2023 Energy Bill Relief Fund for Small Business

Last updated: November 2023

The Australian Government is partnering with state and territory governments to provide up to $3 billion in electricity bill relief for eligible households and small businesses in financial year 23/24.

Find out if your business is eligible, how much you can expect (and when).

If you’re an individual looking for information on bill relief for your household, you’ll find what you need over at energy bill relief for Australian households.

Energy bill relief rebates for small businesses – state by state

The states and territories will each administer the rebates independently, so rebates look a bit different state by state. Pick your state to skip ahead to the info that’s relevant to your business.

Energy Bill Relief for small businesses - VIC

Victorian small businesses may be eligible for a rebate in financial year 2023/24. Here’s who qualifies for the rebate (and who doesn’t).

Who’s eligible?

To qualify for energy bill relief in Victoria, businesses must:

• Be registered on a separately metered business tariff.
• Use less than 40MWh of electricity per year.
• For multi-site businesses, eligibility will be based on your overall electricity consumption (not calculated on a site-by-site basis).

Who’s not eligible?

• A government agency or a government owned business.
• A financial institution (including banks and ATMs).
• A utility (including telcos and rail).
• Using more than 40MWh of electricity per year. (For multi-site businesses, the overall annual electricity consumption together should not exceed 40MWh of electricity per year.)
• Unmetered supply (such as park lights, barbeques, car park lighting or similar).

How much you’ll receive (and when)

Eligible businesses will receive a $325 bill credit by 27 August 2023.

How to claim

You don’t need to do anything. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive energy bill relief in the form of a credit on your electricity bill.

Energy Bill Relief for small businesses - NSW

Small businesses in New South Wales may be eligible for a rebate in financial year 2023/24. Here’s who qualifies for the rebate (and who doesn’t).

Who’s eligible?

To qualify for energy bill relief in NSW, businesses must:

• Use less than 100MWh of electricity annually.
• For multi-site businesses, eligibility will be based on your overall electricity consumption (not calculated on a site-by-site basis).

Who’s not eligible?

• Government accounts
• Financial institutions (as defined by the RBA)
• Utilities
• Australia Post Office (corporate)
• Deemed accounts (if you’re receiving bills addressed to ‘The Occupier’ – you won’t receive a rebate.) If you’re eligible, you’ll need a contract in your business name.
• If you run your small business using electricity from your home.

How much you’ll receive (and when)

Eligible businesses will receive $650, delivered as four quarterly credit instalments of $162.50 starting from July 2023.

How to claim

You don’t need to do anything. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive energy bill relief in the form of a credit on your electricity bill.

Energy Bill Relief for small businesses – SA

Small businesses in South Australia may be eligible for a rebate in financial year 2023/24. Find out who qualifies for the rebate (and when you’ll get it).

Who’s eligible?

To qualify for energy bill relief in South Australia, businesses must:

• Be on a separately metered business contract.
• Use less than 160MWh of electricity annually.
• For multi-site businesses, eligibility will be based on your overall electricity consumption (not calculated on a site-by-site basis).

Who’s not eligible?

• Banks and financial institutions (including ATMs).
• Government agencies and government-owned businesses.
• Utilities (including telcos).

How much you’ll receive (and when)

Eligible businesses will receive $650, delivered as four quarterly instalments of $162.50 starting from July 2023.

Is there any action required?

You don’t need to do anything. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive energy bill relief in the form of a credit on your electricity bill.

Energy Bill Relief for small businesses – QLD

Small businesses in Queensland may be eligible for a rebate in financial year 2023/24. Find out who qualifies for the rebate (and when you’ll get it).

Who’s eligible?

To qualify for energy bill relief in Queensland, businesses must:

• Be registered on a separately metered business tariff.
• Use less than 100MWh of electricity annually.
• For multi-site businesses, eligibility will be based on your overall electricity consumption (not calculated on a site-by-site basis).

Who’s not eligible?

• Banks and financial institutions (including ATMs).
• Utilities (including telcos and rail).
• Government-owned sites at federal, state, and local level (including Centrelink, council-owned libraries, and pools).
• Health funds.

How much you’ll receive (and when)

Eligible businesses will receive $650, delivered as four quarterly instalments of $162.50 from July 2023.

Is there any action required?

You don’t need to do anything. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive energy bill relief in the form of a credit on your electricity bill.

Energy Bill Relief for small businesses – TAS

Small businesses in Tasmania may be eligible for a rebate in financial year 2023/24. Find out who qualifies for the rebate (and when you’ll get it).

Who’s eligible?

To qualify for energy bill relief in Tasmania, businesses must:

• Use less than 150MWh of electricity annually

Who’s not eligible?

• Government agencies
• Branches of larger businesses with aggregated consumption above 150MWh

How much you’ll receive (and when)

Eligible Tasmanian small businesses will receive $650, delivered in two instalments of $325. Payments are planned for July 2023 and April 2024.

Is there any action required?

You don’t need to do anything. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive energy bill relief in the form of a credit on your electricity bill.