Grants to lower energy costs

BUSINESSES across the region can apply for a share in $9 million of federal government grants to lower power bills.
Small businesses can apply for the grant under the Energy Efficient Communities Program.
Up to $20,000 will be available to small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million to upgrade equipment to reduce energy consumption, invest in monitoring systems to better manage energy use and conduct energy audits to investigate other opportunities for efficiency.
Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said small businesses were key to getting the economy back on track as Australia responds to the impact of COVID-19.
“Small businesses across Victoria are the lifeblood of our community and the backbone of the Australian economy. Providing support to unlock energy savings in their operations will only add to the resilience of these businesses.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the grants would help small businesses reduce their power bills, to ease financial pressure during tough economic times.
“As small businesses come out of COVID-19 hibernation, we want to help them lower their power bills so they can spend money on more important aspects of their business, or expand and employ more people.
“These grants build on other government policies like retail price caps that are already delivering lower energy costs for small business owners.”
To ensure an equitable distribution of funding across Australia, up to three grants per electorate will be awarded to eligible small businesses.
The Energy Efficient Communities Program was announced as part of the Coalition’s Climate Solutions Package in the 2019 federal budget.
The program will deliver grants to help businesses and community organisations to improve energy efficiency practices and technologies, and better manage energy consumption to reduce their power bills.
Small business owners who wish to apply for a grant can access the guidelines and application forms at business.gov.au, or by telephone on 13 28 46.
The government is also offering free advice to help small businesses and their representatives get better energy deals and increase their energy efficiency through the Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP).
For more information on BEAP and the Energy Efficient Communities Program, head to energy.gov.au.