NGER measurement criteria are the rules in the NGER (Measurement) Determination 2008 for establishing how much of a fuel or carbonate a facility used. Methods 1 to 4 decide the emission factor. The criteria decide the quantity that factor is multiplied by, so together they determine the reported figure.
Key points
- Criteria set the quantity, methods set the emission factor
- A uses invoices, AA adds stockpile change, AAA uses calibrated measurement, BBB uses industry practice
- The same criteria apply to solid, gaseous and liquid fuels and to carbonates
- Without a commercial transaction, only AAA or BBB is available
- AA, and AAA at the point of combustion, lock in for later years
The four criteria
| Criterion | How the quantity is established |
|---|---|
| A | Amount delivered for the facility during the year, as evidenced by invoices issued by the vendor |
| AA | Invoiced deliveries adjusted for the estimated change in the stockpile during the year |
| AAA | Direct measurement at the point of combustion or consumption, or at the point of sale, using measuring equipment calibrated to a measurement requirement |
| BBB | Estimation in accordance with industry practice where the measuring equipment is not calibrated to a measurement requirement |
Where they apply
The same four criteria appear in each part of the Determination that deals with a physical quantity: solid fuels (Division 2.2.5), gaseous fuels (Division 2.3.6), liquid fuels (Division 2.4.6) and carbonates (Division 4.2.5). The Clean Energy Regulator’s guideline also maps criteria for carbon capture and storage and solid waste. Energy consumption from fuels uses the same quantities, because section 6.5 of the Determination points back to the fuel divisions.
Commercial transaction decides the options
Where fuel is acquired through a commercial transaction, the reporter chooses criterion A, AA or AAA. Where there is no commercial transaction, such as gas produced and used on site, only AAA or BBB is available. The Regulator states that a reporter using only vendor invoices must use criterion A.
Choices carry forward
Once criterion AA, or criterion AAA measured at the point of combustion or consumption, is used for a facility, only that criterion can be used in later years. A criterion choice therefore needs the same care as a method choice.
Why it matters
The Regulator describes the criteria as indicating the quality of the data behind an estimate. For asset-intensive sites with large fuel volumes, moving from invoices to calibrated measurement tightens the link between physical use and reported emissions, which matters for uncertainty reporting, audits and Safeguard baselines.
References & sources
Primary regulatory documents and authoritative references underpinning this answer.