 minutes) online data on energy usage, and instant 
alerts via SMS if set thresholds are reached.

12  

ENERGY ACTION15,688
sites under contract

Project & Advisory Services

The Future

Entering FY2017, the PAS division is well placed to 
further build on the achievements of FY2016, with a 
solid pipeline of project work and modified internal 
structure, now including a dedicated proposals 
and pre-sales support team to drive business 
development.

The division has also modified roles and enhanced 
skills in delivery intended to facilitate the expected 
growth it anticipates in its commercial buildings 
upgrade strategy.

The PAS division is also taking the lead in regards 
to assessing and securing suitable partnerships to 
facilitate likely growth in the Solar PV sector, which 
also ties into the above strategy.

The division also sees the increasing demand for 
automated energy reporting as an addressable 
market opportunity in FY2017, and this will be an 
ongoing focus.

The Projects and Advisory Services business will 
benefit from one of Energy Action’s key differentiators: 
NABERS expertise, the capability to carry out detailed 
energy analysis of a commercial building, define 
energy efficiency measures, project manage and 
deliver those measures (turnkey), and then tune and 
measure/verify the identified savings.

Energy Action offers a range of tailored services that 
can help any business assess, improve and manage 
on-site levels of energy efficiency, through the use of 
innovative energy efficiency and energy management 
methodologies. As a result, businesses can generate 
up to a 40% reduction in total energy usage – a major 
step towards sustainability.

Performance

The Projects & Advisory Services (PAS) division 
achieved growth across most of its operations in 
FY2016, with revenues increasing by 18% compared 
to the previous year.

The majority of this growth came from the Projects 
business, with a major client’s commercial building 
services upgrade delivered during the year. The 
Project Management and Engineering business also 
saw solid growth. 

The PAS division’s Analysis business had a slight 
increase in revenue to that of the previous year, while 
Energy Reporting had a minor decrease. 

The PAS division delivered a number of major Solar 
PV and Power Factor Correction (PFC) projects 
during the year, including one for a major theme park. 
The division continues to see growing interest in Solar 
PV and PFCs from a number of industry sectors, 
particularly shopping centres and commercial building 
owners/tenants.

Another notable development in FY2016 was 
the introduction of the Embedded Engineer offer. 
This offer utilises a remote engineer that analyses 
the clients energy usage, in the context of their 
production, and pro-actively advises on energy 
efficiency initiatives to implement. 

The PAS division was pleased that a number of  
multi-site clients for which it delivered a major building 
services upgrade in FY2016 has also retained 
Energy Action for a further three years to provide 
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme 
(NGERs), bill validation and procurement services. 
This highlights the Group’s advantage in having a 
comprehensive suite of energy procurement and 
management products and services.

14  

ENERGY ACTIONrevenues increasing by 
18%

compared to the previous year

Strategic Initiatives

Microgrids

Big Data

The Australian Electricity market provides next day 
access to energy consumption data to 3rd party 
organisations for approximately 110,000 commercial 
and industrial sites. With the role out of smart meters 
and regulatory changes, next day data will be made 
available from over nine million residential sites and 
800,000 commercial and industrial sites over the 
next 5 to 10 years. Access to next day data provides 
Energy Action the opportunity to extend core auction 
and energy metrics services to a significantly larger 
group of business clients. The access to data on this 
scale also offers a unique opportunity to develop and 
deliver alternate service offers that provide significant 
insights into energy consumption and energy spend 
patterns and generate tangible savings. Energy Action 
is well positioned to take advantage of this change in 
industry technology.

A microgrid is a small-scale power grid that can 
operate independently or in conjunction with 
the area’s main electrical grid. Any small-scale 
localised station with its own power resources, 
generation and loads and definable boundaries 
qualifies as a microgrid. With projections in Australia 
that between 25% and 45% of generation will be 
contained within a microgrid by 2050, this is a 
growing and significant part of the Australian energy 
landscape. Energy Action’s unique lifecycle energy 
management capabilities allows for the provision of 
all key aspects of both the establishment and the 
ongoing management of a microgrid. This includes 
solar generation, metering design, turnkey project 
implementation, grid procurement and ongoing 
tenant metering, billing, reconciliations and regulatory 
compliance.

Commercial Building Agreements

Energy Action has unique domain knowledge 
in providing audits, ratings and environmentally 
sustainable design (ESD) solutions for clients looking 
to improve the energy efficiency and overall NABERS 
rating of their commercial property. Typically a higher 
NABERS star rating translates to an improved overall 
commercial return for properties rated 4.5 stars 
and above.

In conjunction to this incentive to improve a buildings 
NABERS rating, Environmental Upgrade Agreements 
(EUAs) were recently legislated in New South Wales 
and Victoria. EUA’s provide significant funding and 
payment incentives for property owners to invest in 
energy efficiency upgrades of commercial properties. 
Energy Action has extended its solutions to provide 
turnkey energy efficiency building upgrades and a 
continuous monitoring and benchmarking service 
called Expert Monitoring and Diagnostic Service 
(EMDS) to provide a guaranteed NABERS outcome 
and capitalise on these trends. There are over 700 
commercial properties in Australia rated below 
4.5 stars.

17  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Market & Regulatory Environment

Retail electricity prices – net of network, certificate 
and other costs – rebounded strongly during FY2016. 
As measured by the Energy Action Price Index, over 
the year retail prices in NSW and Victoria rose by 25% 
and 35% respectively, and in Queensland by 17%. 
These increases come after two years of excessively 
low prices and signal that the generation sector has 
finally come to terms with conditions of over-capacity 
and sluggish demand. 

By far the strongest increase in prices was seen in 
South Australia where a number of initiatives and 
issues drove prices to a remarkable 66% increase 
over the year. One consequence of these higher 
prices in the generation market has been to squeeze 
margins amongst retailers, with the small independent 
retailer GoEnergy entering voluntary administration in 
April 2016. 

In a similar vein, prices for Large-scale Renewable 
Energy Certificates increased from around $40/
certificate to more than $80/certificate over the year. 
With the percentage of their load that retailers must 
cover with certificates also increasing year-on-year, 
this had the effect of pushing up the price to the end 
customer from around 0.4c/kWh to over 1.0c/kWh. 
As the current deficit in renewable generation versus 
government targets is likely to persist for several 
years, prices may remain at this level for some time.

Prices for the competitive components of electricity 
supply are increasing both in absolute terms and 
in their volatility. Accordingly, we expect to see 
more interest from procurement customers for 
innovative contract forms such as fixed/variable 
electricity contract pricing and self-management of 
environmental certificate liabilities.

In contrast, distribution network prices saw reduced 
pricing at the start of the financial year with the 
Australian Energy Regulator imposing cuts of up to 
30% on NSW distribution businesses, and signalling 
cuts of around 6% for Victorian and Queensland 
distributors to be enacted in 2016 to 2017. With the 
network component typically accounting for around 
50% of a business customer’s bill this provided some 
relief from the upward movement in electricity and 
certificate prices.

In the gas market the forward curve for retail gas 
prices has sloped upwards for some time. Higher 
than expected demand during the 2016 winter 

18  

period resulted in prices for calendar 2016 contracts 
increasing by around 15% from their previous level. 
Looking further ahead the forward curve continues 
to slope upwards, as it has now done for several 
years, with calendar 2017 contracts commanding a 
premium of up to 20% and calendar 2018 contracts 
being more expensive again – reflecting the potential 
for higher gas costs linked to international prices. 

Nevertheless, the absolute price level of these later 
years reduced slightly during FY2016, with this 
possibly indicating that the market may have priced 
in most if not all of the likely increase over the next 
three years. 

In the regulatory sphere a number of reviews with the 
potential to affect Energy Action and its customers 
progressed during the year.

Both the Australian Competition and Consumer 
Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Energy 
Market Commission (AEMC) published their reports 
into the east coast wholesale gas market and reached 
similar conclusions in calling for improved price 
transparency. In its report the ACCC also questioned 
the effectiveness of the current gas transmission 
pipeline regulatory regime given the sharp price 
increases of recent years. Pricing will continue to be 
a key concern for Energy Action’s gas customers 
going forward.

In the electricity sector the drive towards increasing 
competition for electricity supply through embedded 
networks continued, with the new role of the 
Embedded Network Manager now set to commence 
in December 2017. We expect demand from micro-
grid owners for network operation/consultation 
services to continue to increase throughout FY2017.

The pace of reform in the Western Australian 
electricity market continues to gather pace. Subject 
to government approval (expected in the second 
half of 2016) regulatory oversight of the state wide 
gas network and the electricity network in the south 
west region will be transitioned to the Australian 
Energy Regulator. The market for supply to residential 
and small business electricity customers will be 
deregulated with both reforms taking effect from mid-
2018. These changes are expected to drive down 
network costs and increase competition for supply in 
the electricity sector.

ENERGY ACTIONWe expect demand from embedded 
network owners for network operation/
consultation services to continue to 
increase throughout FY2017.

$80/cert.

$40/cert.

Large-scale Renewable 
Energy Certificates 

growth of 
retail prices  

66%

17%

25%

35%

Our People

Energy Action recognises that our people are the 
Company’s greatest asset, and as such we maintain 
an ongoing focus on employee engagement, 
satisfaction and retention. One of the key strategies 
towards achieving these goals is the annual Employee 
Engagement & Satisfaction survey, which was further 
refined and conducted online in November 2015.

A total of 142 employees were invited to complete the 
survey, with 132 responding – a pleasing participation 
rate of 93%, and with an overall employee satisfaction 
rate of 67%. 

In April 2016 the Employee Pulse Survey was 
conducted, with employee engagement increasing to 
63% compared to 60% in April 2015.

Following these surveys, and based on the feedback 
received, Energy Action implemented a number of 
measures designed to further improve and enhance 
employment, including:

 ƒ Re-evaluating and optimising employee rewards 

and awards to maximise engagement

 ƒ

Identifying high performers and subject matter 
experts to lead our FY2017 growth strategy 
initiatives

 ƒ

Increasing focus on learning & development

Having completed the integration of Exergy and 
EnergyAdvice into the group, Energy Action 
conducted a number of employee focus groups in 
order to determine our Company Values to define 
workplace culture, and to ensure that all are aligned 
with these. The outcome of this initiative has been 
very positive – a number of suggestions have either 
been implemented or taken on board for further 
consideration.

After an organisational restructure in FY2016, 
Energy Action saw a reduction in Senior/Executive 
employees, but an increase in the sales and support 
team numbers, reflecting the Company’s ongoing 
focus into FY2017 on its clearly defined growth 
strategies. Energy Action now employs 150 full 
time equivalent (FTE) employees compared to 160 
in FY2015.

Energy Action has a Diversity & Inclusion policy that 
was reviewed by the Board Nomination Committee 
in July 2016. We value a diverse workforce and are 
committed to promoting a culture that is inclusive 
and embraces gender equality at all stages of the 
employment lifecycle, particularly during our recruit, 
assessment and selection processes.

20  

ENERGY ACTIONAppointment of Chief Information Officer 

Reflecting Energy 
Action’s renewed focus 
on leadership through 
innovation, in June 
2016 the Company was 
pleased to announce 
the appointment of 
Mathews George as its 
inaugural Chief Information 
Officer (CIO). 

Having deep knowledge 
and experience in the 

IT field, Mathews will be responsible for the strategy 
and delivery of all IT related matters. He will lead a 
team of innovative technology professionals and be 
responsible for setting the future architecture of the 
Company’s IT landscape, while delivering regular 
product releases and IT upgrades.

Energy Action’s focus on diversity and inclusion is 
based on the following: 

 ƒ Gender ensuring equal access to employment and 
opportunities for promotion regardless of gender

 ƒ Disability ensuring equal access to employment 

and opportunities for promotion

 ƒ Age recruitment of qualified persons irrespective 
of age – engaging, developing and retaining 
these employees

 ƒ Culture/Ethnicity culturally diverse workforce across 

all areas of the business

 ƒ Flexibility providing employees with access to 

flexible working arrangements

More than 10% of our workforce are 
employed under a flexible workplace 
arrangement. 

These arrangements include permanent part-time 
employment, school friendly hours, formal working 
from home arrangements and the flexibility to work 
from different offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

During FY16 we also reviewed our gender diversity 
metrics which include gender, age, gender pay and 
gender management data.

Overall satisfaction rate

67%

21  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Our Customers

Energy Action conducted its fifth Client Satisfaction 
Survey from 27 April to 9 May, 2016. The survey was 
conducted online, and facilitated an independent 
market research company. It addressed client 
attitudes and opinions on their experience dealing 
with Energy Action’s employees, satisfaction with 
services and perceived value and utility of services. 

Improved sample size resulting in even 
better quality insights 

A total of 397 completed surveys were conducted 
with Energy Action clients, approximately 30% larger 
than last year’s sample of 300. 

Greatest strengths are Energy 
Market Expertise and Client Account 
Management

Two key areas of particular strength for Energy Action 
related to Energy Market Expertise, and Account 
Management – both with scores above 80%:

 ƒ 84% of clients agree or strongly agree that Energy 

Action are highly knowledgeable about the 
Australian energy market 

 ƒ 83% of clients agree or strongly agree that their 
Account Manager’s standard of communication 
meets their needs

 ƒ 81% of clients agree or strongly agree that their 
Account Manager: i) is accessible and responds 
to issues quickly and efficiently; ii) delivers what 
they have promised; and iii) understands their 
requirements. 

Two-year trend analysis shows growth 
in Advocacy and Expertise, while 
Satisfaction is stable 

This year’s analysis also sought to understand how 
client sentiment had evolved over the past two years 
in particular, as this is the period in which Energy 
Action has seen its greatest growth as a business:

 ƒ 7 out of 10 clients (70%) would recommend 
Energy Action to others, up from 67% in 
April 2014

 ƒ Perceptions of Energy Action as experts on the 
Australian energy market continues to be an 
area of strength – 84% of respondents agree or 
strongly agree – up from 79% in 2014

 ƒ Approximately two thirds (66%) of respondents 

said that they were satisfied or very satisfied with 
Energy Action, compared with 68% in April 2014. 

Opportunity to improve satisfaction by 
proactively anticipating client’s needs 

The survey revealed that the biggest opportunity 
for Energy Action to improve on overall satisfaction 
scores is to enhance our ability to add value to 
client’s businesses ‘by offering suggestions outside 
the scope of the client’s immediate need or issue’. 
This will continue to be a core focus for the Company 
over FY2017

22  

ENERGY ACTION5th

397

Client Satisfaction Survey

Completed surveys

30%

larger than last year’s sample of 300

80%

strength for Energy Action related to Energy Market Expertise, and 
Account Management – both with scores above 80%

70%

would recommend Energy Action to others, 
up from 67% in April 2014

84% agree

Perceptions of Energy Action as experts on the Australian energy 
market continues to be an area of strength 

FINANCIALRESULTS

Financial Report

1  Directors’ Report                                                                                                                      26

2 

3 

Auditor’s Independence Declaration                                                                                          37

Remuneration Report (Audited)                                                                                                  39

4  Corporate Governance Statement                                                                                              49

5 

Financial Statements                                                                                                                64

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income                                                                           64

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position                                                                                     65

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                                                                    66

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow                                                                                               67

Notes to the Financial Statements for year ended 30 June 2016                                                        68
Note 1: Corporate Information                                                                                                  68
Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies                                                                   68
Note 3: Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions                                    78
Note 4: Business Combinations                                                                                                79
Note 5: Segment information                                                                                                    81
Note 6: Revenue, Other Income and Expenses                                                                          82
Note 7: Income Tax Expense                                                                                                     84
Note 8: Earnings per Share                                                                                                       85
Note 9: Dividends                                                                                                                    86
Note 10: Cash and Cash Equivalents                                                                                         87
Note 11: Trade and Other Receivables                                                                                       87
Note 12: Property, Plant and Equipment                                                                                    88
Note 13: Intangible Assets                                                                                                        89
Note 14: Other Assets                                                                                                              91
Note 15: Trade and Other Payables                                                                                          91
Note 16: Tax                                                                                                                            92
Note 17: Provisions and other liabilities                                                                                     93
Note 18: Loans and Borrowings                                                                                                93
Note 19: Issued Capital and Reserves                                                                                       94
Note 20: Capital and Leasing Commitments                                                                              97
Note 21: Cash Flow Information                                                                                                98
Note 22: Related Party Disclosures                                                                                           99
Note 23: Financial Risk Management                                                                                      100
Note 24: Auditors’ Remuneration                                                                                            104
Note 25: Information relating to Energy Action Limited (“the parent entity”)                                104
Note 26: Events After the reporting period                                                                               105

6  Director’s Declaration                                                                                                             106

7 

Independent Audit Report to Members of Energy Action Limited                                                107

25  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Directors’ Report

Your Directors present their report, together with the financial statements for Energy Action Limited (the 
“Company”) and its consolidated entities (the “Group”), for the financial year ended 30 June 2016.

Directors

The names and details of the Company’s Directors in office during the financial year and until the date of this 
report are as follows. Directors were in office for this entire period unless otherwise stated.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Murray Bleach (Non-Executive Independent Chairman)

Qualifications – Bachelor of Arts (Financial Studies) and Master of Applied Finance - Macquarie University, 
Institute of Chartered Accountants, Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors

Experience – Board Member since 2012, Chairman since 2015

Special Responsibilities – Member of Audit & Risk Management Committee, Nomination and Remuneration 
Committees

Directorships held in other listed entities currently and during the three prior years to the current year: 

Carlton Investments Ltd – Independent Non-Executive Director (appointed 2 December 2014)

Other Directorships and interests - Chairman of Suicide Prevention Australia, Partner in Alfred Street Investment 
Partners, Non-Executive Director of Together Let’s, Member of Advisory Board for Derwent Executive, Non-
Executive Director of IFM Investors.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Dr. Ronald Watts (Non-Executive Director)

Qualifications – Bachelor Science (Hons I), University of New South Wales, Dip Management (Applied Finance), 
PhD (Molecular physics) – Cambridge

Experience – Board member since 2003, Chairman 2003 – 2015

Special Responsibilities – Member of Nomination Committee 

Directorships held in other listed entities currently and during the three prior years to the current year: nil

Other Directorships and interests - Non-executive Director of Biosceptre International, a cancer research 
company. Trustee, The Wenkart Foundation, a medical research fund.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Paul Meehan (Non-Executive Director)

Qualifications – Diploma of Law (SAB), University of Sydney

Experience – Board member since 2003

Special Responsibilities – Member of Audit and Risk Management Committee, Nomination and Remuneration 
Committees

Directorships held in other listed entities currently and during the three prior years to the current year: nil

Other Directorships and interests - Director of Meehans Solicitors Pty Ltd, Non-executive Director of Commercial 
First Realty Pty Ltd T/as LJ Hooker Commercial Macarthur.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

26  

ENERGY ACTIONNitin Singhi (Non-Executive Independent Director – appointed 12 August 2015)

Qualifications – Bachelor of Economic and Master of Laws – University of Sydney, Member Australian Institute of 
Company Directors 

Experience – Board Member since 2015

Special Responsibilities – Chairman of Audit and Risk Management Committee, Nomination and Remuneration 
Committees

Directorships held in other listed entities currently and during the three prior years to the current year: nil

Other Directorships and interests - Managing Director of Horizon Private Capital Partners, Director of TiE Sydney

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Mark de Kock (Non-Executive Director – appointed 17 August 2015)

Qualifications – Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) in Electronic Engineering from University College 
London, Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, Member of the Institution of 
Engineering and Technology

Experience – Nominee Director since 2015, appointment recommended by Microequities Asset Management

Special Responsibilities – Member of Remuneration Committee 

Directorships held in other listed entities currently and during the three prior years to the current year: Vocus 
Communications Limited (resigned 19 June 2013).

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Valerie Duncan (Non-Executive Director – resignation effective 31 August 2015)

Qualifications – Master of Business, General Management Charles Sturt University, Fellow Company Secretarial 
FCSA, Fellow Australian Institute of Energy, FSCPA, Company Director FAICD

Experience – Board member since 2003

Special Responsibilities – Member of Audit and Risk Management Committee, Nomination and Remuneration 
Committees

Directorships held in other listed entities currently and during the three prior years to the current year: nil

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Philip Randall (Non-Executive Director – passed away 4 July 2015)

Qualifications – Bachelor of Economics, Monash University

Experience – Board member since 2014

Special Responsibilities – Member of Nomination Committee

Directorships held in other listed entities currently and during the three prior years to the current year: nil

. . . . . . . . . . . .

27  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Interests in the shares and options of the Company and related bodies corporate

As at the date of this report, the interests of the directors in the shares and options of Energy Action 
Limited were:

Number of ordinary shares

Number of options over ordinary shares

Murray Bleach

Dr  Ronald Watts

Paul Meehan

Nitin Singhi

Mark de Kock

Company Secretary

273,155

1,730,371

4,798,993

3,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

The following person held the position of Company secretary at the end of the financial year:

Carolyn West – Bachelor of Economics, Monash University, Certified Practising Accountant, Governance 
Institute of Australia (Cert)

Dividends

Dividends recommended:

Ordinary shares

Final 2016 dividend recommended to be paid 21 September 2016

Interim 2016 dividend paid 21 March 2016

Final 2015 dividend paid 21 October 2015

Operating and financial review 

Cents per share

$

3 52

2 80

1 06

913,585

726,715

275,114

The Board presents the 2016 Operating and Financial Review, which has been designed to provide 
shareholders with a clear and concise overview of Energy Action’s operations, financial position, business 
strategies and prospects. The review also provides contextual information, including the impact of key events 
that have occurred during the financial year 2016 and material business risks faced by the business so that 
shareholders can make an informed assessment of the results and prospects of the Group. The review 
complements the financial report and has been prepared in accordance with the recently released guidance set 
out in ASIC’s Regulatory Guide 247: Effective Disclosure in an operating and financial review.

Our business model

Energy Action’s core business strategy is to reduce the impact of energy prices for Australian businesses and to 
advise businesses on using energy more efficiently.

Energy Action’s principal activities are providing integrated energy management services to a diverse base of 
commercial, industrial and small and medium sized business customers. Its core services are:

 ƒ Energy procurement: specialised buying and negotiation strategies, utilising reverse auctions, bespoke 

tender models and advising on structured products within AFSL parameters; 

 ƒ Energy Contract Management and Environmental Reporting (CMER) services; and,

 ƒ Energy efficiency and sustainability Projects and Advisory Services (PAS).

Initially founded in 2000 Energy Action has grown significantly and since 2009 the Company has procured more 
than $7 billion worth of electricity on behalf of its clients.

The Company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 13 October 2011.

28  

ENERGY ACTION2016 financial performance

The Group generated a statutory net loss after tax of $0.45 million for the year ended 30 June 2016 compared 
to a statutory net loss of $2.15 million for the year ended 30 June 2015. 

Statutory net loss after tax of $449,399 is after deferred consideration related to the Exergy and Energy Advice 
acquisitions of $3.8 million (FY15 $3.7 million) and restructuring costs of $0.1 million (FY15 $0.9 million). 

Operating profit after tax for the year ended 30 June 2016 was $3,519,507, representing a 47% increase 
over the prior year like for like result of $2,395,883. The main reasons for the increase in Operating Profit is an 
increased contribution from the PAS business, and higher contract management revenues combined with good 
cost control. 

A reconciliation of the Group’s Statutory to Operating Net Profit and EBITDA is shown in the table below:

NPAT

EBITDA

$

30 June 2016 30 June 2015

Variance

30 June 2016 30 June 2015

Variance

Statutory results

 (449,399)

(2,147,578)

79 1%

2,524,681

99,821

2429 2%

Add back Significant Items after tax:

Deferred consideration*

 3,850,327 

 3,749,245 

Restructuring costs**

Acquisition costs***

118,579

-

433,548

360,668

-2 7%

72 6%

0%

3,850,327

3,749,245

169,399

-

572,759

360,668

-2 7%

70 4%

-

Operating profit after tax

 3,519,507 

2,395,883 

46 9%

6,544,407 

4,782,493 

36 9%

*  Deferred consideration relating to the acquisitions of Exergy & Energy Advice required to be expensed for accounting purposes 
**  Costs associated with restructuring including redundancies 
*** Costs relating to the acquisition of Exergy & Energy Advice 
Non cash share based accounting expense relating to the Performance Rights & Options Plan (PROP) has been included in Operating net profit/(loss) after tax with FY15 comparables 
amended accordingly

Key Financial Metrics

Revenue

Operating EBITDA

Operating EBITDA margin

Operating NPAT1

Operating Cashflow2

Statutory NPAT

Earnings per share (Operating)1

Earnings per share (Statutory)

Dividend per share full year

FY16

$33 98m

$6 54m

19 3%

$3 52m

$6 6m

$(0 45M)

13 56c

-1 73c

 6 32cps

FY15

$32 05m

$4 78m

14 9%

$2 4m

$5 9m

$(2 15)m

9 23c

-8 28c

3 65cps

Variance

6 0%

36 9%

4 3%

46 9%

12%

79 1%

46 9%

79 1%

73%

1  Non cash share based accounting expense relating to the Performance Rights & Options Plan (PROP) has been included in Operating net profit/(loss) after tax with FY15 results 

comparables amended accordingly 

2  Operating Cash Flow is defined as Operating Cash Flow before Interest, Tax and Significant Items 

Energy Action has delivered growth in the abovementioned Key Financial Metrics. Revenue growth was driven 
predominantly by a stronger performance in the Projects and Advisory (PAS) division and a recovery in Contract 
Management and Environmental Reporting (CMER) revenues. Good cost management and a non-repeat of a 
prior period bad debt write-offs resulted in EBITDA growth of 36.9%.

29  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
Operating Cash Flow was particularly strong at $6.6 million up 14% over the prior period. This result was 
achieved through a continued focus on working capital management and underpins the strength of the 
operating result. 

Further details of the operating results are set out below. 

Revenue $

Procurement

Monitoring

PAS

Other revenue

Total Revenue

FY16

FY15

7,586,787

18,059,913

7,930,792

401,216

8,263,626

16,691,706

6,698,594

395,289

33,978,708

32,049,215

vs FY15 $

-676,839

1,368,207

1,232,198

5,927

1,929,493

vs FY15 %

-8 2%

8 2%

18 4%

1 5%

6.0%

Note: FY15 allocation by product has been restated to be comparable with FY16 

Revenues

Revenue and other income for the year increased by $1.9 million (or 6%) from $32.05 million to $33.98 million 
mainly as a result of the following:

 ƒ Procurement revenue declined by 8% with growth in Structured Products being more than offset by declines 
in the very competitive Electricity Tender sector. A decline in auction revenues was experienced as fewer 
auctions were performed in the H2 FY16 than the prior corresponding period following the large number of 
contracts expiring in December 2015, coupled with shorter contract duration. An increase in average prices 
per MWh from $45.56 to $54.16 partly mitigated the drop in auction volume. Whilst customers numbers due 
to renew their services have been in line with expectations, the number of newly acquired customers has 
been lower in a very competitive market. 

 ƒ

 ƒ

Increased CMER revenue of 8% or $1.4 million to $18.1 million as the number of sites under active 
management grew by 407. 

Increased PAS revenue of $1.2 million, mainly driven by growth in the number of energy efficiency projects 
undertaken in FY16. 

Operating expenditure

Strong cost management actions resulted in a reduction of operating overheads by $0.4 million to $22.6 million 
for the year. $16.2 million (or 72% of total overhead costs) related to employee costs which were slightly up from 
$16 million in FY15. The reduction in overheads was driven by the following key items:

 ƒ Higher staff expenses due to annual salary increases and higher incentive pay as a result of the improved 

operating result. This was partly offset by lower share based payments expense as grants made in previous 
periods did not vest due to non-market vesting conditions not being satisfied. 

 ƒ Lower travel, office rental and advertising costs. These were partly offset by higher computer 

maintenance costs.

 ƒ Bad debt expenses of $0.1 million is $0.4 million lower than the previous year. This included write-offs 

associated with the resolution of some historic accounts receivable issues.

30  

ENERGY ACTIONFinancial position

Net assets decreased from $13.5 million at 30 June 2015 to $12 million at 30 June 2016 mainly as a result of 
the statutory loss incurred of $0.45 million and the payment of dividends of $1.0 million. 

The Group has a five year, $12 million multi-option facility agreement that expires in October 2019. Funds 
can be provided under the facility as loans, bank guarantees or as letters of credit. As at 30 June 2016, the 
Company had utilised $7.5 million of the facility comprising a loan of $4.25 million and bank guarantees of $3.27 
million. The bank guarantees are principally in relation to the final deferred consideration payable on the Energy 
Advice acquisition on 18th August 2016. The Group had $1.2 million of cash at bank at 30 June 2016, resulting 
in net available funding of $5.68 million, up from $3 million in FY15.

Operating Cash Flow

Operating cash flows before interest, tax and significant items of $6.6 million were generated during the year, an 
increase of 12% compared to the previous period. Operating cash flow before interest, tax and significant items 
was 102% of Operating EBITDA, a significant increase from the previous period and reflects management’s 
focus on managing and improving cash flows.

Reconciliation of Operating Cash Flow before interest, tax and significant items

Statutory operating cash flow

Add back:

Taxes paid

Interest paid 

Cash flows related to significant items

Other

Operating cash flow before interest, tax and significant items

Operating EBITDA

Operating cash flow as % of Operating EBITDA

30 June 2016

946,283

30 June 2015

2,564,520

1,093,603

299,062

4,311,399

(6,173)

6,644,174

6,544,407

102%

1,760,364

128,989

1,472,973

-

5,926,846

4,782,493

124%

A second half fully franked dividend of 3.52 cents per share was declared on 18 August 2016, bringing total 
fully franked dividends for the year to 6.32 cents per share, an increase of 73% compared to FY15. The FY16 
dividend reflects a payout ratio of 47% of the statutory net loss after tax adjusted for certain non-cash expenses 
as follows:

 ƒ Statutory loss

 ƒ Add back deferred consideration on acquisitions expensed for accounting purposes

 ƒ Less cash restructuring costs

31  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
Operating review and highlights

FY16 has been a year of consolidation and focus for Energy Action. The Group has largely delivered on the key 
objectives and priorities for the year. A number of system and process improvements have been implemented 
and several new growth initiatives are under way which are expected to drive revenue in FY17. 

Progress against the key objectives can be summarised as follows:

Key Objective

Result

Launch Energy Metrics Platinum (near real time data)

Launched June 2016

Increase PAS pipeline and utilization

Pipeline increased by $1 million, utilization improved

Tight cost control to realise cost synergies

Opex cost reduction vs FY15

Finance and CRM systems upgrades

System upgrades completed on time 

Complete brand migration to a single brand

All legacy brands migrated to Energy Action

Finalise product & service pilots ahead of FY17 launch

Embedded network business operational July 2016, Building 
efficiency upgrade products underway, Structured Products offerings 
in the market

Launch building efficiency benchmarking service “Expert Monitoring 
and Diagnostics Services (EMDS”)

Launched June 2016

Implement strategic partnership with SunEdison

Not implemented due to financial collapse of SunEdison

The financial collapse of SunEdison meant that the partnership focused on solar Power Purchase Agreements 
did not proceed and Energy Action is currently considering several alternative options for the commercial 
solar market. 

Procurement

The market for procurement services has become more competitive with increased broker concentration. Whilst 
the number of customers renewing services has been in line with expectations, the more competitive market 
has resulted in fewer new customers being acquired than was planned, especially in the second half. 

Procurement revenues declined 8% versus the prior period. The number of successful auctions declined by 332 
or 18% compared to FY15, with almost all of the decline experienced in the second half of FY16. As previously 
cited, a large number of contracts were due for renegotiation by December 2015 and this impacted the available 
market for both renewal and new contracts in the second half of FY16. Although average prices increased by 
almost $10/MWh, this was not enough to compensate for the lower auction volumes. 

Electricity tenders were down significantly from the prior period with a reduction in both the number of tenders 
performed and the average price realised per tender. Tenders continue to be a highly competitive area of 
the market.

Solid growth was achieved in Structured Products, with an increase in both service offerings and number of 
clients in FY16. 

Contract Management & Environmental Reporting (CMER)

Overall CMER revenue was up 8% versus the prior period with growth in the number of active core Energy 
Metrics sites up 391 sites to 6,962. CMER has historically been sold with a five year term, which is longer than 
the retail electricity contracts. Energy Action has experienced a reduction in the length of new contracts, with 
clients preferring to align the CMER contract with the retail contract length. 

The Energy Metrics Platinum service was launched in June 2016 with several customers already signed up and 
in the process of on-boarding this service. 

Energy Action’s first embedded network customer was signed during the year and will commence service 
delivery effective 1 July 2016 for 17 shopping centres.

32  

ENERGY ACTIONProject & Advisory Services (PAS)

PAS revenues increased 18% versus the prior period, with the majority of the growth coming from the Projects 
& Project Management and Engineering businesses, with a smaller increase in Analysis work. A significant 
client building services upgrade has been substantially delivered, which is the main revenue driver versus FY15. 
Improvements have been realised in staff utilization during the year as targeted. Energy Action secured an 
additional similar sized building services upgrade project late in FY16 which commenced delivery in June 2016.

Forward revenue

Forward revenue has reduced from $75.8 million as at June 30 2015 to $66.7 million at the end of FY16. The 
reduction is largely in CMER due to higher levels of cancellations of future start contracts than anticipated 
and clients are also looking to align the contract length of Energy Metrics contracts with their retail electricity 
contract. As noted above, his has resulted in an overall shortening of contract lengths however overall revenue 
generating contracts under active management have increased.

Of the $9.1 million reduction in future revenue, $5.2 million relates to future start contracts post 2021. In FY14, 
Energy Action changed sales processes to cap forward revenue contracts at a maximum of five years. 

The Company continues to focus on improving customer service and enhance the CMER offering, including the 
roll-out of the recently launched of Energy Metrics Platinum service.

Operational Key Performance Indicators

Future contracted revenue

Procurement

No  of successful AEX auctions

Average AEX contract duration (months)

TWhs sold via Auction (annualised equivalent)

Average $/MWh

Total Auction bid value1

No  of electricity tender events

Volume of electricity tenders (TWh)

No  of gas tender events

Volume of gas tenders (TJ)

Contract Management & Energy Reporting (CMER)

Sites under current contract2

Activ 8 / Energy Metrics

Bureau services

Data only contracts (MP / MDA)

Total sites under contract 

Average contract duration (months)

Projects & Advisory Services

Contracted future orders

1 Electricity component of contract only, i e  excluding network and other charges 
2 Does not include contracts which are signed, but yet to commence service delivery  

FY16

$66 7m

1,550

22 6

1 89

$54 16

$192m

29

2 31

70

11,891

6,962

6,179

2,547

15,688

50 1

FY15

$75 8m

1,882

24 4

2 55

$44 56

$231m

42

1 91

83

6,573

6,571

6,006

2,704

15,281

53

% change

-12%

-18%

-1 8 mths

-26%

+22%

-17%

-31%

+21%

-16%

+81%

No 

+391

+173

-157

+407

-2 9 months

$6 1m

$5 1m

20%

33  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Business strategy and prospects for future financial years

Energy Action’s purpose is to “Develop and deliver innovative solutions for the energy challenges of our time for 
our clients and the planet.” Energy Action continues to refine its strategy in response to changes in the dynamic 
energy markets, technologies and client expectations. 

During the year, Energy Action announced a new strategic plan with the following elements:

Extending the core solution reach via:

 ƒ

 ƒ

Improved customer segmentation, targeting and the provision of tailored offerings

Improved contract management offers, including the roll out of Energy Manager, Energy Bureau and Energy 
Metrics products including the launch of Energy Metrics Platinum real time cost and consumption data

 ƒ Enhanced product management and channel partner programs

 ƒ

Implementing a commercial building upgrade program to determine a building’s energy reduction 
opportunity, deliver this via an upgrade project and then verify through measuring the savings achieved.

Capitalising on macro industry trends including:

 ƒ Establishing a microgrid operation business. A microgrid is a small scale power grid that can operate 

independently or in conjunction with the area’s main grid operation incorporating integrated tenant metering 
and billing capabilities. 

 ƒ Expert Monitoring and Diagnostic Solutions (EMDS) for commercial building. EMDS provides continues 
NABERS benchmarking and fault diagnostics and has been developed in conjunction with an external 
software developer. This solution neatly fits with Energy Action’s capability to design and deliver building 
efficiency upgrades.

 ƒ Leveraging improved meter data to offer innovative solutions to the SME segments

 ƒ Leveraging capability and wholesale markets data to offer Structured Products to sophisticated energy users. 

Energy Action has a highly scalable technology platform whereby it can grow Procurement and Contract 
Management customer numbers without significant increase in operational resources, both in terms of 
headcount and IT infrastructure. 

The Group remains focussed on organic growth, with the main priority being acquiring and retaining customers 
aligned to core Procurement and Contract Management activities. However, should suitable M&A opportunities 
aligned to the core strategy become apparent, these will be considered subject to meeting Energy Action’s 
financial hurdle rates. 

34  

ENERGY ACTIONRisks to achieving financial outcomes in relation to future prospects

Energy Action identifies major risks using an enterprise wide risk program. Energy Action faces a wide variety 
of risks due to the nature of the industry it which it operates. In relation to each risk, Energy Action has in place 
actions to reduce the likelihood of the risk eventuation and / or to reduce, as far as practicable, the adverse 
consequences of the risk should it occur. Many of the risks are influenced by factors external to, and beyond the 
control of Energy Action. Details of Energy Action’s main risks and the related mitigations are set out below:

Risk

Regulatory risk

Risk Description

The risk of unforeseen changes in 
government policy or regulation impacting 
ongoing operations 

Failure to deliver against customer obligations The risk that Energy Action is unable to meet 

its contractual obligations to customers for 
the delivery of services  

Increasing competition

The risk that Energy Action is unable to 
differentiate from competitors 

Energy pricing

Earnings and Cash Flow

Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S)

The risk of lower energy pricing leading to 
less focus on Energy Procurement 

The risk of failing to maintain adequate 
earnings and funding to finance growth 
objectives and to generate adequate returns 
for shareholders  

The risk of not operating safely and in 
accordance with relevant legislation leading to 
an employee injury 

Employee engagement and performance

The risk of failing to attract and retain the 
best talent available 

Potential consequences and mitigation 
strategies

Potential earnings impacts of unpredicted 
policy or regulatory changes to be mitigated 
by ongoing monitoring of the political/
regulatory environment 

Potential earnings and reputational impact 
from failure to deliver contracted services 
mitigated by review of service delivery 
capabilities, development of risk management 
plans and implementation of continuous 
improvement programmes 

Potential earnings impact from lost sales 
countered by expanded product offerings 
from procurement through to energy 
monitoring and energy efficiency projects 

Potential earnings impact from lower energy 
prices to be mitigated by alternate service 
offers in the PAS and compliance space  

Potential earnings impact mitigated by 
improved operational performance, timely 
and transparent market disclosures and 
maintenance of strong relationships with 
banks and shareholders

Potential for employee injury and Company 
reputation addressed by OH&S systems and 
practices giving particular prominence to site 
works undertaken by the Project and Advisory 
Services group  To be mitigated by ongoing 
training and updates to OH&S policies  

Impacts on performance due to unavailability 
of talent mitigated by formal succession 
plans, staff development plans and 
remuneration strategies 

Environmental issues

The Group’s operations are not regulated by any significant environmental regulation under a law of the 
Commonwealth or of a state or territory.

35  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Meetings of Directors

The number of meetings of Directors (including meetings of committees of Directors) held during the year and 
the number of meetings attended by each Director was as follows:

Board Meeting

Audit & Risk Committee

Remuneration Committee

Nomination Committee

No  Eligible 
to attend

No  Attended

No  Eligible 
to attend

No  Attended

No  Eligible 
to attend

No  Attended

No  Eligible 
to attend

No  Attended

Murray Bleach

Ronald Watts

Paul Meehan

Nitin Singhi

Mark de Kock

Valerie Duncan

Philip Randall

12

12

12

11

11

2

0

12

12

12

11

11

2

0

3

0

3

3

0

1

0

Indemnifying Officers or Auditor

3

0

3

3

0

1

0

3

0

3

3

3

0

0

3

0

3

3

3

0

0

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

0

0

During or since the end of the financial year, the Company has given an indemnity or entered into an agreement 
to indemnify, or paid or agreed to pay insurance premiums as follows:

 ƒ The Company has paid premiums to insure each of the Directors against liabilities for costs and expenses 
incurred by them in defending legal proceedings arising from their conduct while acting in the capacity of 
Director of the Company, other than conduct involving a wilful breach of duty in relation to the Company.

 ƒ To the extent permitted by law, the Company has agreed to indemnify its auditors, Ernst & Young, as 

part of the terms of its audit engagement agreement against claims by third parties arising from the audit 
(for an unspecified amount). No payment has been made to indemnify Ernst & Young during or since the 
financial year. 

Proceedings on Behalf of Company

No person has applied for leave of Court to bring proceedings on behalf of the Company or intervene in any 
proceedings to which the Company is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Company 
for all or any part of those proceedings. The Company was not a party to any such proceeding during the year.

Non-audit Services

The Board of Directors, in accordance with advice from the audit and risk management committee, is satisfied 
that the provision of non-audit services during the year is compatible with the general standard of independence 
for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. The Directors are satisfied that the services disclosed below 
did not compromise the external auditor’s independence for the following reasons:

 ƒ all non-audit services are reviewed and approved by the audit committee prior to commencement to ensure 

they do not adversely affect the integrity and objectivity of the auditor; and,

 ƒ

the nature of the services provided does not compromise the general principles relating to auditor 
independence in accordance with APES 110: Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants set by the 
Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board.

The following fees were paid or payable to Ernst & Young for non-audit services provided during the year ended 
30 June 2016: 

Tax compliance 
Other services 
Total 

$ 
18,425 
10,500 
28,925

36  

ENERGY ACTION 
Auditor’s Independence Declaration

The auditor’s independence declaration for the year ended 30 June 2016 has been received and can be found 
on the following page of the financial report.

37  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Ernst & Young 
200 George Street 
Sydney  NSW  2000 Australia 
GPO Box 2646 Sydney  NSW  2001 

Tel: +61 2 9248 5555 
Fax: +61 2 9248 5959 
ey.com/au 

Auditor’s Independence Declaration to the Directors of Energy Action 
Limited 

As lead auditor for the audit of Energy Action Limited for the financial year ended 30 June 2016, I 
declare to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been: 

a)  no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in 

relation to the audit; and   

b)  no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit. 

This declaration is in respect of Energy Action Limited and the entities it controlled during the financial 
year. 

Ernst & Young 

P S Barnard 
Partner 
Sydney 
18 August 2016  

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 

38  

ENERGY ACTION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration Report (Audited)

The directors present the Remuneration Report for Energy Action Limited (“Company”) and its consolidated 
entities (“Group”) for the year ended 30 June 2016.

1. 

Remuneration Framework

1.1. 

Role of the Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee ensures that the remuneration of directors and senior executives is consistent 
with market practice and sufficient to ensure that the Group can attract, develop and retain the best individuals. 
The committee review directors’ fees, and remuneration of the CEO and senior executives against the market, 
Group and individual performance.

The committee consisted of four non-executive directors, namely Nitin Singhi (Chairman), Murray Bleach, Mark 
de Kock and Paul Meehan. Nitin Singhi and Mark De Kock joined the Committee in August 2015. Nitin Singhi 
was appointed Chairman in November 2015 when Murray Bleach stood down as Chairman of the Committee 
following his appointment as Chairman of the Board. Valerie Duncan resigned from the Committee effective 31 
August 2015. The committee charter is available on the Group’s website.

The committee oversees governance procedures and policy on remuneration including:

 ƒ General remuneration practices,

 ƒ Performance management,

 ƒ Sales commission schemes, and

 ƒ Recruitment and termination.

Through the committee, the board ensures the company’s remuneration philosophy and strategy continues to 
be designed to:

 ƒ Attract, develop and retain Board and executive talent,

 ƒ Create a high performance culture by driving and rewarding executives for achievement of the Group’s 

strategy and business objectives, and

 ƒ Link incentives to the creation of shareholder value.

In undertaking its work, the committee seeks advice as required.

1.2. 

 Key Management Personnel

Key Management Personnel (“KMP”) are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, 
directing and controlling the activities of the entity, directly or indirectly, including any director of the Company or 
subsidiaries. The following persons were KMPs during the financial year. Unless otherwise indicated, they were 
KMPs for the entire year.

1.2.1.  Non-Executive directors

Murray Bleach 
Dr Ronald Watts  
Paul Meehan 
Nitin Singhi 
Mark De Kock 
Valerie Duncan   
Philip Randall 

Non-Executive Chairman  
Non-Executive Director 
Non-Executive Director 
Non-Executive Director (appointed effective 12 August 2015) 
Non-Executive Director (appointed effective 17 August 2015) 
Non-Executive Director (resigned effective 31 August 2015) 
Non-Executive Director (passed away 4 July 2015)

39  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
 
 
 
1.2.2.  Senior executives (not directors of the board)

Scott Wooldridge 
Michael Fahey 

Chief Executive Officer  
Chief Financial Officer 

1.3. 

Remuneration Consultants

Where necessary, the Board seeks advice from independent experts and advisors including remuneration 
consultants. Remuneration consultants are used to ensure that remuneration packages are appropriately 
structured and are consistent with comparable roles in the market. Remuneration consultants are approved 
by, and recommendations provided directly to, non-executive directors (the remuneration committee). When 
remuneration consultants are engaged, the remuneration committee ensures that the appropriate level of 
independence exists from the Group’s management.

1.4. 

Long term incentive scheme

Purpose and type of equity awarded

The Group operates a long term incentive scheme (LTI) for its senior executives. The LTI is governed by the 
Performance Rights and Options Plan (PROP), under which performance rights (not options) are granted to 
participants. Each performance right entitles the participant to one share in Energy Action for nil consideration at 
the time of vesting subject to meeting the conditions outlined below.

The LTI aligns key employee awards with sustainable growth in shareholder value over time. It also plays an 
important role in employee recruitment and retention.

Number of instruments awarded

As at 30 June 2016, the PROP accounted for 3.6% (FY15 2.7%) of issued securities of the Group, made up of 
928,302 (FY15 710,273) performance rights. 

Valuation

The fair value of any LTI grant is a determined by an external valuation at the time of the grant.

Performance hurdles

For the 2016 LTI allocation, the two performance hurdles that apply to the Performance Rights for vesting over 
either a two or three year period commencing 1 July 2015 were:

 ƒ an Earnings Per Share (EPS) component (75% weighting) achieved by comparing the Company’s Actual 

Operating EPS for the year ending on the relevant test date to the Company’s Budget Operating EPS ending 
on the relevant test date. For vesting to occur the actual EPS must meet or exceed the board approved 
budgeted EPS. 

 ƒ a Total Shareholder Return (TSR) component (25% weighting) achieved by comparing the Company’s total 
compounded return to the total compounded return of the S&P/ASX300 (Index) for the year ending on the 
relevant test date. Fifty percent of the performance right that is subject to the relative performance hurdle 
vests if the EAX total compounded return is equal to the total compounded return of the Index over the 
vesting period. One hundred percent will vest if EAX achieves a total compounded return of 1.10 times the 
total compounded return of the Index over the vesting period. If EAX’s total return is in between the total 
compounded return of the Index and 1.10 times the total compounded return of the Index, the percentage 
that will vest will be determined on a linear basis. 

LTI Outcomes

The EPS hurdle was not met during 2016. The Energy Action TSR for the period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 
2016 was 28.3% compared to the benchmark ASX300 index which returned negative 4.8%. Accordingly, one 
hundred percent of the TSR component will vest upon completion of service obligations. 

40  

ENERGY ACTION 
2. 

Remuneration

2.1. 

Fees payable to non-executive directors

Fees paid to non-executive directors reflect the demands which are made on, and the responsibilities of, 
directors. Directors’ fees are reviewed annually by the board. Directors who chair or are members of a 
committee do not receive fees for these services.

The board considers the advice of independent remuneration consultants to ensure directors’ fees are 
appropriate and in line with the market. The chairman’s fees are determined independently to the fees of 
directors and are based on comparative roles in the market. The chairman is not present at any discussion 
relating to the determination of his remuneration. Directors’ fees are determined within an aggregate fee pool 
limit approved by shareholders. This is currently set at $400,000 per annum.

The annual fee structure for non-executive directors for the year ended 30 June 2016, including superannuation, 
was as follows:

Base fee 

Non-Executive Chairman  

Non-Executive Directors   

$

90,000

75,000

The above fees include committee membership. The tables at the end of this remuneration report provide details 
of fees paid during the financial year to each non-executive director. 

2.2. 

Senior executives

The framework for the remuneration senior executives consists of a mix of fixed and variable remuneration. The 
components are:

 ƒ Base remuneration package and benefits, inclusive of superannuation (Total Fixed Remuneration)

 ƒ Short-term Incentive – based on the Group’s, team and individual performance and results delivered against 

pre-determined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

 ƒ Long Term Incentive – governed by the Performance Rights and Options Plan (PROP)

The combination of the above components comprises the executive’s total remuneration. 

The Group undertakes a market benchmarking analysis and provide recommendations. The market analysis 
considers the target total remuneration opportunity as well as its core components and the mix of those 
components. In addition, the information also contains a view on market and emerging trends in executive 
remuneration structures and the mix of fixed and performance based remuneration arrangements. The agreed 
remuneration mix for the CEO and CFO for the year ended 30 June 2016 was:

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer 

Short-Term Incentive (STI)

Fixed Component

Bonus Component

LTI Component

67%

74%

19%

14%

14%

12%

The STI is based upon performance against the Group balanced scorecard and results from the Group’s 
performance review process. Mid-year and final year performance reviews measure performance against 
established KPI’s and criteria which are compiled in a matrix comprising Group and individual components. The 
specific company measures include profitability, revenue growth and customer satisfaction. Individual measures 
are developed having regard to functional plans and targets, aligned to the company balanced scorecard. 

The outcome of the performance review process is a rating, applied to each of these three components for an 
individual, culminating in a percentage (capped at 125%). The final percentage allocated to each person is then 
applied to the STI potential to determine the actual STI payment to be made to an individual. 

41  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
The performance matrix used to determine actual STI earnings against the STI potential for the CEO and CFO is:

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer 

Company

85%

70%

Individual

15%

30%

The Board is responsible for assessing the performance of the CEO. The CEO is responsible for assessing the 
performance of other executives.

Bonus payments are made annually, where applicable, in September in relation to the preceding year. 

The actual percentage of STI potential and LTI potential earned by the CEO and CFO for the year ended 30 
June 2016 was:

Scott Wooldridge

Michael Fahey 

% of Bonus Potential

% LTI Potential

38%

71%

25%

25%

The STI potential for each individual is set at the beginning of the year, having regard to service agreement terms 
and conditions, and relates to the appropriate extent of the at-risk component of the executive’s remuneration. 
The broader company performance criteria ensure that an overall management focus is maintained by the 
executives, however the inclusion of individual criteria is also necessary to ensure that each person is recognised 
and rewarded for their individual contribution and efforts. 

3. 

Service agreements

On appointment, all non-executive directors enter into an agreement which outlines obligations and minimum 
terms and conditions.

Remuneration and other terms of employment for the CEO and other key management personnel are formalised 
in employment agreements. Each of these agreements specify the components of remuneration to which they 
are entitled and outline base salary, eligibility for incentives and other benefits including superannuation.

Key terms for the CEO and CFO are as follows:

Name

Term of agreement

Termination*

Scott Wooldridge

On-going (no fixed term)

Michael Fahey

On-going (no fixed term)

3 months base salary termination by company or 3 months 
termination by executive

12 weeks base salary termination by company or 12 weeks 
termination by executive

*  Termination benefits are payable at the option of the company in lieu of notice, other than termination for cause 

42  

ENERGY ACTION 
4. 

Remuneration tables

4.1. 

 Remuneration table for the year ended 30 June 2016

Details of remuneration of directors and KMP of the Group for the 2016 financial year are set out in the following 
table. The KMP are considered to be the CEO and CFO only.

$

Short term benefits

Post 
employment 
benefits

Long term benefits

Share based 
payments

Total

Cash salary 
and fees

Additional 
fees

Cash 
bonus

Non- 
monetary 
benefits

Super

Termination 
benefits

Long 
service 
leave 

Performance 
rights

Total

Non-executive directors

Murray Bleach

Paul Meehan

Ronald Watts

Nitin Singhi3

Valerie Duncan1

Mark de Kock2

Sub-total

Executives 

Scott Wooldridge

Michael Fahey

Sub-total

Total 

78,153

68,493

75,730

60,721

11,416

59,931

354,445

342,052

270,867

612,909

967,354

Notes
1 Valerie Duncan resigned effective 31 August 2015 
2 Mark de Kock appointed 17 August 2015 
3 Nitin Singhi was appointed 12 August 2015 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

- 39,225

- 38,000

- 77,225

- 77,225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

7,424

6,507

7,194

5,769

5,694

1,084

33,672

19,308

19,308

38,616

72,288

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

85,577

75,000

82,924

66,490

12,500

65,628

388,116

54,522

455,107

26,549

354,724

81,071

809,831

81,071

1,197,948

43  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
4.2 

Remuneration table for the year ended 30 June 2015

Details of remuneration of directors and KMP of the Group for the 2015 financial year are set out in the 
following table.

$

Short term benefits

Post 
employment 
benefits

Long term 
benefits

Long term 
benefits

Share based 
payments

Total

Cash salary 
and fees

Additional 
fees

Cash 
bonus

Non- 
monetary 
benefits

Super

Termination 
benefits

Long 
service 
leave

Performance 
rights

Total

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4,810

-

-

-

-

-

-

80,000

60,000

60,000

60,000

84,620

344,620

57,622

418,975

-

-

125,452

57,788

50,481

-

(11,456)

4,810

4,810

46,166

652,696

46,166

997,316

Non-executive directors

Ronald Watts

Paul Meehan

Stephen Twaddell3

Valerie Duncan

Murray Bleach

Sub-total

Executives 

Scott Wooldridge

Michael Fahey1

Philip Randall2

Nathan Francis1

Sub-total

Total

73,060

54,795

54,795

54,795

77,279

314,724

342,570

116,060

47,580

53,800

560,010

874,734

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,000

3,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6,940

5,205

5,205

5,205

7,341

29,896

18,783

9,392

4,520

5,137

37,832

67,728

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

878

-

878

878

Notes
1 Michael Fahey commenced employment as CFO effective 19 January 2015  Nathan Francis resigned as CFO on 31 October 2014  
2 Does not include deferred consideration associated with the Energy Advice acquisition 
3 Resigned 30 June 2015 

44  

ENERGY ACTION 
Relative Proportion of Remuneration 

The relative proportion of remuneration of KMP that was linked to performance and those that were fixed are 
as follows:

Name

Fixed Remuneration

At Risk – Cash Bonus  
/ Other 

At Risk – Securities

2016 %

2015 %

2016 %

2015 %

2016 %

2015 %

Non-executive directors

Murray Bleach

Dr  Ronald Watts

Paul Meehan

Nitin Singhi^

Mark de Kock^^

Executives

Scott Wooldridge

Michael Fahey 

100

100

100

100

100

63

73

100

100

100

100

100

75

N/A

-

-

-

-

-

18

13

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

19

13

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

25

n/a

^  Commenced as a non-executive Director effective 12 August 2015 
^^ Commenced as a non-executive Director effective 17 August 2015 

Performance holdings of key management personnel

On 16 October 2015, 112,000 rights were granted to Michael Fahey under the PROP plan. Vesting only occurs 
when and if service and performance conditions are met. 

The following table lists any Performance Rights which are still to vest, or have yet to expire: 

Series

Grant date

Number

Series A

Series A

Series A

Series A

Series A

Series F

Series F

Series F

2 December 2013*

2 December 2013*

2 December 2013*

2 December 2013*

2 December 2013*

16 October 2015*

16 October 2015*

16 October 2015*

42,188

9,747

14,063

14,063

14,063

42,000

14,000

14,000

Date vested and 
exercisable

31 August 20171

31 August 20171

31 August 20171

31 August 20171

31 August 20171

31 August 20172

31 August 20172

31 August 20172

*  Denotes Performance Rights for which no consideration is payable on exercise  
1  Performance Rights Series A which were granted to Scott Wooldridge 
2   Performance Rights Series F which were granted to Michael Fahey 

Expiry date 

Exercise price

Value per 
Performance Right 
at grant date

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

$0 00

$0 00

$0 00

$0 00

$0 00

$0 00

$0 00

$0 00

$2 06

$3 01

$2 08

$2 08

$2 08

$1 13

$0 99

$0 66

45  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
Fair value of Performance Rights

The fair value of each Performance Right is estimated on the date the Performance Rights are granted using 
a Monte Carlo Simulation valuation model. The following assumptions were considered in the valuation of 
Performance Rights issued during the year ended June 30, 2016:

Grant date share price ($)

Exercise price ($)

Dividend yield

Expected volatility

Risk-free interest rate

Life of Option1

$1 22

$0 00

3 65c per share, growing at 20% per year

45%

1 84%

2 years

1  Performance Rights will be exercised immediately upon vesting as there is no exercise price 

All Performance Rights granted for the benefit of the Chief Executive Officer have a four-year vesting period. 
All Performance Rights granted for the benefit of other employees vest in equal proportions on an annual basis 
over either two or three years. The Performance Rights are exercisable immediately at vesting date, subject to 
achievement of the relevant performance hurdles.

The following tables outline the movements in Performance Rights balances of Directors and the KMP during 
the 2016 financial year, and those Performance Rights which have vested at the year-end. 

Total value of performance rights issued:

30 June 2016

Balance at 
1 July 2015

Granted

Grant Date

Options 
exercised

Options 
cancelled/ 
forfeited/ other 

Options 
expired 
without 
exercise

Net change

Balance 
at end of 
period

Amount 
vested at 
June 30, 
2016

$

S  Wooldridge

261,080

$

-

-

M  Fahey

Total

- 120,043 16/10/2015

261,080 120,043

$

-

-

-

$

(86,539)

(49,560)

(136,099)

$

-

-

-

$

$

(86,539)

174,541

70,483

70,483

(16,056)

245,024

$

-

-

-

Total number of performance rights issued:

30 June 2016

Balance 
at 1 July 
2015

Granted

Grant Date

Options 
exercised 

Options 
cancelled/ 
forfeited/ other 

Options 
expired 
without 
exercise

Net change

Balance 
at end of 
period

Amount 
vested at 
June 30, 
2016

S  Wooldridge

122,248

No 

-

-

M  Fahey

Total

-

112,000

16/10/2015

122,248

112,000

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

No 

-

-

-

(42,188)

(42,000)

(84,188)

-

-

-

(42,188)

80,060

70,000

70,000

27,812

150,060

-

-

-

46  

ENERGY ACTION 
Shareholdings of key management 
personnel 30 June 2016

Balance 1 July 2015

Net change 

Balance 30 June 2016

Directors

Murray Bleach

Dr  Ronald Watts

Paul Meehan

Nitin Singhi

Mark De Kock

Executives

Scott Wooldridge

Michael Fahey

Total

74,380

1,696,739

4,749,134

-

-

-

-

198,775

33,632

49,859

3,000

-

-

-

273,155

1,730,371

4,798,993

3,000

-

-

-

6,520,253

285,266

6,805,519

Shareholdings of key management 
personnel 30 June 2015

Balance 1 July 2014

Net change 

Balance 30 June 2015

Directors

Murray Bleach

Dr  Ronald Watts

Paul Meehan

Stephen Twaddell

Valerie Duncan

Philip Randall

Executives

Scott Wooldridge

Michael Fahey

Total

-

1,659,898

4,727,091

1,796,209

750,000

-

-

-

74,380

36,841

22,043

33,231

10,000

123,356

-

-

74,380

1,696,739

4,749,134

1,829,440

760,000

123,356

-

-

8,933,198

299,851

9,233,049

47  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
Transactions with related parties

Transactions between related parties are on normal commercial terms and conditions no more favourable than 
those available to other parties unless otherwise stated. Outstanding balances at year end are unsecured and 
interest free. No guarantees have been provided or received. 

The following transactions occurred with related parties:

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015 
$

Key Management Personnel

Meehan’s Solicitors Pty Ltd – Legal services rendered 

1,668

6,484

4.4 

Company Performance

The Group reported positive results for the financial year ended 30 June 2016 with Operating net profit after tax 
of $3.5 million compared to $2.4 million in the prior year. 

Revenue & other income ($000’s)

Net profit / (loss) after tax ($000’s)

Operating profit after tax ($000’s)

FY16

33,978

(449)

3,520

FY15

32,049

(2,148)

2,395

FY14

25,655

3,512

4,504

FY13

22,166

4,376

4,867

FY12

17,372

3,611

3,975

Earnings per share – Operating

13 56 cents

9 22 cents

17 29 cents

19 48 cents

15 13 cents

Market capitalisation 

Closing share price

$30 6m

$1 18

$23 9m

$0 92

$81 3m

$3 15

$76m

$3 00

$44m

$1 77

This director’s report is signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

Murray Bleach 
Director

Dated: 18 August 2016

48  

ENERGY ACTIONCorporate Governance Statement

Energy Action Limited (“Energy Action”) is committed to the achievement of superior financial performance and 
long-term prosperity, while meeting stakeholders’ expectations of sound corporate governance practices. The 
Energy Action Board determines the corporate governance arrangements. As with all its business activities, 
Energy Action is proactive in respect of corporate governance and puts in place those arrangements which it 
considers are in the best interests of shareholders, and consistent with its responsibilities to other stakeholders. 

This statement, as a listed entity, must comply with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the ASX Listing Rules 
and other Australian and international laws. ASX Listing rules require the company to report on the extent 
to which it has followed the Corporate Governance Recommendations contained in the ASX Corporate 
Governance Council’s third edition of its Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (ASXCGC 
Recommendations). The Principles can be viewed at www.asx.com.au. The Principles are not prescriptive; 
however, listed entities (including Energy Action) are required to disclose the extent of their compliance with the 
Principles, and to explain why they have not adopted a Principle (the ‘if not, why not’ approach). The Principles 
have operated throughout the year unless otherwise indicated.

The table at the end of this statement provides cross references between the disclosures and statements in this 
Corporate Governance statement and the relevant ASX Principles.

1. 

The Board of Directors

The Board operates in accordance with the general principles set out in its Charter which can be viewed in the 
Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website.

1.1 

Role of the Board

The role of the Board is to create sustainable shareholder wealth in a manner consistent with the Company’s 
constitution and principles of good corporate governance. The Board achieves this by representing the interests 
of shareholders in setting and overseeing the company’s values, direction, strategies, financial objectives and 
performance within a framework of prudent and effective controls for the assessment and management of risk. 
The Board has adopted a formal charter of Directors’ functions and matters that are delegated to management, 
having regard to the recommendations in the Principles.

An outline of the Board’s responsibilities under the charter is set out below:

Strategic Direction 

 ƒ Oversight of the strategic direction for Energy Action and endorsing Energy Action’s strategy developed by 

the Chief Executive Officer (CEO); 

 ƒ Decision making in relation to matters of a sensitive or extraordinary nature; 

 ƒ Providing advice and counsel to management on a periodic and ad hoc basis; and, 

 ƒ Ensuring management implement the policies and decisions of the Board.

Governance 

 ƒ Undertaking all reasonable measures to ensure best practice corporate governance; 

 ƒ Monitoring the performance of the CEO and approving senior management remuneration policies and 

practices; 

 ƒ Reporting to shareholders.

Compliance

 ƒ Undertaking all reasonable measures to ensure that appropriate compliance frameworks and controls are in 

place and are operating effectively;

 ƒ Approving and monitoring the effectiveness of and compliance with policies governing the operations of 

Energy Action.

49  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Risk Management

 ƒ Monitoring the integrity of internal control and reporting systems; and,

 ƒ Monitoring strategic risk management systems, including the review of processes for identifying areas 

of significant business risk, monitoring risk management policies and procedures, monitoring insurance 
coverage and oversight of internal controls and review of major assumptions used in the calculation of 
significant risk exposure.

Operating Performance 

 ƒ Approving decisions concerning the capital of Energy Action, including capital restructures; 

 ƒ Reviewing and approving the annual operating budget, the annual and half-yearly statutory financial 

statements and monitoring the financial results on an on-going basis; and, 

 ƒ Determining dividend policy and approving dividends.

Operational Development 

 ƒ The appointment of the CEO and the approval of the succession plan; and, 

 ƒ Endorsing the appointment of the CEO’s direct reports.

The Energy Action Constitution 

The Energy Action Constitution is Energy Action’s key governance document. The Board ensures that it and 
Energy Action complies with the provisions of the Constitution.

Compliance with Laws 

Energy Action recognises that it must comply with the Corporations Act, as well as all other applicable laws. The 
ASX Listing Rules are also applicable. Examples of applicable areas of regulation include: 

 ƒ AFSL Compliance; 

 ƒ Occupational health and safety legislation; 

 ƒ Employment related laws; 

 ƒ Environmental protection legislation; 

 ƒ Anti-discrimination legislation; 

 ƒ Taxation legislation; and, 

 ƒ Competition and Consumer Act 2010

As a company which is planning to operate in other jurisdictions, Energy Action recognises that it must ensure 
that it is aware of and complies with all applicable laws in those jurisdictions.

At least once each year, the Directors will review this Charter and approve any required amendments including 
those required to comply with the ASX Principles.

1.2 

Composition of the Board

It is intended that the Board should comprise a majority of non-executive Directors with a broad range of skills, 
expertise and experience, consistent with the Energy Action Diversity & Inclusion Policy.

The appointment and removal of Directors is governed by Energy Action’s Constitution. Under Energy Action’s 
Constitution the Board must comprise of a minimum of three (3) Directors. The Board is responsible for selecting 
and approving its own candidates to fill any casual vacancies that may arise on the Board with the assistance of 
the Nomination Committee. Directors who have been appointed to fill casual vacancies must offer themselves 
for re-election at the next annual general meeting of Energy Action. In addition, at each annual general meeting, 
at least one Director must be a candidate for re-election and no Director shall serve more than three years 
without being a candidate for re-election.

50  

ENERGY ACTIONIn July 2015, Philip Randall, a non-executive Director passed away suddenly. In August 2015 Mrs Valerie 
Duncan, a non-executive Director retired from the Board. On the 12th August 2015, Mr Nitin Singhi, was 
appointed as an independent non-executive Director and on the 17th August 2015, Mr Mark de Kock, joined 
the Board as a non-executive Director. Profiles of these Directors, including details of their skills, experience and 
expertise can be found in the Directors’ report.

The composition post the above Director changes is a five member Board comprising of 5 non-executive 
Directors of which 2 are independent (Murray Bleach and Nitin Singhi). This is in line with the Board seeking to 
sustain and improve shareholder value by adding independent Directors progressively. 

At the 2015 AGM, Dr. Ronald Watts stood down as Chairman of the Board and Murray Bleach was elected 
Chairman. 

The Company Secretary is accountable directly to the Board, through the Chairman, on all matters to do with 
the proper functioning of the Board.

1.3 

Independence

The independence of Directors is determined by objective criteria acknowledged as being desirable to protect 
investor interests and optimise the financial performance and returns to investors. The Board regularly assesses 
the independence of its Directors. In determining the status of a Director, Energy Action considers that a Director 
is independent when he or she is independent of management and free of any business or other relationship 
that could materially interfere with, or could reasonably be perceived to interfere with the exercise of unfettered 
and independent judgement. Energy Action’s criteria for assessing independence is in line with standards set by 
the Principles.

The Board requires each Director to disclose any new information, matter or relationship which could, or could 
reasonably be perceived to, impair the Director’s independence, as soon as these come to light. All material 
personal interests are verified at each Board meeting under a standing agenda item. 

The Board also has procedures in place to ensure it operates independently of management. Non-executive 
Directors meet together periodically in the absence of executives of the company to discuss the operation of the 
Board and a range of other matters.

The Board believes the separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman being an 
independent Director and the balance of the Board comprising 1 independent and 3 non-independent Directors 
is appropriate.

Directors’ shareholdings are set out in the Remuneration Report.

1.4 

Term of office and re-election of Directors

At appointment, each non-executive Director of Energy Action has received a letter of appointment which 
details the key terms of their appointment, including their powers, rights and obligations. Energy Action’s senior 
executives, including the CEO, have formalised job descriptions and, as with all Energy Action employees, 
letters of appointment.

The Board has established a Nomination Committee which as at 30 June 2016 consisted of an independent 
Chairman, Nitin Singhi, Murray Bleach, Dr Ronald Watts and Paul Meehan.

A copy of the Nomination Committee Charter which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Committee is 
available on the company’s website.

In making recommendations to the Board regarding the appointment of Directors, the Nomination Committee 
assesses the appropriate mix of skills, experience and expertise required by the Board and assesses the 
extent to which the required skills and experience are represented on the Board. When a vacancy exists, the 
Nomination Committee determines the selection criteria based on the skills deemed necessary. The Committee 
identifies potential candidates, and if appropriate, will utilise an external consultant to assist in identifying 
potential candidates. The Board then appoints the most suitable candidate.

51  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 The company will undertake appropriate background checks and screening checks prior to nominating a 
Director for election by shareholders and provides to shareholders all material information in its possession 
concerning the Director standing for election or re-election in the explanatory notes to accompany the notice 
of meeting.

New Directors will participate in an induction program to assist them to understand Energy Action’s business 
and the particular issues it faces.

All Directors are elected by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting following their appointment and 
thereafter subject to re-election at least once every three years.

1.5 

Access to information and independent advice

The Board collectively has the right to seek independent professional advice as it sees fit. Each Director 
individually has the right to seek independent professional advice, subject to the approval of the Chairman. All 
Directors have direct access to the Company Secretary.

Directors also have complete access to the senior management team. In addition to regular reports by senior 
management to the Board meetings, Directors may seek briefings from senior management on specific matters 
and are entitled to request additional information at any time when they consider it appropriate.

2. 

Board Committees

The Board generally operates as a whole across the range of its responsibilities but, to increase its effectiveness, 
uses committees where closer attention to particular matters is required. The role of the Board Committees 
is to make recommendations to the Board on matters set out in each Committee’s Charter. The Charters for 
the Audit & Risk Management, Remuneration and Nomination Committees are available on the corporate 
governance section of the Company’s website.

The Audit & Risk Management Committee (ARMC) and the Remuneration & Nomination Committees 
composition as at 30 June 2016 are set out below. Details regarding the number of Board meetings and 
Committee meetings held during the year and the attendance of each member will be set out in the 2016 
Annual Report. 

2.1 

Audit & Risk Management Committee

Members

The Audit & Risk Management Committee as at 30 June 2016 comprises Nitin Singhi, independent non-
executive Director, Murray Bleach, independent non-executive Director and Paul Meehan, non-executive 
Director. Murray Bleach stood down as Chairman of the Committee in November 2015 and Nitin Singhi was 
appointed Chairman of the Committee. The Committee comprises a majority of independent Directors. 

Role

The ARMC’s role is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for overseeing the quality and integrity of the 
accounting, audit, financial and risk management practices of Energy Action.

Responsibilities

The ARMC’s responsibilities include:

 ƒ Review the internal control and compliance systems of Energy Action;

 ƒ Monitor the integrity of the financial statements of Energy Action;

 ƒ Consider significant financial reporting issues and judgements made in connection with Energy Action’s 

nancial statements;

 ƒ Monitor and review the performance of the external audit function and make recommendations to the Board;

 ƒ Monitor compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements; and,

 ƒ Where appropriate, and at least twice a year, meet privately with the external auditor to discuss any matters 

that the Committee or the External Auditor believe should be discussed privately.

52  

ENERGY ACTIONA copy of the ARMC Charter and Risk Management and Audit Policy is available on the Company’s website.

Composition

The Committee is chaired by an independent non-executive Director and currently comprises three non-
executive Directors, two of whom are independent Directors and financially literate. The Chairman of the Board 
is not permitted to chair the committee. Mr Nitin Singhi was appointed to the committee effective 12 August 
2015. The Committee met on three (3) occasions during the year to 30 June 2016. Please refer to the Directors’ 
Report for more information on members, including attendance at committee meetings.

Consultation

The CEO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are invited to attend all committee meetings. Other members of 
management may also attend by invitation. The committee has access to financial and legal advisers as it 
considers appropriate. The committee also meets with the external auditor to ensure the committee can be 
satisfied that the auditors have had the full cooperation of management in conducting the audit functions 
and to give the auditor the opportunity to raise any matters of concern. The external auditor must monitor its 
independence and report to the committee every six months that it has remained independent.

External Auditor

The external auditor is appointed by the Board and approved by shareholders in accordance with the 
requirements of the Corporations Act. The ARMC is responsible for reviewing the terms of appointment of 
the external auditor and for making recommendations to the Board regarding the appointment of the external 
auditor. It is the Company’s policy to require that the external audit partner be rotated within 5 years from the 
date of appointment. Significant permissible non-audit assignments awarded to the external auditor must be 
approved in advance by the ARMC (or its chairman between meetings). All non-audit assignments are to be 
reported to the ARMC every six months. The Board and the ARMC are of the view that, at the present time, 
Ernst & Young is best placed to provide the Company’s audit services. Ernst & Young is a top tier professional 
services firm. It has provided audit services to the Group since its listing and is familiar with its structure and 
assets. The external auditor is required to be independent from the Company and Energy Action. Ernst & 
Young meets this requirement. The external auditor will attend Energy Action’s annual meeting and will be 
available to answer shareholder questions on the conduct of the audit, and the preparation and content of the 
auditor’s report.

2.2 

Remuneration Committee

Members

The Remuneration Committee, as at 30 June 2016 comprises four non-executive Directors being Nitin Singhi, 
independent non-executive Chairman, Murray Bleach, independent non-executive Director, Paul Meehan, 
non-executive Director and Mark de Kock, non-executive Director. Nitin Singhi and Mark de Kock joined the 
Committee in August 2015 following their appointment as Directors. Murray Bleach stood down as Chairman of 
the Committee in November 2015 and Nitin Singhi was appointed Chairman of the Committee. Valerie Duncan 
retired from the Committee effective 31 August 2015. The Board aims to progressively appoint independent 
Directors onto the Committee.

Role

The role of the Committee is to oversee remuneration matters to ensure they are in line with strategic goals 
and enable the Company to attract and retain high calibre executives and Directors who will create value for 
shareholders. 

53  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Committee in respect of remuneration include: 

 ƒ Ensure Directors and executives are fairly and responsibly remunerated having regard to the performance of 

the Company, the performance of the executives and the general remuneration environment;

 ƒ Assisting the Board in determining an appropriate remuneration framework for senior management and 

remuneration, recruitment, retention and termination policies; 

 ƒ Making recommendations to the Board on the Chief Executive Officer’s remuneration, (including short and 

long term incentive plans and performance targets); 

 ƒ Liaising with external advisors on remuneration-related matters, if and when external remuneration advice 

is needed. 

For further information in regards to the Company’s remuneration framework, please refer to the Remuneration 
Report, including a detailed description of the structure of non-executive Directors’ remuneration and senior 
executives’ remuneration.

Composition

The Committee is chaired by an independent non-executive Director and currently comprises four non-executive 
Directors, two of whom are independent Directors and financially literate. The Chairman of the Board is not 
permitted to chair the committee. Mr Nitin Singhi was appointed to the committee effective 12 August 2015. 
Mr Mark de Kock was appointed to the committee effective 17 August 2015. The Committee met on three 
occasions during the year to 30 June 2016. Please refer to the Directors’ Report for more information on 
members, including attendance at committee meetings.

Consultation

The committee may obtain information from, and consult with, management and external advisers, as it 
considers appropriate.

Charter

The Remuneration Committee’s charter which sets out further details on the role and duties of the committee is 
available in the corporate governance section of the Company’s website.

2.3 

Nomination Committee

Members

The Nomination Committee, as at 30 June 2016 comprised four non-executive Directors, two of whom are 
independent Directors. In July 2015, Philip Randall passed away suddenly and in August 2015 Valerie Duncan 
retired from the Committee. In June 2016, Nitin Singhi, independent non-executive Director was appointed 
to the Committee and appointed as Chairman to replace Dr. Ronald Watts, non-executive Director. The other 
members of the Committee are Murray Bleach, independent non-executive Director and Paul Meehan, non-
executive Director. The Board aims to bring on additional independent Directors onto the committee.

Role

The role of the committee is to oversee matters and policies to ensure succession planning, recruitment, 
appointment and remuneration of non-executive Directors. The Committee met once during the financial year.

54  

ENERGY ACTIONResponsibilities

The responsibilities of the committee in respect of Nomination include: 

 ƒ Review and recommend to the Board the size and composition of the Board; including review of Board 

succession plans and the succession of the Chairman and CEO; 

 ƒ Review and recommend to the Board the criteria for Board membership, including assessment of necessary 

and desirable competencies of Board members; 

 ƒ Review Board membership and make recommendations to the Board regarding its membership; and, 

 ƒ Assist the Board as required in relation to the performance evaluation of the Board, its committees and 
individual Directors, and in developing and implementing plans for identifying, assessing and enhancing 
Director competencies. 

Composition

The committee is chaired by an independent non-executive Director. In June 2016, Dr Ronald Watts stepped 
down as Chairman and Nitin Singhi, independent non-executive Director was appointed to the committee 
and appointed Chairman. Please refer to the Directors’ Report for more information on members, including 
attendance at committee meetings.

Consultation

The committee may obtain information from, and consult with, management and external advisers, as it 
considers appropriate.

Charter

The Nomination Committee’s charter which sets out further details on the role and duties of the committee is 
available in the corporate governance section of the Group’s website.

3. 

Performance evaluation and remuneration

3.1 

Performance Evaluation

The Nominations Committee is responsible for determining the process for evaluating Board Performance. 
Evaluations are normally undertaken annually and the process led by the Chairman. The results of the current 
review are being reviewed at the date of this report.

The annual performance review involves all Directors completing a questionnaire including allowance for 
additional comments or raising any issues relating to the Board’s or a committee’s operation. The results 
of the review will be compiled by the Chairman and discussed with Board members as a whole at an 
appropriate Board meeting. The purpose of the review is to assess the strengths and weakness of the Board 
and Committees, and identify areas that might be improved. The findings of the performance review are 
considered by the Board and continue to be taken into account in identifying and nominating new candidates 
for appointment as Director, and in planning and conducting Board and committee matters. Directors are able to 
raise concerns regarding an individual Director’s performance with the Chairman at any time during the year. 

The performance of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is reviewed by the Board on a periodic basis. The 
Chairman co-ordinates the comments of all directors to provide a written assessment to the CEO. This is 
supported by half year verbal reviews by the Chairman.

The performance of the Company’s senior executives is reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer as part of the 
annual remuneration review process and reported to the Remuneration Committee. The reviews usually take 
place in July/August of each year. Further details regarding the remuneration review process are set out in the 
Remuneration Report. 

55  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 3.2 

Director and Executive Remuneration

Remuneration levels are competitively set to attract and retain appropriately qualified and experienced 
personnel. Performance, duties and responsibilities, market comparison and independent advice are all 
considered as part of the remuneration process. The total remuneration paid to Directors and key management 
personnel for the year ended 30 June 2016 is set out in the Remuneration Report.

Directors’ fees are reviewed annually and are benchmarked against fees paid to Directors of similar 
organisations. Non-executive Directors are not provided with retirement benefits other than statutory 
superannuation and do not participate in employee incentive schemes or bonus payments. Executive Directors’, 
as well as senior executives’ remuneration packages comprise salary and short-term incentives (i.e. bonus).

To ensure that Energy Action’s senior executives properly perform their duties, the following procedures 
are in place:

 ƒ Performance is formally assessed twice each year as part of Energy Action’s formal employee performance 

review process; the full year achievement review takes place in July at the end of the financial year;

 ƒ All employees were assessed in terms of their achievement of agreed KPI’s (both financial and non-financial) 

for the period;

 ƒ There is a strong link between the outcomes of this performance review process and the subsequent 

remuneration review as outlined in the Remuneration Report; and,

 ƒ Executives are provided with access to continuing education to update and enhance their skills and 

knowledge.

4. 

Risk Management and internal controls

4.1 

Risk Management Framework

Energy Action has a formalised risk management framework. The identification and effective management 
of risk, including calculated risk taking is viewed as an essential part of the Company’s approach to creating 
long term shareholder value. Compliance with risk management policies is monitored by the ARMC. The Risk 
Management and Audit Policy is included on the Groups website. As part of its risk monitoring duties, the 
ARMC is required to:

 ƒ Oversee and approve risk management, internal compliance and control policies and procedures of 

the Company;

 ƒ Oversee the design and implementation of the risk management and internal control systems;

 ƒ Regularly monitor risk management reports provided by management; and,

 ƒ Assess at regular intervals whether Energy Action’s internal financial control systems, risk management 

policies and risk management systems are adequate.

4.2 

 Internal controls framework

Energy Action has a robust risk management framework in place for identifying, assessing, monitoring and 
managing its risks. A key component of the framework is a periodical Operational Risk Self-Assessment 
(ORSA) whereby management workshop key risks and controls in place and their effectiveness. Findings 
resulting from this assessment are reported to the ARMC, which in turn reports on this to the Board. During 
the year, management has reported to the ARMC as to the manner in which it manages its material risks, the 
effectiveness of the framework and the results of the annual ORSA.

Considerable importance is placed on maintaining a strong control environment through an organisation 
structure with clearly drawn lines of accountability and authority.

At this point in time, the Board is of the opinion that the structure of the Company does not warrant an internal 
audit function. This policy is subject to ongoing review.

56  

ENERGY ACTIONThe Board of Energy Action has received assurance from the CEO and CFO that their confirmation given to 
the Board in respect of the integrity of financial statements is founded on a sound system of risk management 
and internal control which implements the policies adopted by the Board and that the system is operating in all 
material respects in relation to financial reporting risks.

5. 

Energy Action governance policies

5.1 

Integrity, ethical standards and compliance

Energy Action is committed to being a good corporate citizen and has a robust framework of policies to achieve 
this. These include:

 ƒ The practices necessary to maintain confidence in the company’s integrity;

 ƒ The practices necessary to take into account their legal obligations and the reasonable expectations of their 

stakeholders; and,

 ƒ The responsibility and accountability of individuals for reporting and investigating reports of unethical 

practices.

Energy Action has established a Code of Conduct for its Directors and employees which forms the basis 
for ethical behaviour and is the framework that provides the foundation for maintaining and enhancing the 
Company’s reputation. The objective of the Code is to ensure that all stakeholders and the broader community 
can be confident that the Company conducts its affairs honestly in accordance with ethical values and practices. 

The Code sets the standards for dealing ethically with employees, investors, customers, regulatory bodies and 
the financial and wider community, and the responsibility and accountability of individuals for reporting and 
investigating reports of unethical behaviour.

A full copy of the Code of Conduct is posted on the Corporate Governance section of the Group’s website.

Directors are provided with Board reports in advance of Board meetings which contain sufficient information to 
enable informed discussion of all agenda items.

The Board has the responsibility for the integrity of Energy Action’s financial reporting. To assist the Board in 
fulfilling its responsibility, the processes discussed below have been adopted with a view to ensuring that the 
Company’s financial reporting is a truthful and factual presentation of Energy Action’s financial performance 
and position.

5.2 

Dealing in Securities

The Company has in place a formal Security Trading Policy which regulates the manner in which Directors and 
staff involved in the management of the Company can deal in Company securities. It requires that they conduct 
their personal investment activities in a manner that is lawful and avoids conflicts between their own interests 
and those of the Company and contains all contents suggested in the ASX Corporate Governance Principles 
and Recommendations.

The policy specifies trading blackouts as the periods during which trading securities cannot occur. Trading is 
always prohibited if the relevant person is in possession of non-public price sensitive information regarding the 
Company. A copy of the current Security Trading Policy is available on the Company’s website.

57  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 5.3 

Diversity & Inclusion

The September 2011 Diversity Policy was updated and renamed the Diversity & Inclusion Policy in July 2016. 
The Policy includes requirements for the Board to establish measurable objectives for achieving gender diversity 
and for the Board to assess annually both the objectives and progress in achieving them. The objectives set by 
the Board, which are included in the Policy, are as follows:

 ƒ Selecting and appointing Directors from a diverse pool of talent by developing an appointment process for 

future Directors that takes diversity of background into account, in addition to previous Board and leadership 
experience and experience in a specified field.

 ƒ Considering the Diversity & Inclusion Policy when assessing, selecting and making recommendations to the 
Board on senior executive appointments. In considering these recommendations the Board is also required 
to take into account the objectives of this policy.

 ƒ

 ƒ

Implementing policies and training which address impediments to diversity in the workplace.

Implementing initiatives designed to identify, support and develop talented individuals with leadership 
potential to prepare them for senior management and Board positions. For example, in the case of gender 
diversity, such initiatives include:

 – mentoring programs; and,

 – supporting the promotion of talented women into management positions.

 ƒ Networking opportunities.

 ƒ

Identifying ways to entrench diversity as a cultural priority across the group.

 ƒ Setting targets for women’s participation in the Board, senior management and across all employees and 

report such in the Annual Report.

Energy Action strives for diversity and respects the unique contributions that may be made by employees 
with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Energy Action strongly believes diversity allows the 
provision of exceptional customer service to an equally diverse community. In order to attract and retain a 
diverse workforce and, in turn, a broad and varied customer base, Energy Action is committed to providing 
an environment in which all employees are treated with fairness and respect, and have equal access to 
opportunities available in the workplace. 

Energy Action’s approach is about being flexible in the way we think, act and work. It is part of our on-going 
commitment to develop an inclusive workforce by recognising and accommodating individual circumstances 
and our work commitments. 

Diversity in general:

 ƒ Energy Action currently has specific flexible working arrangements with 16 employees representing 11% of 

total staff (male & female employees).

 ƒ Energy Action has in its employment staff from 19 different cultural backgrounds.

The Board set the following measurable objectives for achieving diversity for the reporting year: 

 ƒ Ensuring the Remuneration Committee actively monitors all aspects of diversity at each meeting and where 

elements of diversity need improvement that improvement targets are met. 

 ƒ Ensure that our merit-based system remains the only mechanism adopted when employees, managers, 

senior managers, national managers, senior executives and Directors are appointed. 

 ƒ Ensure that applicants continue to be selected from diverse candidate pools and continue to be interviewed 

by a diverse selection interview panel. 

All of the above items were successfully in operation during the year ended 30 June 2016. As at 30 June 2016, 
there were no women on the Board, 27% of management positions were filled by women and 41% of 
employees are female. A copy of the Code of Conduct, Trading Policy and Diversity & Inclusion Policy is 
available on the Company’s Website.

58  

ENERGY ACTION5.4 

Health, safety and environment

The Company has continued its emphasis on health and safety in the workplace with the aim of ensuring that 
people achieve outcomes in a safe manner, thereby contributing to operational effectiveness and business 
sustainability. The Company has an occupational health and safety policy and a new management system 
in place. MANGO, a web based safety management tool for housing safety information, record keeping and 
incident reporting was introduced across the PAS division. The Company’s safety performance is reported 
regularly to the Board to assist the Board in monitoring compliance with the Company’s policy and the relevant 
regulatory requirements. 

During FY2016 there were no reported environmental incidents and one day incurred on a Lost Time Injury.

5.5 

Continuous disclosure and communications with shareholders

The Company is committed to providing relevant and timely information to its shareholders and to the broader 
market, in accordance with its obligations under the ASX continuous disclosure regime. The Board has a 
Disclosure Policy, details of which are accessible in the Corporate Governance section on the Company’s 
website. The policy includes procedures for dealing with potentially price-sensitive information which includes 
referral to the CEO, CFO and Company Secretary and sometimes the Board for a determination as to disclosure 
required. The ASX liaison person is the Company Secretary of Energy Action.

Energy Action has adopted a Communication Policy. The cornerstone of this policy is the delivery of timely and 
relevant information as described below:

 ƒ

Investors receive an annual report and updates which keep them informed of Energy Action’s performance 
and operations. 

 ƒ Shareholders are able to provide their email address to Energy Action’s share registry, Link Market Services 

Limited to enable all communications from the company to be received electronically. Contact details for Link 
Market Services Limited are on the company’s website.

 ƒ After lodging market-sensitive information with ASX, Energy Action’s policy is to place the information on 
its website, including annual and half year results announcements and investor presentations as soon 
as practically possible. Energy Action’s website (energyaction.com.au) contains recent announcements, 
presentations and past and current reports to shareholders. 

 ƒ Domestic investor roadshows are held periodically throughout Australia. Where they contain new information, 

investor and roadshow presentations are released to the ASX and included on the Group’s website.

 ƒ For formal meetings, an explanatory memorandum on the resolutions is included with the notice of meeting. 

Presentations by the chairman and CEO are webcast.

 ƒ Full copies of notices of meetings are placed on the Energy Action website. Unless specifically stated in the 
notice of meeting, all holders of fully paid securities are eligible to vote on all resolutions. In the event that 
shareholders cannot attend formal meetings, they are able to lodge a proxy on line in accordance with the 
Corporations Act. 

59  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 ASX Corporate Governance Council’s Principles and Recommendations 

ASX Principle

Reference^

Compliance

PRINCIPLE 1 – LAY SOLID FOUNDATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT

1 1

1 2

1 3

1 4

1 5

A listed entity should disclose:
(a) 
(b) 

the respective roles and responsibilities of its Board and management; and,
those matters expressly reserved to the Board and those delegated to 
management  

A listed entity should:
(a)  undertake appropriate checks before appointing a person, or putting forward 

to security holders a candidate for election, as a Director; and,

(b)  provide security holders with all material information in its possession relevant 

to a decision on whether or not to elect or re-elect a Director 

A listed entity should have a written agreement with each Director and senior 
executive setting out the terms of their appointment 

The Company Secretary of a listed entity should be accountable directly to the 
Board, through the Chair, on all matters to do with the proper functioning of the 
Board 

A listed entity should:
(a)  have a diversity policy which includes requirements for the Board or a relevant 
committee of the Board to set measurable objectives for achieving gender 
diversity and to assess annually both the objectives and the entity’s progress 
in achieving them;

1 1

1 4

1 4 and 2016 
Remuneration 
Report

1 2

5 3

Comply

Comply

Comply

Comply

Comply

(b)  disclose that policy or a summary of it; and,
(c)  disclose as at the end of each reporting period the measurable objectives for 
achieving gender diversity set by the Board or a relevant Committee of the 
Board in accordance with the entity’s diversity policy and its progress towards 
achieving them, and either: 
(1) 

the respective proportions of men and women on the Board, in senior 
executive positions and across the whole organisation (including how the 
entity has defined “senior executive” for these purposes); or
if the entity is a “relevant employer” under the Workplace Gender Equality 
Act, the entity’s most recent “Gender Equality Indicators”, as defined in 
and published under that Act

(2) 

1 6

A listed entity should:
(a)  have and disclose a process for periodically evaluating the performance of the 

3 1

Board, its committees and individual Directors; and

(b)  disclose, in relation to each reporting period, whether a performance 

evaluation was undertaken in the reporting period in accordance with that 
process

As at 30 June 2016, do not 
comply for 1 6(b) however 
a Board and Committee 
performance evaluation was 
undertaken in August 2016 

1 7

A listed entity should:
(a)  have and disclose a process for periodically evaluating the performance of its 

3 2

Comply

senior executives; and,

(b)  disclose, in relation to each reporting period, whether a performance 

evaluation was undertaken in the reporting period in accordance with that 
process 

60  

ENERGY ACTIONASX Principle

Reference^

Compliance

PRINCIPLE 2 – STRUCTURE THE BOARD TO ADD VALUE

2 1

The Board of a listed entity should:
(a)  have a nomination committee which: 

(1)  has at least three members, a majority of whom are independent 

Directors; and 
is chaired by an independent Director, and disclose: 
the charter of the committee
the members of the committee; and 

(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5)  as at the end of each reporting period, the number of times the 

committee met throughout the period and the individual attendances of 
the members at those meetings

A listed entity should have and disclose a Board skills matrix setting out the mix 
of skills and diversity that the Board currently has or is looking to achieve in its 
membership

A listed entity should disclose:
(a) 

the names of the Directors considered by the Board to be independent 
Directors;
if a Director has an interest, position, association or relationship of the 
type described in Box 2 3 but the Board is of the opinion that it does not 
compromise the independence of the Director, the nature of the interest, 
position, association or relationship in question and an explanation of why the 
Board is of that opinion; and
the length of service of each Director

(b) 

(c) 

2 2

2 3

2 4

A majority of the Board of a listed entity should be independent Directors 

2 5

2 6

The chair of the Board of a listed entity should be an independent Director and, in 
particular, should not be the same person as the CEO of the entity 

A listed entity should have a program for inducting new Directors and provide 
appropriate professional development opportunities for Directors to develop and 
maintain the skills and knowledge needed to perform their role as Directors 
effectively 

2 3

1 2

1 2

1 3

1 2

1 4

As at 30 June 2016, 
the Committee has 
four Directors, two are 
independent Directors  

Comply

Details disclosed in the 
2016 ‘Directors Report’

As at 30 June 2016, the 
Board has five Directors, two 
are independent Directors  

Comply

Comply

PRINCIPLE 3 – ACT ETHICALLY AND RESPONSIBLY

3 1

A listed entity should:
(a)  have a code of conduct for its Directors, senior executives and employees; 

5 1

Comply

and

(b)  disclose that code or a summary of it 

61  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 ASX Principle

Reference^

Compliance

PRINCIPLE 4 – SAFEGUARD INTEGRITY IN CORPORATE REPORTING

4 1

The Board of a listed entity should:
(a)  have an Audit Committee which: 

2 1

Comply

(1)  has at least three members, all of whom are non-executive Directors and 

(2) 

(3) 
(4) 

(5) 

a majority of whom are independent Directors; and 
is chaired by an independent Director, who is not the chair of the Board, 
and disclose: 
the charter of the committee; 
the relevant qualifications and experience of the members of the 
committee; and
in relation to each reporting period, the number of times the committee 
met throughout the period and the individual attendances of the 
members at those meetings 

4 2

The Board of a listed entity should, before it approves the entity’s financial 
statements for a financial period, receive from its CEO and CFO a declaration that, 
in their opinion, the financial records of the entity have been properly maintained 
and that the financial statements comply with the appropriate accounting 
standards and give a true and fair view of the financial position and performance 
of the entity and that the opinion has been formed on the basis of a sound system 
of risk management and internal control which is operating effectively 

4 3

A listed entity that has an AGM should ensure that its external auditor attends its 
AGM and is available to answer questions from security holders relevant to the 
audit 

4 2

Comply

2 1

Comply

PRINCIPLE 5 – MAKE TIMELY AND BALANCED DISCLOSURE

5 1

A listed entity should:
(a)  have a written policy for complying with its continuous disclosure obligations 

5 5

Comply

under the Listing Rules; and,

(b)  disclose that policy or a summary of it 

PRINCIPLE 6 – RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS

A listed entity should provide information about itself and its governance to 
investors via its website 

A listed entity should design and implement an investor relations program to 
facilitate effective two-way communication with investors 

A listed entity should disclose the policies and processes it has in place to facilitate 
and encourage participation at meetings of security holders 

A listed entity should give security holders the option to receive communications 
from, and send communications to, the entity and its security registry 
electronically 

5 5

5 5

5 5

5 5

Comply

Comply

Comply

Comply

6 1

6 2

6 3

6 4

62  

ENERGY ACTIONASX Principle

Reference^

Compliance

PRINCIPLE 7 – RECOGNISE AND MANAGE RISK

7 1

The Board of a listed entity should:
(a)  have a committee or committees to oversee risk, each of which: 

4 1, 4 2

Comply

(1)  has at least three members, a majority of whom are independent 

Directors; and 
is chaired by an independent Director, and disclose: 
the charter of the committee; 
the members of the committee; and 

(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5)  as at the end of each reporting period, the number of times the 

committee met throughout the period and the individual attendances of 
the members at those meetings;

The Board or a committee of the Board should:
(a) 

review the entity’s risk management framework at least annually to satisfy 
itself that it continues to be sound; and

(b)  disclose, in relation to each reporting period, whether such a review has taken 

place 

A listed entity should disclose:
(a) 

(b) 

if it has an internal audit function, how the function is structured and what role 
it performs; or
if it does not have an internal audit function, that fact and the processes it 
employs for evaluating and continually improving the effectiveness of its risk 
management and internal control processes 

7 2

7 3

 4 2

Comply

 4 2

Comply – The Company’s 
internal audit function 
is carried out by the 
Company’s Audit and Risk 
Management Committee 

7 4

A listed entity should disclose whether it has any material exposure to economic, 
environmental and social sustainability risks and, if it does, how it manages or 
intends to manage those risks 

 4 1, 4 2

Comply

PRINCIPLE 8 – REMUNERATE FAIRLY AND RESPONSIBLY

8 1

The Board of a listed entity should:
(a)  have a remuneration committee which:

(1)  has at least three members, a majority of whom are independent 

Directors; and 
is chaired by an independent Director, and disclose: 
the charter of the committee; 
the members of the committee; and 

(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5)  as at the end of each reporting period, the number of times the 

committee met throughout the period and the individual attendances of 
the members at those meetings 

 2 2

As at 30 June 2016, do not 
comply for 8 1(a) (1) as the 
Remuneration Committee 
comprised two independent 
and two non-independent 
Directors 

8 2

8 3

A listed entity should separately disclose its policies and practices regarding 
the remuneration of non-executive Directors and the remuneration of executive 
Directors and other senior executives 

 2 2

Comply

A listed entity which has an equity-based remuneration scheme should:
(a)  have a policy on whether participants are permitted to enter into transactions 
(whether through the use of derivatives or otherwise) which limit the economic 
risk of participating in the scheme; and
(b)  disclose that policy or a summary of it 

5 2 and 2016 
Remuneration 
Report

Comply

All references are to sections of this Corporate Governance Statement unless otherwise stated.

63  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Financial Statements
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

For the year ended 30 June 2016

Note

Consolidated Group

Revenue

Other income

Total Revenue

Cost of goods and services sold 

Employee benefits expense

Deferred consideration on acquisitions

Acquisition, transaction and restructuring related costs

Rental expense

Travel costs

Administration expenses

EBITDA*

Depreciation and amortisation expense

EBIT**

Financing costs

Profit / (loss) before income tax

Income tax expense

Loss for the period attributable to owners of the parent entity

Other comprehensive loss net of income tax that may be  
reclassified subsequently to profit and loss

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Total comprehensive loss for the period attributable to owners  
of the parent entity

Loss per share:

Basic loss per share for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent 

Diluted loss per share for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent

*  EBITDA = Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation & Amortisation 
**  EBIT = Earnings before Interest & Tax 

2016 
$

2015 
$

33,577,492

31,653,926

401,216

395,289

33,978,708

32,049,215

 (6,172,886)

 (5,413,726)

(16,193,083)

(15,963,591)

 (3,850,327)

 (3,749,245)

 (169,399)

(920,126)

 (1,141,438)

 (1,227,606)

 (567,281)

 (669,742)

 (3,359,613)

(4,005,358)

 2,524,681 

  99,821 

 (1,319,921)

 (1,158,077)

 1,204,760 

 (1,058,256)

 (462,725)

 (302,341)

 742,035 

 (1,360,597)

 (1,191,434)

 (786,981)

 (449,399)

 (2,147,578)

 (18,889)

 (14,897)

 (468,288)

 (2,162,475)

Cents

  (1 73)

  (1 73)

Cents

  (8 28)

  (8 28)

6

6

6

4

6

6

6

6

6

6

7

8

8

64  

ENERGY ACTION 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at 30 June 2016

Assets

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash held in escrow

Trade and other receivables

Other assets

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Trade and other receivables

Property, plant and equipment

Other assets

Other Intangible assets

Goodwill

Customer relationships

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables

Current tax liabilities

Short-term provisions

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Other long-term provisions

Loans and Borrowings

Deferred tax liability

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

EQUITY

Issued capital

Share based payments reserve

Retained earnings

Foreign currency translation reserve 

TOTAL EQUITY

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

Note

Consolidated Group

2016 
$

2015 
$

10

10

11

14

11

12

14

13

13

13

15

16

17

17

18

16

19b

1,207,046

 - 

4,969,770

1,468,736

7,645,552

85,509

801,237

868,944

2,805,478

9,944,796

1,645,257

16,151,221

23,796,773

1,740,288

1,000,000

5,868,825

1,168,986

9,778,099

93,098

896,782

898,941

2,175,485

9,942,429

1,884,351

15,891,086

25,669,185

5,567,651

6,202,921

  47,052 

1,312,597

6,927,300

 - 

1,277,525

7,480,446

357,270

3,973,358

532,566

4,863,194

11,790,494

12,006,279

6,537,906

530,998

4,971,505

  (34,130)

372,667

3,759,538

557,981

4,690,186

12,170,632

13,498,553

6,537,906

553,154

6,422,739

  (15,246)

12,006,279

13,498,553

65  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 30 June 2016

Consolidated Group

Note

Ordinary Issued 
Share Capital

Share Based 
Payments 
Reserve

Retained 
Earnings

Total

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve

$

$

$

$

$

Balance at 30 June 2014

 6,160,906 

 258,947 

 10,181,587 

  (349)

 16,601,091 

Loss attributable to owners of parent entity

Foreign currency translation reserve

Total comprehensive income

Transaction with owners

Net share capital issued in the year

Share based payments

Dividends paid or provided for

Balance at 30 June 2015

Loss attributable to owners of parent entity

Foreign currency translation reserve

Total comprehensive income

Transaction with owners

Share based payments

Dividends paid or provided for

Balance at 30 June 2016

19

19

19

 - 

 - 

 - 

 377,000 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 294,207 

(2,147,583)

 - 

 (2,147,583)

 - 

 (14,892)

  (14,892)

(2,147,583)

 (14,892)

 (2,162,475)

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

  377,000 

  294,207 

 (1,611,270)

 - 

 (1,611,270)

 6,537,906 

 553,154 

 6,422,734 

 (15,241)

 13,498,553 

 - 

 - 

  - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

  - 

 (449,399)

 - 

  (449,399)

 - 

 (18,889)

  (18,889)

 (449,399)

 (18,889)

  (468,288)

 (22,156)

 - 

 - 

 (1,001,830)

 - 

 - 

  (22,156)

 (1,001,830)

 6,537,906 

 530,998 

4,971,505

 (34,130)

 12,006,279 

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

66  

ENERGY ACTION 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow

For the year ended 30 June 2016

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Receipts from customers (inclusive of GST)

Payments to suppliers and employees (inclusive of GST)

Payments for deferred consideration 

Acquisition and transaction related costs 

Restructuring costs

Interest received

Interest paid

Income tax paid

Net cash provided by operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Acquisition of Energy Advice Pty Limited

Acquisition of Exergy Holdings Pty Limited

Software development costs

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Dividends paid by parent entity

Bank loan

Debt establishment fees

Bank guarantee fees

Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash held

Cash (including restricted cash) at beginning of financial year 

Cash (including restricted cash) at end of financial year

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

Note

Consolidated Group

2016 
$

2015 
$

 36,388,976 

 34,560,207 

 (29,738,629)

 (28,633,361)

 (4,142,000)

 (1,000,000)

 - 

 (169,399)

 (360,668)

 (112,305)

  39,053 

  98,009 

(338,115)

 (226,998)

 (1,093,603)

 (1,760,364)

  946,283 

 2,564,520 

 (296,453)

 (398,203)

 - 

 - 

 (5,803,045)

 (138,623)

 (1,331,243)

 (1,053,699)

 (1,627,696)

 (7,393,570)

 (1,001,829)

 (1,611,270)

  150,000 

 4,100,000 

 - 

 - 

 (438,248)

  (37,702)

 (851,829)

 2,012,780 

 (1,533,242)

 (2,816,270)

 2,740,288 

 1,207,046 

5,556,558

2,740,288

4

4

21

12

4

4

13

9

18

10

10

67  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
Notes to the Financial Statements for year ended 30 June 2016

Note 1: Corporate Information 

The consolidated financial statements and notes represent those of Energy Action Limited and it’s Controlled 
Entities (the “consolidated group” or “group” or ‘’EAX’’) for the year ended 30 June 2016. The financial 
statements were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 18 August 2016.

Energy Action Limited (“the Parent”) is a company limited by shares incorporated in Australia whose shares are 
publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Group is a for profit entity.

The nature of the operation and principal activities of the Group are described in the directors’ report.

Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

2.1 

Basis of Preparation 

The financial statements are general purpose financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with 
Australian Accounting Standards, Australian Accounting Interpretations, other authoritative pronouncements of 
the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and the Corporations Act 2001.

Material accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are presented below and 
have been consistently applied unless otherwise stated.

The financial statements have been prepared on an accruals basis and are based on historical costs, modified, 
where applicable, by the measurement at fair value of selected non-current assets, financial assets and financial 
liabilities. The financial report is presented in Australian dollars and all values. The functional currency is also 
Australian dollars.

The financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board.

Where necessary, comparatives have been reclassified for consistency with disclosures at 30 June 2016.

2.2 

New Accounting Standards and interpretations

(i) 

Changes in accounting policies 

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year except as follows:

The group has adopted the following new and amended Australian Accounting Standards and AASB 
Interpretations as of 1 July 2015; none of which had a material impact on the financial statements:

 ƒ AASB 2015-3 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the Withdrawl of AASB 1031 

Materiality 

 ƒ AASB 2013-9 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Conceptual Framework, Materiality and 

Financial Instruments

(ii) 

Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued but not yet effective 

Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations that have recently been issued or amended but are not 
yet effective and have not been adopted by the Group for the annual reporting period ending 30 June 2016 are 
outlined in the table below:

68  

ENERGY ACTIONNote 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Standard/Interpretation 

Effective for the annual 
reporting period beginning 
on 

Expected to be initially 
applied in the financial year 
ending 

AASB 2014- 4 Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and 
Amortisation (Amendments to AASB 116 and AASB 138)

AASB 1057 Application of Australia Accounting Standards  

Annual Improvements 2012-2015 Cycle

AASB 2015-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards  
– Annual Improvements to Australian Accounting Standards 2012-2014 Cycle 

AASB 2015-2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Disclosure 
Initiative: Amendments to AASB 101 

AASB 2015-9 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards  
– Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements

AASB 2016-2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards  
– Disclosure Initiative: Amendments to AASB 107   

AASB 2016-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Recognition of 
Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses [AASB 112] 

AASB 9 Financial Instruments 

AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

AASB 16 Leases

January 1, 2016

June 30, 2017

January 1, 2016

January 1, 2016

June 30, 2017

June 30, 2017

January 1, 2016

June 30, 2017

January 1, 2016

June 30, 2017

January 1, 2016

June 30, 2017

January 1, 2017

June 30, 2018

January 1, 2018

June 30, 2019

January 1, 2018

January 1, 2018

January 1, 2019

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2020

The Directors have not yet assessed whether the above amendments and interpretations will have a material 
impact on the financial report of the Group in the year or period of initial application.

Impact of AASB15 on future reporting periods:

Adoption of AASB15, to apply in FY2019, will require revenue from certain procurement activities to be 
recognised in the period in which the procurement activity is undertaken. Procurement revenue currently 
recognised over the term of the underlying energy contract will be brought forward and recognised on inception 
of the energy procurement contract. This will result in a one-off acceleration of revenue togther with the 
associated commission expense. Management is in the process of calculating this impact. 

Impact of AASB16 on future reporting periods:

Adoption of AASB16, to apply in FY2020, will require leases currently treated as operating leases, such as rental 
of office premises, to be recognised on the balance sheet. This change will impact the classification of certain 
expenses such as rental expense, deprecation and financing costs. Consequently, non IFRS measures such as 
EBITDA and EBIT will also be impacted. Management is considering the financial impact of this change.

2.3 

Key Accounting Policies

a. 

Principles of Consolidation 

The consolidated financial statements comprise of the financial statements of the Group and its subsidiaries 
as at 30 June 2016. Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its 
involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. 

Specifically, the Group controls an investee if and only if the Group has:

 ƒ Power over the investee (i.e. existing rights that give it the current ability to direct the relevant activities of 

the investee)

 ƒ Exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee, and 

 ƒ The ability to use its power over the investee to affect its returns

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ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

When the Group has less than a majority of the voting or similar rights of an investee, the Group considers all 
relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether it has power over an investee, including:

 ƒ The contractual arrangement with the other vote holders of the investee

 ƒ Rights arising from other contractual arrangements

 ƒ The Group’s voting rights and potential voting rights

The Group re-assesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are 
changes to one or more of the three elements of control. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Group 
obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Group loses control of the subsidiary. Assets, liabilities, 
income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the statement of 
comprehensive income from the date the Group gains control until the date the Group ceases to control the 
subsidiary.

Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income (OCI) are attributed to the equity holders of 
the parent of the Group and to the non-controlling interests, even if this results in the non-controlling interests 
having a deficit balance. When necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to 
bring their accounting policies into line with the Group’s accounting policies. All intra-group assets and liabilities, 
equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between members of the Group are eliminated 
in full on consolidation.

A change in the ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity 
transaction. If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it:

 ƒ De-recognises the assets (including goodwill) and liabilities of the subsidiary

 ƒ De-recognises the carrying amount of any non-controlling interests

 ƒ De-recognises the cumulative translation differences recorded in equity

 ƒ Recognises the fair value of the consideration received

 ƒ Recognises the fair value of any investment retained

 ƒ Recognises any surplus or deficit in profit or loss

 ƒ Reclassifies the parent’s share of components previously recognised in OCI to profit or loss or retained 

earnings, as appropriate, as would be required if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or 
liabilities

Subsidiaries are recorded as a component of other revenues in the separate income statement of the parent 
entity, and do not impact the recorded cost of the investment. Upon receipt of dividend payments from 
subsidiaries, the parent will assess whether any indicators of impairment of the carrying value of the investment 
in the subsidiary exist. Where such indicators exist, to the extent that the carrying value of the investment 
exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognised.

b. 

Business combinations 

Business combinations occur where an acquirer obtains control over one or more businesses.

A business combination is accounted for by applying the acquisition method, unless it is a combination 
involving entities or businesses under common control. The business combination will be accounted for from 
the date that control is attained, whereby the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities (including 
contingent liabilities) assumed is recognised (subject to certain limited exemptions).

When measuring the consideration transferred in the business combination, any asset or liability resulting 
from a contingent consideration arrangement is also included. Subsequent to initial recognition, contingent 
consideration classified as equity is not remeasured and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within 
equity. Contingent consideration classified as an asset or liability is remeasured each reporting period to fair 
value, recognising any change to fair value in profit or loss, unless the change in value can be identified as 
existing at acquisition date.

All transaction costs incurred in relation to the business combination are expensed to the statement of 
comprehensive income. 

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ENERGY ACTIONNote 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

The acquisition of a business may result in the recognition of goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase.

c. 

Goodwill 

Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of 
the sum of:

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

the consideration transferred;

any non-controlling interest; and

the acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest;

over the acquisition date fair value of net identifiable assets acquired.

The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred for a business combination plus the acquisition 
date fair value of any previously held equity interest shall form the cost of the investment in the separate financial 
statements.

Fair value uplifts in the value of pre-existing equity holdings are taken to the statement of comprehensive 
income. Where changes in the value of such equity holdings had previously been recognised in other 
comprehensive income, such amounts are recycled to profit or loss.

Goodwill on acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in intangible assets. 

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and is allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units or groups of 
cash-generating units, representing the lowest level at which goodwill is monitored not larger than an operating 
segment. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of goodwill related to the 
entity disposed of.

d. 

Income Tax and other taxes 

The income tax expense (revenue) for the year comprises current income tax expense (income) and deferred tax 
expense (income).

Current income tax expense charged to profit or loss is the tax payable on taxable income. Current tax liabilities 
(assets) are measured at the amounts expected to be paid to (recovered from) the relevant taxation authority.

Deferred income tax expense reflects movements in deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability balances during 
the year as well unused tax losses.

Except for business combinations, no deferred income tax is recognised from the initial recognition of an asset 
or liability, where there is no effect on accounting or taxable profit or loss. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period 
when the asset is realised or the liability is settled and their measurement also reflects the manner in which 
management expects to recover or settle the carrying amount of the related asset or liability.

Deferred tax assets relating to temporary differences and unused tax losses are recognised only to the extent 
that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the benefits of the deferred tax asset 
can be utilised.

Where temporary differences exist in relation to investments in subsidiaries, branches, associates, and joint 
ventures, deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised where the timing of the reversal of the temporary 
difference can be controlled and it is not probable that the reversal will occur in the foreseeable future.

Current tax assets and liabilities are offset where a legally enforceable right of set-off exists and it is intended 
that net settlement or simultaneous realisation and settlement of the respective asset and liability will occur. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where: (a) a legally enforceable right of set-off exists; and (b) the 
deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same 
taxable entity or different taxable entities where it is intended that net settlement or simultaneous realisation and 
settlement of the respective asset and liability will occur in future periods in which significant amounts of deferred 
tax assets or liabilities are expected to be recovered or settled.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Other taxes

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST except:

 ƒ When the GST incurred on a purchase of goods and services in not recoverable from the taxation authority, 
in which case the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense 
item as applicable

 ƒ Receivables and payables, which are stated with the amount of GST included

The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of receivables 
or payables in the statement of financial position.

Cash flows are included in the statement of cash flows on a gross basis and the GST component of cash flows 
arising from investing and financing activities, which is recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is 
classified as part of operating cash flows.

Commitments and contingences are disclosed net of the amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the 
taxation authority.

e. 

Plant and Equipment 

Each class of plant and equipment is carried at cost or fair value as indicated less, where applicable, any 
accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

Plant and equipment are measured on the cost basis and therefore carried at cost less accumulated 
depreciation and any accumulated impairment.  In the event the carrying amount of plant and equipment 
is greater than the estimated recoverable amount, the carrying amount is written down immediately to the 
estimated recoverable amount and impairment losses are recognised either in profit or loss or as a revaluation 
decrease if the impairment losses relate to a re-valued asset.

The carrying amount of plant and equipment is reviewed annually by directors to ensure it is not in excess of the 
recoverable amount from these assets. The recoverable amount is assessed on the basis of the expected net 
cash flows that will be received from the asset’s employment and subsequent disposal. The expected net cash 
flows have been discounted to their present values in determining recoverable amounts.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as 
appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the 
Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the 
statement of comprehensive income during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Depreciation

The depreciable amount of all fixed assets including buildings and capitalised lease assets, but excluding 
freehold land, is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the asset’s useful life to the consolidated group 
commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the 
shorter of either the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.

The depreciation rates used for each class of depreciable assets are:

Class of Fixed Asset  Depreciation Rate

Computer equipment 

25%-33.3%

Furniture and fittings 

10%– 33.3%

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each 
reporting period.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount 
is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. 

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with the carrying amount. These gains 
and losses are included in the statement of comprehensive income. When re-valued assets are sold, amounts 
included in the revaluation surplus relating to that asset are transferred to retained earnings.

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ENERGY ACTIONNote 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

f.  

Leases 

Leases of fixed assets where substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to the ownership of the asset, but 
not the legal ownership that is transferred to entities in the consolidated group, are classified as finance leases.

Finance leases are capitalised by recognising an asset and a liability at the lower of the amounts equal to the 
fair value of the leased property or the present value of the minimum lease payments, including any guaranteed 
residual values. Lease payments are allocated between the reduction of the lease liability and the lease interest 
expense for the period.

Leased assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the 
lease term.

Lease payments for operating leases, where substantially all the risks and benefits remain with the lessor, are 
recognised as expenses in the periods in which they are incurred. Lease incentives under operating leases are 
recognised as a liability and amortised on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Estimated remediation costs 
at the conclusion of a lease are accrued on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

g. 

Financial Instruments 

Initial recognition and measurement 

Financial assets within the scope of AASB 139 are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or 
loss, loans and receivables, held-to-maturity investments, available-for-sale financial assets, or as derivatives 
designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge as appropriate. The Group determines the classification 
of its financial assets at initial recognition. The financial assets held by the Group during the past two years only 
included loans and receivables and available-for-sale financial assets.

Amortised cost is the amount at which the financial asset or financial liability is measured at initial recognition 
less principal repayments and any reduction for impairment, and adjusted for any cumulative amortisation of the 
difference between that initial amount and the maturity amount calculated using the effective interest method.

Fair value is determined based on current bid prices for all quoted investments. Valuation techniques are applied 
to determine the fair value for all unlisted securities, including recent arm’s length transactions, reference to 
similar instruments and option pricing models.

The effective interest method is used to allocate interest income or interest expense over the relevant period and 
is equivalent to the rate that discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts (including fees, transaction 
costs and other premiums or discounts) through the expected life (or when this cannot be reliably predicted, 
the contractual term) of the financial instrument to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or financial 
liability. Revisions to expected future net cash flows will necessitate an adjustment to the carrying value with a 
consequential recognition of an income or expense item in profit or loss.

(i) 

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are 
not quoted in an active market and are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Loans and receivables 
are included in current assets, where they are expected to mature within 12 months after the end of the 
reporting period.

(ii) 

Available-for-sale financial assets

Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivative financial assets that are either not suitable to be classified 
into other categories of financial assets due to their nature, or they are designated as such by management. 
They comprise investments in the equity of other entities where there is neither a fixed maturity nor fixed or 
determinable payments. The only investments held by the Parent are in investments in its subsidiaries.

As the investments are subsidiaries they are measured at cost. When the financial asset is derecognised, the 
cumulative gain or loss pertaining to that is recognised in the profit or loss.

Available-for-sale financial assets are included in non-current assets where they are expected to be sold within 
12 months after the end of the reporting period. All other financial assets are classified as current assets.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

(iii) 

Financial liabilities

Non-derivative financial liabilities (excluding financial guarantees) are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Financial assets are derecognised where the contractual rights to receipt of cash flows expire or the asset is 
transferred to another party whereby the entity no longer has any significant continuing involvement in the risks 
and benefits associated with the asset. Financial liabilities are derecognised where the related obligations are 
discharged, cancelled or expired. The difference between the carrying value of the financial liability extinguished 
or transferred to another party and the fair value of consideration paid, including the transfer of non-cash assets 
or liabilities assumed, is recognised in profit or loss.

h. 

Impairment of Non-financial Assets

The Group assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any 
indication exists, or when annual impairment testing for an asset is required, the Group estimates the asset’s 
recoverable amount. An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s or cash-generating unit’s (CGU) 
fair value less costs to sell and its value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does 
not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. When the 
carrying amount of an asset or CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered impaired and is 
written down to its recoverable amount. 

In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-
tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific 
to the asset. In determining fair value less costs to sell, recent market transactions are taken into account, if 
available. If no such transactions can be identified, an appropriate valuation model is used. These calculations 
are corroborated by valuation multiples, quoted share prices for publicly traded subsidiaries or other available 
fair value indicators.

The Group bases its impairment calculation on detailed budgets and forecast calculations. These budgets 
and forecast calculations generally cover a period of five years. For longer periods, a long-term growth rate is 
calculated and applied to project future cash flows after the fifth year.

Impairment losses of continuing operations, are recognised in the income statement in expense categories 
consistent with the function of the impaired asset. 

For assets excluding goodwill, an assessment is made at each reporting date whether there is any indication 
that previously recognised impairment losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such indication 
exists, the Group estimates the assets or CGUs recoverable amount. A previously recognised impairment loss is 
reversed only if there has been a change in the assumptions used to determine the asset’s recoverable amount 
since the last impairment loss was recognised. The reversal is limited so that the carrying amount of the asset 
does not exceed its recoverable amount, nor exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net 
of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. Such reversal is recognised 
in the income statement unless the asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case, the reversal is treated 
as a revaluation increase.

The following assets have specific characteristics for impairment testing:

Goodwill

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually (as at 30 June) and when circumstances indicate that the carrying 
value may be impaired. 

Impairment is determined for goodwill by assessing the recoverable amount of each CGU (or group of CGUs) 
to which the goodwill relates. When the recoverable amount of the CGU is less than its carrying amount, an 
impairment loss is recognised. Impairment losses relating to goodwill cannot be reversed in future periods.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually as at 30 June either individually or 
at the CGU level, as appropriate, and when circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired.

74  

ENERGY ACTIONNote 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortised over the useful life and assessed for impairment whenever 
there is an indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortisation period and the amortisation 
method for any intangible asset with a finite useful life is reviewed at least at each financial year end. Changes 
in the expected useful life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied 
in the asset are accounted for by changing the amortisation period or method, as appropriate, which is a 
change in accounting estimate. The amortisation expense on intangible assets with finite lives is recognised 
in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the expense category consistent with the function of the 
intangible asset.

i. 

Intangible assets other than Goodwill 

Software, research and development costs 

Research costs are expensed as incurred. Development expenditures including website development costs on 
an individual project are recognised as an intangible asset when the Group can demonstrate:

 ƒ The technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale

 ƒ

Its intention to complete and its ability to use or sell the asset

 ƒ How the asset will generate future economic benefits

 ƒ The availability of resources to complete the asset

 ƒ The ability to measure reliably the expenditure during development

Following initial recognition of the development expenditure as an asset, the asset is carried at cost less any 
accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation of the asset begins when development is complete and the asset 
is available for use. It is amortised over the period of expected future benefit. Amortisation is expensed through 
the profit and loss. During the period of development, the asset is tested for impairment annually.

The useful life of development costs is finite. It is amortised on a straight line basis over its expected useful life. 
The development costs are internally developed. The amortisation rates are as follows:

Software development costs  20%

Customer relationships

The useful life of customer relationships is finite. It is amortised on a straight line basis over its expected useful 
life, which is between six and twelve years. 

j. 

Employee Benefits

Provision is made for the Group’s liability for employee benefits arising from services rendered by employees to 
the end of the reporting period. Employee benefits that are expected to be settled within one year have been 
measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liability is settled. Employee benefits payable later than 
one year have been measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflows to be made for those 
benefits. In determining the liability, consideration is given to employee wages increases and the probability that 
the employee may satisfy vesting requirements. Those cash flows are discounted using market yields on high 
quality corporate bonds with terms to maturity that match the expected timing of cash flows.

k. 

Provisions 

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for 
which it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and that outflow can be reliably measured. 
When the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, for example, under an insurance contract, 
the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset, but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. 
The expense relating to any provision is present in the income statement net of any reimbursement. Provisions 
are measured using the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation at the end of the 
reporting period.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Onerous contracts

An onerous contract is considered to exist where the company has a contract under which the unavoidable 
cost of meeting the contractual obligations exceed the economic benefits estimated to be received. Present 
obligations arising under onerous contracts are recognised as a provision to the extent that the present 
obligation exceeds the economic benefits estimated to be received.

Restructuring

A restructuring provision is recognised when Energy Action has developed a detailed formal plan for the 
restructuring and has raised a valid expectation in those affected that it will carry out the restructuring by starting 
to implement the plan or announcing its main features to those affected by it. Future operating losses are not 
provided for.

l. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits available on demand with banks, other short-term 
highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts 
are reported within short-term borrowings in current liabilities in the statement of financial position.

m. 

Revenue and Other Income 

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable after taking into account any 
trade discounts and volume rebates allowed.

Revenue recognition relating to the provision of services is recognised in accordance with the contract terms, 
which matches the commission terms.

Procurement and Monitoring revenue is recognised progressively over the term of the contract (typically over 2-3 
years for Procurement and 4-5 years for Monitoring). A portion of the Procurement commission is recognised 
upfront with the balance recognised over the contract term. Project and Advisory Services (PAS) revenue is 
recognised in the accounting period in which services are rendered, in accordance with the percentage of 
completion of the project.

Revenue from cancellation fees are recognised upon receipt.

Interest revenue is recognised using the effective interest rate method.

Dividend revenue is recognised when the right to receive a dividend has been established.

All revenue is stated net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST).

n. 

Government Grants 

Government grants are recognised at fair value where there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be 
received and all grant conditions will be met. Grants relating to expense items are recognised as income over 
the periods necessary to match the grant to the costs they are compensating. Grants relating to assets are 
credited to deferred income at fair value and are credited to income over the expected useful life of the asset on 
a straight-line basis.

o. 

Contract Acquisition Costs 

The sales commission paid to sales employees is an incremental cost directly related to obtaining or acquiring 
energy supply, monitoring or PAS agreements. Sales employees are paid a base salary and an additional 
commission for successfully executed agreements. The commission paid to sales employees is calculated as a 
percentage of the commission or fee paid to EAX. This commission is capitalised and is being amortised over 
the term of the customer contract. 

p. 

Foreign Currency Transaction 

The Group’s consolidated financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, which is also the Parent’s 
functional currency. For each entity the Group determines the functional currency and items included in the 
financial statements of each entity are measured using that functional currency. The Group uses the direct 
method of consolidation and has elected to recycle the gain or loss that arises from using this method.

76  

ENERGY ACTIONNote 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

i) 

Transactions and balances

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded by the Group’s entities at their respective functional 
currency spot rates at the date the transaction first qualifies for recognition.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the functional currency spot 
rates of exchange at the reporting date. Differences arising on settlement or translation of monetary items are 
recognised in profit or loss with the exception of monetary items that are designated as part of the hedge of 
the Group’s net investment of a foreign operation. These are recognised in other comprehensive income until 
the net investment is disposed of, at which time, the cumulative amount is reclassified to profit or loss. Tax 
charges and credits attributable to exchange differences on those monetary items are also recorded in other 
comprehensive income.

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the 
exchange rates at the dates of the initial transactions. Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a foreign 
currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value is determined. The gain or loss 
arising on translation of non-monetary items measured at fair value is treated in line with the recognition of gain 
or loss on change in fair value of the item (i.e., translation differences on items whose fair value gain or loss is 
recognised in other comprehensive income or profit or loss are also recognised in other comprehensive income 
or profit or loss, respectively).

Any goodwill arising on the acquisition of a foreign operation and any fair value adjustments to the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities arising on the acquisition are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign 
operation and translated at the spot rate of exchange at the reporting date.

ii)  

Group companies

On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into dollars at the rate of 
exchange prevailing at the reporting date and their statements of profit or loss are translated at exchange rates 
prevailing at the dates of the transactions. The exchange differences arising on translation for consolidation 
are recognised in other comprehensive income. On disposal of a foreign operation, the component of other 
comprehensive income relating to that particular foreign operation is recognised in profit or loss.

q. 

Work-in-progress

When the outcome of a contract can be estimated reliably, contract revenue and contract costs are recognised 
as revenue and expenses respectively by reference to the stage of completion of the contract activity at 
the balance sheet date. When the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably, contract revenue is 
recognised to the extent of contract costs incurred that are likely to be recoverable. When it is probable that total 
contract costs will exceed total contract revenue, the expected loss is recognised as an expense immediately.

At the end of each accounting period the long term contracts percentage completion is assessed individually 
and any unbilled percentage completion is recognised as work in progress income for the period. In the 
next period, the amount recognised as income will be reversed and the position of work in progress will be 
recalculated.

r. 

Share based payments

The Group provides benefits to employees in the form of equity settled share based payments, whereby 
employees render services in exchange for shares or rights over shares. The fair value of rights granted to 
eligible employees under the Energy Action Performance Rights & Options Plan (PROP) is recognised as an 
employee benefits expense, with a corresponding increase in the employee equity benefits reserve. The fair 
value is measured at grant date and recognised over the period in which the employee becomes entitled to 
the PROP grant. The fair value at grant date is determined by an independent valuer. Details of the fair value of 
share based payment plans are set out in Note 19.

At the end of each reporting period, the Group revises its estimate of the numbers of rights expected to vest. 
The amount recognised as an expense is only adjusted when the rights do no vest due to non-market related 
conditions. 

77  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 3: Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions 

In the application of Energy Action’s accounting policies, management is required to make judgements, 
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, and 
the disclosure of contingent liabilities, at the end of the reporting period. The estimates and assumptions are 
based on historical experience and other factors that are considered relevant. Actual results may differ from 
these estimates. 

The estimates and assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are 
recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of 
the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets

The Group assesses impairment at the end of each reporting period by evaluating conditions and events 
specific to the Group that may be indicative of impairment triggers. Recoverable amounts of relevant assets are 
reassessed using value-in-use calculations which incorporate various key assumptions.

Share-based payment transactions

The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with suppliers with reference to the fair value of 
the equity instruments at the date at which they are granted. Estimating fair value for share-based payment 
transactions requires determining the most appropriate valuation model, which is dependent on the terms and 
conditions of the grant. This estimate also requires determining the most appropriate inputs to the valuation 
model including the expected life of the share option, volatility and dividend yield and making assumptions about 
them. The assumptions and models used for estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions are 
disclosed in Note 19.

Development costs

Development costs are capitalised in accordance with the accounting policy in Note 2(i). Initial capitalisation of 
costs is based on management’s judgement that technological and economic feasibility is confirmed, usually 
when a product development project has reached a defined milestone according to an established project 
management model. In determining the amounts to be capitalised, management makes assumptions regarding 
the expected future cash generation of the project, discount rates to be applied and the expected period of 
benefits. This includes significant investments in the development of software. The software is being enhanced 
and /or developed for use within the business, improving operational efficiency. 

Provision for impairment of receivables

Collectability of trade receivables is assessed on an ongoing basis. An allowance for doubtful debts is 
established when there is objective evidence the Energy Action will not be able to collect all amounts due. 
Management uses its judgement in determining the level of doubtful debt provisioning, considering historical 
analysis of bade debts trends and prevailing economic circumstances. 

Business Combinations

Acquisitions of businesses are accounted for using the acquisition method. This method requires the application 
of fair values for both the consideration and the assets and liabilities acquired. The calculation of fair value 
is often based on estimates and judgements including future cash flows, revenue streams and value in use 
calculations.

Onerous Contracts

Energy Action’s policy for onerous contracts is stated in Note 2(k). The application of this policy requires 
management to make certain estimates and assumptions as to future events and circumstances in relation to 
costs to meet contractual obligations. 

78  

ENERGY ACTIONNote 3: Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions (Continued)

Employee benefits

Employee benefits are predominantly annual leave and long service leave. In determining these provisions, 
management makes assumptions in regards to future wage increases, and the probability that employees may 
satisfy vesting requirements for long service leave.

Work in progress

Energy Action performs services under contracts that last longer than one reporting period. For these contracts, 
revenue and costs are recognised on a percentage of completion basis. Percentage of completion by project is 
estimated by the project relevant project manager based on their assessment of completion versus milestones. 

Note 4: Business Combinations 

4.1 

Information on prior year acquisition

Acquisition of Energy Advice

On 18 August 2014, Energy Action Limited (“EAX’) acquired 100% of the voting shares of Energy Advice Pty 
Ltd (“Energy Advice”). Trading as Energy Advice, and established in 1997 by the late Mr Phil Randall, Energy 
Advice is a highly regarded energy consultancy business with a core competency energy procurement, 
contract management services and specialty consultancy services. Its operations complement EAX’s energy 
procurement and contract management offering, and significantly strengthen the EAX’s access to large energy 
load customers. Energy Advice provides comprehensive energy management, procurement, reporting, auditing, 
energy efficiency, advisory and project management services across a broad range of energy commodities 
including electricity, gas, LPG, fuels and renewables. The company employs over 30 staff and has offices in 
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Consideration is comprised of the following:

Initial Consideration (paid) - $6,536,235 paid as cash and shares

 ƒ $2,765,000 cash payment on 18 August 2015

 ƒ $377,000 in EAX shares issued on 18 August 2015 (123,356 shares @$3.0562)

 ƒ $3,142,000 cash payment on 1 October 2015; and 

 ƒ $252,235 as a working capital adjustment on 22 October 2015

Deferred Consideration (payable) - $6,284,000 cash payable to the vendors as follows:

 ƒ $3,142,000 on 18 August 2015; and,

 ƒ $3,142,000 on 18 August 2016

The deferred payments are subject to the continued employment of the vendors. Due to the direct link to 
continued employment of the vendors the deferred consideration of $6,284,000 is required to be expensed to 
the Profit and Loss Statement evenly over the 2 year period ended 18 August 2016. The expense recognised in 
the 12 month period to 30 June 2016 was $2,749,247 and this has been emphasised as a Significant Item in 
the Directors Report. The deferred payments are covered by bank guarantees.

79  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 4: Business Combinations (Continued)

The acquisition was provisionally accounted at 31 December 2014 with the final acquisition accounting 
completed in June 2015.The provisional and final fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of Energy 
Advice as at the date of acquisition were:

Note

Fair value recognised on 
acquisition- provisional

Adjustments to 
provisional fair value

Fair value recognised on 
acquisition – final

Assets

Cash

Trade receivables

Prepayments

Property, plant and equipment

Customer relationship

Total Assets

Liabilities

Provisions

Tax payable

Deferred tax liabilities

Total Liabilities

Total identifiable net assets at fair value

Goodwill arising on acquisition

Purchase consideration

Issue of shares

Analysis of cash flows on acquisition:

13

19

Net cash acquired

Cash paid

Net cash outflow

(18,567)

(1,069,000)

(1,087,567)

26,590

(281,262)

(254,672)

(832,895)

832,895

356,190

597,968

555,738

271,177

1,500,000

3,281,073

970,252

215,623

450,000

1,635,875

1,645,198

4,891,039

6,536,235

377,000

356,190

(6,159,235)

(5,803,045)

356,190

597,968

537,171

271,177

431,000

2,193,506

970,252

242,213

168,738

1,381,203

812,303

5,723,934

6,536,235

377,000

356,190

(6,159,235)

(5,803,045)

The transaction costs of $320,892 have been expensed in the income statement and emphasised as a 
Significant Item in the Directors Report and are part of operating cash flows in the statement of cash flows.

The goodwill is attributed to the expected synergies and other benefits from combining the activities of Energy 
Advice to the Group. An allocation of intangibles has been undertaken with $431,000 allocated to Customer 
relationships with the remainder allocated to goodwill. 

80  

ENERGY ACTION 
Note 4: Business Combinations (Continued)

4.2 

Total amounts of deferred consideration expense and acquisition expense

Deferred consideration

Exergy

Energy Advice 

Total deferred consideration expense

Acquisition costs

Exergy

Energy Advice 

Total acquisition costs expensed

Note 5: Segment information

Identification of reportable segments

Consolidated Group

2016 
$

2015 
$

708,333

2,141,994

3,850,327

-

-

-

1,000,000

2,749,245

3,749,245

39,776

320,892

360,668

The Group has identified one reportable operating segment, which provides electricity and gas procurement 
services, energy monitoring services, and sustainability services in Australia. The types of services provided are 
detailed below.

Types of Services

Energy Action’s principal activities are providing integrated energy management services to a diverse base of 
commercial and industrial customers. Its core services are:

 ƒ Energy procurement: specialised buying and negotiation strategies, utilising reverse auctions, bespoke 

tender models and advising on structured products. 

 ƒ Energy monitoring, assessment and contract management (Energy Metrics); and,

 ƒ Energy efficiency and sustainability; Projects and Advisory Services (PAS).

The Australian Energy Exchange (AEX) electricity and gas procurement service is an online, real time and reverse 
auction platform for business customers which provides the opportunity to competitively obtain energy supply 
contracts from various energy providers. 

Energy Metrics is an independent energy monitoring contract management platform which transforms energy 
data into usable business intelligence that is easy to understand and essential for improving overall business 
efficiency. 

The types of energy monitoring services include energy consumption monitoring and costing, energy emissions 
monitoring, contract administration, detailed technical reporting, desktop energy efficiency review and additional 
reporting and monitoring.

Projects & Advisory Services (PAS) is the energy efficiency and sustainability partnering service, which aims 
to improve and manage on site level of energy efficiency, through the use of innovative energy efficiency and 
energy management methodologies. The various services include metering intelligence, sub metering, carbon 
footprint measurement and reduction advice, Australian Standard Level 2 compliance energy audits, project 
feasibility studies and supporting onsite power generation projects such as co-generation and tri-generation 
units from prefeasibility through to commissioning.

81  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 5: Segment Information (Continued)

In the table below revenue is analysed by service line, however overall the performance of the business is 
monitored as one. 

Accounting Policies and inter-segment transaction

The accounting policies used by the Group in the reporting segment internally are the same as those contained 
in note 2 to the accounts.

Revenue by customer

There is no revenue with a single external customer that contributes more than 10%.

Year-ended  
30 June 2016

Sales to external customers

Year-ended  
30 June 2015

Sales to external customers

Procurement

Monitoring

$

7,586,787

7,586,787

$

18,059,913

18,059,913

Procurement

Monitoring

$

8,263,626

8,263,626

$

16,691,706

16,691,706

Project Advisory 
Services

$

7,930,792

7,930,792

Project Advisory 
Services

$

6,698,594

6,698,594

Total

$

33,577,492

33,577,492

Total

$

31,653,926

31,653,926

Note 6: Revenue, Other Income and Expenses

Consolidated Group

2016 
$

2015  
$

33,577,492

401,216

33,978,708

31,653,926

395,289

32,049,215

Revenue

Sales revenue

Other income 

Total Revenue

82  

ENERGY ACTION 
Note 6: Revenue, Other Income and Expenses (Continued)

Employee benefits

Salaries

Commissions

Superannuation

Share based payment expense

Other

Total Employment benefits

Administrative costs

Accounting, audit and tax fees

Advertising

Legal and professional fees

Telephone and internet

Computer maintenance costs

Bad debt expense

Recruitment Costs

Travel costs

Rental expense

Other expenses

Total Administrative costs

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation

Amortisation – Software

Amortisation – Customer relationships

Total Depreciation & Amortisation

Significant Item Costs

Deferred payments for acquisitions

Acquisition costs

Onerous lease

Restructure costs

Total Significant Items

Financing costs / (income)

Interest income

Interest expenses

Borrowing costs

Total Financing costs / (income)

Note

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015  
$

 12,441,628 

 12,063,684 

 1,076,991 

 1,466,826 

  (22,156)

 1,229,794 

 1,188,026 

 1,454,458 

  294,207 

  963,216 

 16,193,083 

 15,963,591 

  207,414 

  213,337 

  181,695 

  472,125 

  761,687 

  134,946 

  157,602 

  567,281 

 1,141,438 

 1,230,806 

 5,068,332 

  379,577 

  701,250 

  239,094 

 1,319,921 

 3,850,327 

 - 

 - 

  169,399 

 4,019,726 

  (39,053)

  378,728 

  123,050 

  462,725 

  204,683 

  411,260 

  89,640 

  490,056 

  536,944 

  550,201 

  151,403 

  669,742 

 1,227,606 

1,571,171

  5,902,706

  305,757 

  619,230 

  233,091 

 1,158,077 

 3,749,245 

  360,668 

  153,059 

  419,700 

 4,682,672 

  (70,442)

  274,998 

  97,785 

  302,341 

83  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 7: Income Tax Expense

Note

Consolidated Group

a 

The components of tax expense comprise:

Current tax 

Current tax – under/(over) prior year

Deferred tax 

16

b 

The prima facie tax on profit from ordinary activities before 
income tax is reconciled to the income tax as follows:

Prima facie tax (benefit) / payable on profit / (loss) from ordinary 
activities before income tax at 30% (2015: 30%) 

Add Tax effect of:

Permanent Differences

 – Deferred consideration

 – Acquisition costs 

 – Share based payments/trust

 – Other permanent differences 

 – Accounting R&D 

 – Prior year adjustments 

Less Tax effect of:

Deductible Expense

– R&D

Income tax attributable to entity 

The applicable weighted average effective tax rates  
are as follows: 

2016  
$

 1,238,705 

 (11,290)

 (35,981)

 1,191,434 

2015  
$

 1,192,817 

  7,928 

 (413,764)

 786,981 

 222,611 

 (408,179)

 1,155,098 

 1,124,774 

  - 

 (43,969)

 (18,215) 

 208,804 

 (54,490)

 108,200 

 88,262 

 (37,722)

 126,013 

 (46,350)

 (278,405)

 1,191,434 

 (168,017)

 786,981 

160 56%

-57 84%

Energy Action Limited and its 100% owned subsidiaries formed a tax consolidated group with effect from 
3 March 2009. Energy Action Limited is the head entity of the tax consolidated group. 

84  

ENERGY ACTION 
 
Note 8: Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing net profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity 
holders of the parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to ordinary equity 
holders of the parent (after adjusting for interest on the convertible preference shares) by the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares 
that would be issued on conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares.

The following reflects the income and share data used in the basic diluted earnings per share computations:

Net profit / (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent 
from continuing operations

Net profit / (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the 
parent for basic earnings

Net profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent 
adjusted for the effect of dilutions

2016 
$

(449,399)

(449,399)

(449,399)

2016  
No 

2015  
$

 (2,147,581)

 (2,147,581)

(2,147,581)

2015 
No 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for basic earnings 
per share

 25,954,117 

 25,934,821 

Effect of dilution:

Share options and performance rights

Weighted average number of ordinary shares adjusted for the 
effect of dilution

  - 

 30,678 

 25,954,117 

 25,965,499 

There have been no other transactions involving ordinary shares or potential ordinary shares between the 
reporting date and the date of completion of these financial statements.

Under the accounting standards, losses are not diluted. This is correct for Statutory EPS calculations. The 
dilution calculation has been performed to enable users of these financial statements to determine the impact 
of the dilution on Operating NPAT per share. Refer also to the Directors Report for further information on the 
calculation of Operating NPAT. 

85  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 9: Dividends

Dividends paid:

Final 2014 franked dividend of 3 62 cents per share

Interim 2015 franked dividend of 2 59 cents per share

Final 2015 franked dividend of 1 06 cents per share

Interim 2016 franked dividend of 2 80 cents per share

Note

Consolidated Group

2016 
$

2015 
$

939,059

672,211

275,114

726,715

1,001,829

1,611,270

a    Proposed final 2016 franked dividend of 3 52 cents per share

26

913,585

275,114

b   Final 2015 franked dividend of 1 06 cents per share)

Balance of franking account at year end adjusted for franking credits arising from:

 – Opening balance

 – Opening balance adjustment

 – Energy Advice franking account balance 

 – Payment of provision for income tax

Subsequent to year end, the franking account would be reduced by the proposed 
dividend reflected per (a) as follows:

5,427,430

4,320,749

-

-

1,093,603

(429,355)

6,091,677

(57,004)

93,865

1,760,364

(690,544)

5,427,430

(391,536)

(117,906)

5,700,141

5,309,524

Tax rates

The tax rate at which paid dividends have been franked is 30% (2015: 30%). Dividends proposed will be franked 
at the rate of 30% (2015: 30%).

86  

ENERGY ACTIONNote 10: Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash at floating rates

Restricted cash* 

*  Refers to Exergy acquisition (2015), Employee Share Trust (2016) 

Consolidated Group

2016 
$

1,142,046

65,000

2015 
$

1,740,288

1,000,000

Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. Short-term deposits are made 
for varying periods of between one day and three months, depending on the immediate cash requirements of 
the Group, and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates.

Note 11: Trade and Other Receivables

CURRENT

Trade receivables

Provision for impairment

Total current trade receivables

NON-CURRENT

Bonds and security deposits

Consolidated Group

2016 
$

2015 
$

5,184,333

(214,563)

4,969,770

6,171,937

 (303,112)

5,868,825

85,509

93,098

a. 

Provision for Impairment of Receivables

Current trade and term receivables are non-interest bearing and generally on 30 to 90-day terms.

Credit risk

The Group has no significant concentration of credit risk with respect to any single counterparty or group of 
counterparties other than those receivables specifically provided for and mentioned within Note 11. The class of 
assets described as “trade and other receivables” is considered to be the main source of credit risk related to 
the Group.

The following table details the Group’s trade and other receivables exposed to credit risk (prior to collateral and 
other credit enhancements) with ageing analysis and impairment provided for thereon. Amounts are considered 
as “past due” when the debt has not been settled, with the terms and conditions agreed between the Group 
and the customer or counterparty to the transaction. Receivables that are past due are assessed for impairment 
by ascertaining solvency of the debtors and are provided for where there are specific circumstances indicating 
that the debt may not be fully repaid to the Group.

The balances of receivables including overdue are considered to be fully recoverable. Customers have trading 
terms varying between 30 - 90 days. 

87  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
 
 
Note 11: Trade and Other Receivables (Continued)

Past due but not impaired (days overdue)

Net Amount

Past due and 
Impaired

< 30

31–60

61–90

$

 $

$

$

$

91+

$

Within Initial 
Trade Terms

$

2016

Trade and term 
receivables

2015

Trade and term 
receivables

4,969,770

214,563

1,281,746

375,723

317,177

173,288

3,036,399

5,868,825

303,112

1,824,508

394,748

832,930

999,598

2,120,153

Neither the Group nor parent entity holds any financial assets with terms that have been renegotiated, which 
would otherwise be past due or impaired.

b. 

Collateral Held as Security

Current trade and term receivables are non-interest bearing and generally on 30 to 90-day terms.

No collateral or security is held by the company for loans or receivables.

Note 12: Property, Plant and Equipment

Note

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015  
$

 1,716,633 

 (1,484,463)

 232,171 

1,415,552

 (846,485)

569,067

801,237

 1,632,207 

 (1,337,232)

 294,975 

 1,241,540 

 (639,734)

 601,806 

 896,782 

Computer equipment:

At cost

Accumulated depreciation

Furniture and fittings:

At cost

Accumulated depreciation

Total Plant and Equipment

88  

ENERGY ACTION 
 
 
 
Note 12: Property Plant and Equipment (Continued)

a. 

Movements in Carrying Amounts

Movement in the carrying amounts for each class of property, plant and equipment between the beginning and 
the end of the current financial year.

Note

Computer Equipment

Furniture and Fittings

$

$

Total

$

 563,920 

 398,203 

271,178 

 (30,765)

(305,755)

 896,782 

296,453

 (12,420)

(379,577)

 801,237

 291,240 

 187,473 

 35,225 

 (30,765)

(188,198)

 294,975 

 110,920 

 (12,420)

 (161,304)

 232,171 

 272,680 

 210,730 

 235,953 

 - 

(117,558)

 601,806 

185,534

 - 

(218,273)

569,066

Consolidated Group

Consolidated Group:

Balance at 1 July 2014

Additions

Assets acquired from acquisition

4

Assets disposed 

Depreciation expense

Balance at 30 June 2015

Additions

Assets disposed 

Depreciation expense

Balance at 30 June 2016

Note 13: Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Customer relationships

Accumulated amortisation

Net carrying value – customer relationships

Software development costs

Adjustment

Accumulated amortisation 

Net carrying value –software development costs

Total intangibles

2016  
$

 9,944,796 

 2,438,000 

 (792,743)

1,645,257

6,268,543

3,429

(3,466,494)

2,805,478

14,395,531

2015  
$

 9,942,429 

 2,438,000 

 (553,649)

1,884,351

 4,940,729

-

(2,765,244)

 2,175,485 

 14,002,265 

89  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 13: Intangible Assets (Continued)

Goodwill

Customer  
Relationships 

Software  
Development Costs 

$

$

$

Consolidated Group:

Year ended 30 June 2015

Balance at the beginning of year

Acquisition of a subsidiary 

Internal development

Amortisation charge

Year ended 30 June 2016

Balance at the beginning of year

Acquisition of a subsidiary 

Internal development

Adjustment

Amortisation charge

 4,140,313 

 5,802,116 

 - 

 - 

 9,942,429 

 9,942,429 

  2,367 

 - 

-

 - 

Closing value at 30 June 2016

 9,944,796 

Total  
Intangibles 

$

 7,567,771 

 6,233,116 

 1,053,699 

 (852,321)

 14,002,265 

 1,686,442 

 431,000 

 - 

 (233,091)

 1,884,351 

 1,741,016 

 - 

 1,053,699 

 (619,230)

 2,175,485 

 1,884,351 

 2,175,485 

 14,002,265 

  - 

 - 

-

 (239,094)

 1,645,257 

 - 

1,327,815

3,429

(701,251)

2,805,478

  2,367 

1,327,814

3,429

 (940,345)

 14,395,531

Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, have finite useful lives. The current amortisation charges for intangible 
assets are included under depreciation and amortisation expense in the statement of comprehensive income. 

Refer to Note 2 for capitalisation policy.

13 (a) Impairment testing of goodwill

For the year ended 30 June 2016, Goodwill acquired through business combinations with indefinite lives has 
been allocated to one Cash Generating Unit (CGU).

Energy Action has one reportable operating segment, being ‘the provision of electricity procurement services, 
energy monitoring services, and project advisory services in Australia’. Therefore goodwill will be allocated 
across Energy Action’s sole operating segment. 

The recoverable amount of Goodwill has been determined on a value in use calculation using cash flow 
projections based on the Board approved budget for the year ended 30 June 2017 extrapolated for 4 years.

The discount rate applied to cash flow projections is a pre-tax rate of 23.9% (post tax 16.7%) and the cash 
flows beyond the approved budgets are extrapolated using 2% growth rate and terminal growth rate of 1%.

90  

ENERGY ACTION 
Note 14: Other Assets

CURRENT

Prepayments

Work in progress

Tax receivable

Contract acquisition costs

NON CURRENT

Contract acquisition costs

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

400,983

765,216

  - 

302,537

1,468,736

868,944

868,944

2015  
$

569,879

163,684

76,193

359,230

1,168,986

898,941

898,941

Contract acquisition costs represent sales commissions paid to sales employees. Sales commissions are 
calculated and paid on a monthly basis to sales employees. These costs are recognised progressively in line 
with revenue from procurement and contract management services, typically over two to five years.

Note 15: Trade and Other Payables

Note

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015  
$

CURRENT

Unsecured liabilities:

Trade payables

Deferred consideration payable – Energy Advice

Deferred consideration payable – Exergy

Other payables and accrued expenses

a.   Financial liabilities at amortised cost classified as trade and other payables 

Trade and other payables:

– total current

– total non-current

Financial liabilities as trade and other payables

23

695,463

2,749,189

  - 

2,122,999

5,567,651

801,978

2,749,195

 291,667 

2,360,081

6,202,921

5,567,651

6,202,921

-

5,567,651

5,567,651

-

6,202,921

6,202,921

Terms and conditions of the above financial liabilities:

 ƒ Trade payables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 60 day terms

 ƒ Other payables are non-interest bearing and have an average term of six months 

91  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
Consolidated Group

2016 
$

 47,052 

Acquired

Charged directly  
to Equity

2015  
$

 - 

Closing  
Balance

$

 574,398 

 270,219 

 (322,755)

 - 

 (493,577)

 (351,444)

 (229,565)

  20,159 

 - 

$

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

  - 

 (532,565)

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 599,032 

 205,879 

 (418,511)

  45,428 

 (565,305)

 (376,741)

 (49,105)

  1,342 

Opening  
Balance

$

Charged to  
Income

$

 599,032 

 205,879 

 (418,511)

 (24,634)

 64,339 

 95,756 

 45,428 

 (45,428)

(565,305)

 (376,741)

 71,728 

 25,297 

 (49,105)

 (180,460)

  - 

 1,342 

 (557,981)

 20,159 

 (1,342)

 25,416 

 344,227 

 46,498 

 254,806 

 159,381 

 (302,022)

 (116,489)

 97,088 

 (505,933)

 (435,360)

 (49,046)

 1,541 

 (51,660)

 109,365 

 58,619 

  (59)

 (199)

$

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

  - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

  - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 (168,738)

 - 

 - 

 - 

 (803,007)

 413,764 

 (168,738)

  - 

 (557,981)

Note 16: Tax

Current

Income tax payable

Non-Current

Consolidated Group

Deferred Tax 2016

Provisions

Accruals

Fixed assets

Equity raising costs

Customer relationships

Prepaid commissions

Work in progress

Share Based Payments

Other

Deferred Tax 2015

Provisions

Accruals

Fixed assets

Equity raising costs

Customer relationships

Prepaid commissions

Work in progress

Other

92  

ENERGY ACTION 
Note 17: Provisions and other liabilities

Analysis of total provisions

Current 

Annual leave

Long service leave

Deferred grant income

Non-current

Long service leave

Deferred grant income

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

929,782

378,887 

3,929

2015  
$

874,526

359,014 

43,985

1,312,597

1,277,525

357,270

- 

357,270

358,722

13,945

372,667

Provision for Long-term Employee Benefits

A provision has been recognised for employee entitlements relating to long service leave. In calculating the 
present value of future cash flows in respect of long service leave, the probability of long service leave being 
taken is based on historical data. The measurement and recognition criteria relating to employee benefits have 
been included in Note 2.

Note 18: Loans and Borrowings

Multi-Option Facility Agreement 

Less capitalised debt establishment fees

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

4,250,000

(276,642)

3,973,358

2015  
$

4,100,000

(340,462)

3,759,538

During the year ending 30 June 2015, Energy Action entered into $12 million multi-option secured debt facility. 
The facility has a five year term and is available to fund future purchase price instalments of the Energy Advice 
acquisition and for general corporate purposes. Funds can be utilised in the form of loans, bank guarantees and 
letters of credit.

Funds advanced under the facility are secured by a charge over the assets of the Group, and includes Interest 
Cover and Gearing ratios. 

Debt establishment fees are capitalised and amortised over the life of the loan facility.

93  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016   
  
  
 
 
 
Note 18: Loans & Borrowings (Continued)

Utilisation of the facility is summarised in the following table:

Financing facilities

Loan facilities 

Amounts used

Borrowings

Bank guarantees

Total amounts used

Amounts unused

Note 19: Issued Capital and Reserves

Fully paid ordinary shares 

a.  Ordinary Shares (number)

At the beginning of the reporting period:

Movement in the year:

– Shares issued under long term incentive plans

– Share issue – Energy Advice acquisition

At the end of the reporting period

b.  Ordinary Shares ($)

At the beginning of the reporting period:

Movement in the year

– Share issue – Energy Advice acquisition

At the end of the reporting period

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015 
$

12,000,000

12,000,000

4,250,000

3,270,620

7,520,620

4,479,380

4,100,000

6,381,297

10,481,297

1,518,703

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

 6,537,906 

 6,537,906 

2015  
$

 6,537,906 

 6,537,906 

Consolidated Group

2016  
No 

2015  
No 

 25,954,117 

 25,817,498 

  - 

  - 

  13,263 

 123,356 

 25,954,117 

 25,954,117 

 6,537,906 

 6,160,906 

  - 

 6,537,906 

 377,000 

 6,537,906 

Ordinary shares participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding-up of the parent entity in proportion to the 
number of shares held.

At the shareholders’ meetings each ordinary share is entitled to one vote when a poll is called, otherwise each 
shareholder has one vote on a show of hands.

94  

ENERGY ACTION 
 
 
Note 19: Issued Capital and Reserves (Continued)

c. 

Share based payments reserve

Share-based payment transactions:

The share-based payment reserve is used to recognise the value of equity-settled share-based payment 
provided to employees. 

On 16 October 2015, 446,956 performance rights were granted to senior executives and certain other 
employees under the Performance Rights & Options Plan (PROP). Vesting only occurs when and if service and 
performance conditions are met. 

The service condition is such that the employee must be employed by Energy Action at the time any 
performance rights vest.

The Performance Conditions comprise two tests, the Earnings per Share (EPS) and Total Shareholder Return 
(TSR) tests, which are described below.

The number of Performance Rights allocated to an individual which may vest will be determined by reference to:

 ƒ an Earnings Per Share (EPS) component achieved by comparing the Company’s Actual Operating EPS for 

the year ending on the relevant test date to the Company’s Budget Operating EPS for the year ending on the 
relevant test date (Target 1); and

 ƒ a Total Shareholder Return (TSR) component achieved by comparing the Company’s total compounded 
return to the total compounded return of the S&P/ASX300 (Index) for the year ending on the relevant test 
date (Target 2).

75% of Performance Rights Earnings  
Per Share Target (EPS) (“Target 1 Entitlement”)

25% of Performance Rights  
Total Shareholder Return (TSR) (“Target 2 Entitlement”)

Target 1

Available 
Performance Rights

Target 2

Available Performance 
Rights

Actual Operating EPS LESS THAN Budget 
Operating EPS

Actual Operating EPS EQUALS (OR 
GREATER THAN) Budget Operating EPS

Nil

Nil

Company Total Compounded TSR LESS THAN 
Total Compounded TSR of the Index

Company Total Compounded TSR EQUALS Total 
Compounded TSR of the Index

0%

50%

Company Total Compounded TSR BETWEEN 
EQUAL TO AND 1 10 TIMES Total Compounded 
TSR of the Index

Vesting will occur on 
a linear basis between 
50% and 100%

Company Total Compounded TSR 1 10 TIMES 
Total Compounded TSR of the Index

100%

Awards have been granted with either a 2 or 3 year vesting period ending 30 June 2016 or 30 June 2017. The 
details and fair values of each of the performance rights granted during the year was as follows:

Retesting

EPS $

TSR $

Description

2 year

3 Year

3 year service only

No

No

N/A

1 13 – 1 18

0 66 – 0 99

No retesting feature

1 07 – 1 18

0 64 – 0 99

No retesting feature

N/A

N/A

Fair value per right is $1 07

95  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
Note 19: Issued Capital and Reserves (Continued)

A Monte Carlo simulation valuation technique has been adopted to value the performance rights at grant date. 
The fair value of performance rights granted during the year ended 30 June 2016 was estimated on the date of 
grant using the following assumptions:

Dividends  

FY15 3.65 cents, 20% pa growth thereafter

Expected volatility (%) 

45

Risk-free interest rate (%)  

1.84% (2 year), 1.86% (3 year)

Share price ($) 

1.22

For the year ended 30 June 2016, the Group has recognised ($22,156) of share-based payment expense in 
the statement of comprehensive income (30 June 2015: $294,207). Share based payments expense is net of 
reversals due to non-achievement of targets (EPS targets) and forfeitures in the case of terminated employees.

d. 

Foreign currency translation reserve

Exchange differences arising on translation of the foreign controlled entity are taken to the foreign currency 
translation reserve, as described in note 2. The reserve is recognised in profit or loss when the net investment is 
disposed of.

e. 

 Capital Management

The Group’s capital includes ordinary share capital. Management controls the capital of the Group in order to 
maintain a prudent debt to equity ratio, provide the shareholders with adequate returns and ensure that the 
Group can fund its operations and continue as a going concern. This includes adjusting dividend payments to 
shareholders and equity attributable to the entity holders of the parent.

There is an externally imposed capital requirement of $50,000 to be held in cash, as a requirement of holding an 
Australian Financial Services Licence.

The way management controls Group’s capital is by assessing the Group’s financial risks and adjusting 
its capital structure in response to changes in those risks and in the market. The responses include the 
management of debt levels, distributions to shareholders and share issues.

There have been no changes in the strategy adopted by management to control the capital of the Group since 
the prior year. The Group includes within net debt, trade and other payables including provision for income tax, 
less cash and cash equivalents. Bank guarantees are excluded from this calculation. The gearing ratios for the 
year ended 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2015 are as follows:

Bank loans

Less cash and cash equivalents

Net debt / (cash)

Total Equity

Gearing percentage (%)

Note

18

10

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

 3,973,358 

 (1,207,046)

 2,766,313 

 12,006,279 

23%

2015  
$

 3,759,538 

 (1,740,288)

 2,019,250 

 13,498,553 

15%

Gearing as measured by total net debt divided by total equity was 23% as at 30 June 2016 and 15% at 
30 June 2015.

96  

ENERGY ACTION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 20: Capital and Leasing Commitments

a.  Operating Lease Commitments 

Non-cancellable property operating leases contracted for but 
not recognised in the financial statements 

Payable – minimum lease payments:

– not later than 12 months 

– between 12 months and 5 years 

Note

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015  
$

822,452

1,782,224

2,604,677

737,059

2,158,660

2,895,719

The property leases are non-cancellable leases with a maximum 5 year term with rent payable monthly in 
advance. Contingent rental provisions within the lease agreement require the minimum lease payments shall be 
increased by the lower of CPI or between 4-5% per annum. An option exists to renew a number of leases at 
the end of the term for a maximum of five years.

b.  Bank Guarantees

The Group has provided a bank guarantee to the Energy Advice vendors for deferred consideration totalling 
$3,142,000. This is payable on 18 August 2016. 

The Group has provided the following bank guarantees at 30 June 2016 for regional offices:

 – Parramatta office 

 – Sydney office 

 – Brisbane office 

 – Melbourne office

Note

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

97,297

126,210

31,323

33,232

288,062

2015  
$

97,297

126,210

18,354

45,562

287,423

97  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
Note 21: Cash Flow Information

a.  Reconciliation of Cash Flow from  

Operations with Profit after Income Tax

Profit after income tax

– Depreciation and amortisation

– Share based payments expense

– Other non-cash items

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of purchase 
and disposal of subsidiaries:

– (increase)/decrease in trade and term receivables

– (increase)/decrease in prepayments and other assets

– increase/(decrease) in trade payables and accruals

– increase/(decrease) in deferred taxes 

– increase/(decrease) in provisions 

Cash flow from operations

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015  
$

 (449,399)

 1,319,921 

 (22,156)

  54,984 

 906,644 

 (269,753)

 (588,218)

 (25,415)

  19,675 

 946,283 

 (2,147,578)

 1,158,077 

 294,207 

  - 

 771,656 

 (158,622)

 3,095,583 

 (219,105)

 (229,699)

 2,564,519 

98  

ENERGY ACTION 
 
 
 
Note 22: Related Party Disclosures

The financial statements include the financial statements of the Group and the subsidiaries listed in the 
following table: 

a.  

Controlled Entities Consolidated

Country of Incorporation

Percentage Owned (%)*

Subsidiaries of Energy Action Limited:

Eactive Consulting Pty Limited

Energy Action (Australia) Pty Limited

EAIP Pty Limited

ACN 087 790 770 Pty Limited

Exergy Holdings Pty Limited**

Exergy Australia Pty Limited**

Exergy New Zealand Limited**

Energy Advice Pty Ltd***

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

New Zealand

Australia

* Percentage of voting power is in proportion to ownership 
** Acquired on 13 March 2014 
*** Acquired on 18 August 2014 

b. 

i. 

The Group’s main related parties are as follows:

Key management personnel:

2016

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

2015

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Any person(s) having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the entity, 
directly or indirectly, including any director (whether executive or otherwise) of that entity, are considered key 
management personnel.

For details of disclosures relating to key management personnel, refer to the Remuneration Report contained in 
the Director’s Report.

ii. 

Other related parties:

Other related parties include entities controlled by the ultimate parent entity and entities over which key 
management personnel exercise significant influence.

The Group procures legal services on an arms-length basis from Meehan’s solicitors. Total fees paid in FY16 
were $1,668.

c. 

Compensation of Key Management Personnel (KMP)

Refer to the Remuneration Report contained in the Director’s Report for details of the remuneration paid or 
payable to each member of the Group’s key management personnel for the year ended 30 June 2016.

99  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
Note 22: Related Party Disclosures (Continued)

The totals of remuneration paid to KMP of the Group during the year are as follows: 

Short-term employee benefits

Long-term employee benefits

Share based payments

Post-employment benefits – superannuation

Total Compensation

Note

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

1,044,589 

-

81,071

72,288 

1,197,948

2015  
$

877,734

5,688

46,166

67,728

997,316

The amounts disclosed in the table are the amounts recognised as an expense during the reporting period 
relating to KMP.

d.  

The ultimate parent

Energy Action Limited is the ultimate parent based and listed in Australia.

Note 23: Financial Risk Management

The Group’s principal financial liabilities comprise borrowings, trade and other payables. The main purpose of 
these financial liabilities is to finance the Group’s operations. The Group has trade and other receivables, and 
cash and short-term deposits that arrive directly from its operations.

The totals for each category of financial instruments, measured in accordance with AASB 139 as detailed in the 
accounting policies to these financial statements, are as follows:

Note

Consolidated Group

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash

Receivables

Bond and security deposits

Tax Receivable

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities

Loans and Borrowings

Trade & Other payables

Deferred cash consideration payable

Tax Payable

Total financial liabilities

10

11

11

18

15

15

2016  
$

1,207,046

4,969,770 

 85,509 

  - 

2015  
$

2,740,288

5,868,825 

 93,098 

 76,194 

6,262,326 

8,778,405 

3,973,358 

2,818,462 

2,749,189 

 47,052 

9,588,061 

3,759,538 

3,162,059 

3,040,862 

  - 

9,962,459 

100  

ENERGY ACTIONNote 23: Financial Risk Management (Continued)

Financial Risk Management Policies

The Audit and Risk Management Committee (ARMC) has been delegated responsibility by the Board of 
Directors for, amongst other matters, monitoring and managing financial risk exposures of the Group. The 
ARMC monitors the Group’s financial risk management policies and exposures and approves financial 
transactions within the scope of its authority. It also reviews the effectiveness of internal controls relating to 
financing risk and interest rate risk. The ARMC meets at least three times a year and minutes of the ARMC are 
reviewed by the Board.

The ARMC’s overall risk management strategy seeks to assist the consolidated group in meeting its financial 
targets, while minimising potential adverse effects on financial performance. Its functions include the review of 
the credit risk policies and future cash flow requirements.

Specific Financial Risk Exposures and Management

The main risks the Group is exposed to through its financial instruments are credit risk, liquidity risk and market 
risk consisting of interest rate risk.

a. 

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument or customer 
contract, leading to a financial loss. The Group is exposed to credit risk from its operating activities (primarily for 
trade receivables) and from its financing activities, including deposits with banks and financial institutions, and 
other financial instruments.

Credit risk is managed through the maintenance of procedures (such procedures include the utilisation of 
systems for the approval, granting and renewal of credit limits, regular monitoring of exposures against such 
limits and monitoring of the financial stability of significant customers and counterparties), ensuring to the extent 
possible, that customers and counterparties to transactions are of sound credit worthiness. Such monitoring is 
used in assessing receivables for impairment. Credit terms are generally 30 to 90 days from the invoice date.

Risk is also minimised through investing surplus funds in financial institutions that maintain a high credit rating. 
The institutions selected are determined by the Board. 

The maximum exposure to credit risk by class of recognised financial assets at the end of the reporting period 
excluding the value of any collateral or other security held, is equivalent to the carrying value and classification of 
those financial assets (net of any provisions) as presented in the statement of financial position. 

The Group has no significant concentrations of credit risk with any single counterparty or group of 
counterparties. Details with respect to credit risk of trade and other receivables are provided in Note 11.

Trade and other receivables that are neither past due nor impaired are considered to be of high credit quality. 
Aggregates of such amounts are as detailed in Note 11.

b. 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk arises from the possibility that the Group might encounter difficulty in settling its debts or otherwise 
meeting its obligations related to financial liabilities. The Group manages this risk through the following 
mechanisms:

 ƒ preparing forward looking cash flow analysis in relation to its operational, investing and financing activities;

 ƒ obtaining funding from a variety of sources;

 ƒ maintaining a reputable credit profile;

 ƒ managing credit risk related to financial assets;

 ƒ only investing surplus cash with major financial institutions; and

 ƒ comparing the maturity profile of financial liabilities with the realisation profile of financial assets

101  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Note 23: Financial Risk Management (Continued)

Within 1 Year

1 to 5 Years

Over 5 Years

Total

Consolidated Group

2016

$

2015

$

2016

$

2015

$

Financial liabilities due for payment

Bank loans

- 

- 

 3,973,358 

 3,759,538 

Deferred consideration

 2,749,189 

 3,040,862 

2016

2015

2016

$

2015

$

 3,973,358 

 3,759,538 

 2,749,189 

 3,040,862 

$

- 

- 

- 

 2,818,462 

 3,162,059 

 - 

 47,052 

- 

$

- 

 - 

 - 

 - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

 - 

- 

Trade and other 
payables (excluding 
est  annual leave) 

Tax

Total expected 
outflows

 2,818,462 

 3,162,059 

 47,052 

 - 

 5,614,703 

 6,202,921 

 3,973,358 

 3,759,538 

 - 

- 

 9,588,061 

 9,962,459 

Financial assets — cash flows realisable

Cash and cash 
equivalents

Restricted cash

Trade, term and loans 
receivables

Bonds and security 
deposits

Tax

Total anticipated 
inflows 

Net (outflow)/inflow on 
financial instruments

c. Interest rate risk

 1,142,046 

 1,740,288 

 65,000 

 1,000,000 

 4,969,770 

 5,868,825 

- 

 - 

 - 

- 

 - 

 - 

- 

- 

- 

85,509 

 93,098 

 76,194 

 - 

- 

 6,176,816 

 8,685,306 

85,509 

 93,098 

562,114 

 2,482,385 

(3,887,849)

(3,666,440)

 - 

 - 

 - 

- 

- 

- 

 - 

- 

- 

 1,142,046 

 1,740,288 

65,000 

 1,000,000 

 - 

 4,969,770 

 5,868,825 

 - 

 - 

85,509 

93,098 

 - 

 76,194 

- 

 6,262,326 

 8,778,405 

 - 

(3,325,736)

(1,184,054)

Interest rate risk arises as a result of changes in market interest rates and will affect the future cash flows. The 
Group manages its interest rate risk by having a variety of borrowing terms from 30 days to 180 days. Cash 
and cash equivalents are all on short term deposits. As at 30 June 2016, the Group had bank loans of $4.25 
million all of which was at 30 day terms at 3.1%. As at 30 June 2015, the Group had bank loans of $4.1 million 
comprising of $2.9 million on 30 day terms at 3.29%, and $1.2 million on 180 day terms at 3.51%. 

d. Market Risk

Market risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because 
of changes in market prices. Market prices for Energy Action Limited comprise interest rate risk. Financial 
instruments affected by interest risk include cash at bank. 

i) 

Interest rate risk

Exposure to interest rate risk arises on financial assets recognised at reporting date whereby a future change 
in interest rates will affect future cash flows or the fair value of fixed rate financial instruments. The Group’s 
exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily to the Group’s borrowings balances with 
floating interest rates. 

Interest rate risk is managed using a mix of terms on the bank borrowings. The company has insignificant other 
balances that have interest payment terms.

102  

ENERGY ACTIONNote 23: Financial Risk Management (Continued)

ii) 

Sensitivity Analysis

The following table illustrates sensitivities to the Group’s exposures to changes in interest rates. The table 
indicates the impact on how profit and equity values reported at balance date would have been affected by 
changes in the relevant risk variable that management considers to be reasonably possible. These sensitivities 
assume that the movement in a particular variable is independent of other variables, and the other assumptions 
remain consistent with prior years.

Year ended 30 June 2016

Year ended 30 June 2015

Consolidated Group

Increase/decrease in basis points 
$

+/- 100

+/- 100

Profit before tax 
$

+/- 73,310

+/- 10,220

The assumed movement in basis points for the interest rate sensitivity analysis is based on currently observable 
market environment, showing a significantly lower volatility than in prior years.

Fair Values

Fair value estimation

The carrying value of financial assets and financial liabilities is materially the same as the fair value. 

The fair values of the following financial assets and liabilities have been determined based on the following 
methodologies and assumptions:

(i)  Cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and trade and other payables are short-term 
instruments whose carrying value are deemed to be equivalent to fair value. Trade and other payables 
exclude amounts provided for relating to annual leave which is not considered a financial instrument. 

(ii)  Term receivables generally reprice to a market interest rate every 6 months, and fair value therefore 

approximates carrying value.

Financial liabilities are classified into Levels:

Level 1 those items traded with quoted prices in active markets for identical liabilities 

Level 2 those items with significantly observable inputs other than quoted process in active markets

Level 3 those with unobservable inputs

Fair Values

Financial Liabilities

Level 1

FY16

Level 2

Level 3

Level 1

FY15

Level 2

Level 3

Bank loans

-

3,973,358 

-

-

3,759,538 

-

103  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 24: Auditors’ Remuneration

The auditor for Energy Action Limited is Ernst & Young

Amounts received or due and receivable by  
Ernst & Young (Australia) for:

 – An audit or review of the financial report of the entity and any other 

entity in the consolidated group

 – Other services in relation to the entity and any other entity in the 

consolidated group

 – Due diligence services

 – Tax services

Consolidated Group

2016  
$

2015  
$

146,965

10,500 

-

18,425

175,890

159,465

14,500

104,831

24,625

303,421

Note 25: Information relating to Energy Action Limited (“the parent entity”)

The following information has been extracted from the books and records of the parent and has been prepared 
in accordance with Accounting Standards.

Note

Parent

2016  
$

2015  
$

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

ASSETS

Current assets

Non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities

Issued capital

Reserves

Retained earnings

Total Equity

Profit of the parent entity

Total comprehensive income of the parent entity

104  

 5,647,604 

 15,038,703 

 20,686,307 

(6,858,775)

(8,087,501)

(14,946,276)

 (8,161,626)

 - 

2,421,594

5,740,032

(1,957,779)

(1,957,779)

 858,655 

 15,190,835 

 16,049,491 

 (3,149,701)

 (8,093,413)

(11,243,114)

 (8,161,626)

 - 

 3,355,249 

 4,806,377 

 (2,918,884)

 (2,918,884)

ENERGY ACTIONNote 26: Events After the reporting period

A fully franked dividend in respect of the 6 months period to 30 June 2016 of 3.52 cents per share was declared 
on 18 August 2016.

Except for the above issues, no other matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year 
which significantly affected or could significantly affect the operations of the consolidated group, the results of 
those operations, or the state of affairs of the consolidated group in future financial years.

105  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Director’s Declaration

In accordance with a resolution of the Directors of Energy Action Limited, I state that:

1. 

In the opinion of the Directors:

a.  The financial statements and notes of Energy Action Limited for the financial year ended 30 June 

2016 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:

i. 

giving a true and fair view of its financial position as at 30 June 2016 and performance

ii.  complying with Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) 

and the Corporations Regulations 2001

b.  The financial statements and notes also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as 

disclosed in Note 2.1

c.  There are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and 

when they become due and payable

2. 

This declaration has been made after receiving the declarations required to be made to the Directors in  
accordance with section 295A of the Corporations Act 2001 for the financial year ended 30 June 2016

On behalf of the board

Murray Bleach 
Director 

18 August 2016

106  

ENERGY ACTION 
Independent Audit Report to Members of 
Energy Action Limited

Ernst & Young 
200 George Street 
Sydney  NSW  2000 Australia 
GPO Box 2646 Sydney  NSW  2001 

Tel: +61 2 9248 5555 
Fax: +61 2 9248 5959 
ey.com/au 

Independent auditor's report to the members of Energy Action Limited 

Report on the financial report 

1.1(cid:3)
We have audited the accompanying financial report of Energy Action Limited, which comprises the 
consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 June 2016, the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated 
statement of cash flows for the year then ended, notes comprising a summary of significant 
accounting policies and other explanatory information, and the directors' declaration of the 
consolidated entity comprising the company and the entities it controlled at the year's end or from 
time to time during the financial year. 

Directors' responsibility for the financial report 

1.2(cid:3)
The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a 
true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001 
and for such internal controls as the directors determine are necessary to enable the preparation of 
the financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In Note 2, 
the directors also state, in accordance with Accounting Standard AASB 101 Presentation of Financial 
Statements, that the financial statements comply with International Financial Reporting Standards. 

Auditor's responsibility 

1.3(cid:3)
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted 
our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply 
with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to 
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures 
in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the 
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or 
error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal controls relevant to the entity's 
preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in order to design audit procedures that are 
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the 
effectiveness of the entity's internal controls. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of 
accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as 
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis 
for our audit opinion. 

Independence 

1.4(cid:3)
In conducting our audit we have complied with the independence requirements of the Corporations 
Act 2001.  We have given to the directors of the company a written Auditor’s Independence 
Declaration, a copy of which is included in the directors’ report. 

Opinion 

1.4.1(cid:3)
In our opinion: 

a.(cid:3)

the financial report of Energy Action Limited is in accordance with the Corporations Act 
2001, including: 

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 

107  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016  
 
 
 
Audit Opinion 
Energy Action Limited 
Page 2 

i.(cid:3)

ii.(cid:3)

giving a true and fair view of the consolidated entity's financial position as at 30 June 
2016 and of its performance for the year ended on that date; and 

 complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 
2001; and 

b.(cid:3)

the financial report also complies with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
disclosed in Note 2. 

Report on the remuneration report 

1.5(cid:3)
We have audited the Remuneration Report included in the directors' report for the year ended 30 
June 2016. The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the 
Remuneration Report in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Our 
responsibility is to express an opinion on the Remuneration Report, based on our audit conducted in 
accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. 

Opinion 

1.5.1(cid:3)
In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Energy Action Limited for the year ended 30 June 2016, 
complies with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. 

Ernst & Young 

P S Barnard 
Partner 
Sydney 
18 August 2016 

A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited 
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 

108  

ENERGY ACTION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Information

ACN: 137 363 636

Directors

Murray Bleach - Independent Non-Executive Chairman

Dr. Ronald Watts – Non-Executive Director

Paul Meehan – Non Executive Director

Nitin Singhi – Independent Non-Executive Director (appointed 12 August 2015)

Mark de Kock – Non-Executive Director (appointed 17 August 2015)

Valerie Duncan – Non-Executive Director (resigned 31 August 2015)

Philip Randall – Non-Executive Director (passed away 4 July 2015)

Company Secretary

Carolyn West

Registered Office and principal place of Business

Level 5, 56 Station Street 
Parramatta NSW 2150

Share register

Link Market Services Limited 
Level 12 
680 George Street 
Sydney NSW 2000

Energy Action Limited shares (EAX) are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)

Solicitors 

DLA Piper 
No 1 Martin Place  
Sydney NSW 2000

Bankers

Commonwealth Bank of Australia 
Level 3, 101 George Street 
Parramatta NSW 2150

Auditors

Ernst & Young 
200 George Street 
Sydney NSW 2000

109  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Share and Shareholder Information

Twenty largest shareholders

The following table sets out the 20 largest holders of listed shares and the percentage of capital each held as at 
9 September 2016.

Shareholder

MEEHANTEAM PTY LTD 

J P MORGAN NOMINEES AUSTRALIA LIMITED 

MICROEQUITIES ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD 

HOLYOAKE INVESTMENTS PTY LTD 

TOVEELEN PTY LTD 

MR MURRAY EDWARD BLEACH & MRS NORMA LEIGH EDWARDS 

ANACACIA PTY LIMITED 

AMARINA SYSTEMS PTY LTD 

J & C ALLEN SUPERANNUATION FUND PTY LTD 

MR ERIC MAXWELL HART 

MR EDWARD HANNA 

JASPER SUPERANNUATION FUND PTY LTD 

HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED 

MR BARRY DENTON 

AMARINA SYSTEMS PTY LIMITED 

DR GEOFFREY PHILLIP BENT & MRS GABRIELLE MARY BENT 

BLIND WELFARE PTY LTD 

BLEACH FAMILY CO NO 2 PTY LTD 

UBS NOMINEES PTY LTD 

MR BARRY DENTON 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Total

As at 9 September 2016 there were 25,954,117 shares on issue.

No  Shares

%

2,900,698

2,896,242

2,698,538

1,774,127

1,696,209

1,444,174

1,286,197

1,234,485

875,833

827,274

784,023

552,553

469,211

330,165

313,300

246,299

200,000

198,775

179,344

175,140

11 18

11 16

10 40

6 84

6 54

5 56

4 96

4 76

3 37

3 19

3 02

2 13

1 81

1 27

1 21

0 95

0 77

0 77

0 69

0 67

21,082,587

81.23

110  

ENERGY ACTIONDistribution of shares

The following table summarises the distribution of shares as at 9 September.

Category / Range

1 to 1,000

1,001 to 5,000

5,001 to 10,000

10,001 to 100,000

100,001 and Over

Total

No  of Holders

132

231

66

92

26

547

%

24 13

42 23

12 07

16 82

4 75

100.00

The number of individual shareholders holding less than a marketable parcel of shares was 46 holdings with 
6,377 shares.

Substantial Shareholders

The following table shows holdings of five percent or more of voting rightrs in Energy Action Limited’s shares (as 
at 9 September 2016).

Person or Group

Microequities Asset Management Pty Ltd

Mr Paul Meehan and related entities

Mr Stephen Twaddell and related entities

Dr Ronald Watts and related entities

Mr Murray Bleach and related entities

Voting rights

Relevant Interest in  
no  of shares

Percentage of total  
voting rights

5,185,244

4,798,993

1,829,440

1,730,371

1,717,329

19 98%

18 49%

7 05%

6 67%

6 62%

At a meeting of members, each member who is entitled to attend and vote may attend and vote in person or by 
proxy, attorney or representative. On a show of hands, every person present who is a member, proxy, attorney 
or representative shall have one vote and on a poll, every member who is present in person or by proxy, attorney 
or representative shall have one vote for each fully paid share held.

Securities exchange listing

Energy Action Limited’s shares are traded on the Australian Securities exchange under the ticker code “EAX”.

111  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Glossary of Terms

Activ8

Energy Action’s advanced electricity and gas monitoring service 
technology platform, now re-branded as Energy Metrics.

Australian Energy 
Exchange (AEX)

Energy Action’s online, real-time reverse auction platform for the 
procurement of electricity and gas contracts.

Bill Validation

Review of energy bill for validity and correctness.

Gigajoule 

A measure of energy which equals one thousand megajoules.

Kilowatt (kW)

A measure of one thousand watts of electrical power.

Megawatt (MW)

A measure of one million watts of electrical power.

Megawatt hour (MWh)

A megawatt hour is a unit of energy equivalent to one megawatt (1 kW) 
of power sustained for one hour.

Meter

A device used to measure energy consumption at a site.

NABERS

National Australian Built Environment Rating System that measures the 
environmental performance of Australian buildings, tenancies and homes.

National Greenhouse Energy 
Reporting System

Provides methods and criteria for calculating greenhouse gas emissions 
and energy data under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting 
Act 2007 (NGER Act).

Network tariff

The continuous charge for supplying electricity and maintaining the 
network of poles, wires and other equipment that distribute power to 
customers.

Petajoule (PJ)

A measure of energy equivalent which equals one thousand terajoules.

Site

An individual metered location with a unique supply point identifier (SPID).

112  

ENERGY ACTIONSmall-Medium Enterprise (SME)

A SME is a business which consumes less than 160 MWh p.a. in NSW, 
VIC, SA, ACT & TAS and less than 100 MWh in QLD.

Structured Product

Retail supply contracts with a fixed term, variable commodity prices and 
variable volumes. The term structured product refers to retail electricity 
contracts with these features.   

Tariff

The pricing a retailer charges a customer for energy consumption.

Terajoule (TJ)

A measure of energy equivalent which equals one thousand gigajoules.

Terawatt (TW)

A measure of one trillion watts of electrical power.

Terawatt hour (TWh)

A terawatt hour is a unit of energy equivalent to one terawatt (1 TW) of 
power sustained for one hour.

113  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 114  

ENERGY ACTION115  

ANNUAL REPORT 2016 energyaction.com.au