The Australian government could save $75m a year in electricity costs if it implemented simple changes to energy usage in government building, according to a new report by the Australian National Audit Office.

According to the report, the government uses energy equivalent to powering 5% of the nation’s homes. The government has also admitted it doesn’t know if it is using more or less energy than it was five years ago.

The government has failed to publish an annual update on its energy use since 2007-08, and the 2009-10 version is thought to be still incomplete.

“The release of the 2008-09 report has been delayed due to several factors including last year’s federal election and the resulting extended caretaker period, as well as machinery of government changes,” government energy efficiency spokesman Mark Dreyfus said.

“The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is finalising the 2008-09 report and it will be tabled in the coming weeks.”

Environment group Do Something! has written to Julia Gillard urging the government to sign up for a 10% energy demand reduction, which it says is possible to achieve by the next election.

“Before the government goes out asking businesses and households to reduce their energy use, it should get its own act together first,” said Do Something! founder Jon Dee.

www.anao.gov.au