We know that operating costs are killing bottom lines, and your energy usage is often one of the largest cost centres in your business.
With South Australia well-known as the jurisdiction with the highest electricity rates in the country, many business owners are desperately looking for relief.
As a part of the South Australian state government’s Economic Recovery Fund, the Small Business Energy Grants program has just been announced.
What is the Small Business Energy Grant program?
The Small Business Energy Grant program is aimed at helping up to 8,000 South Australian small businesses and not-for-profit organisations invest in energy efficient equipment, or make improvements that will optimise their energy usage and costs.
The grants will range from $2,500, right up to $50,000 in matched contribution.
This could mean that your business only needs to pay for 50% of any equipment or sustainability improvements that you are approved for purchasing.
What can the Small Business Energy Grant program be used for?
As per the recent release from the Office for Small & Family Business: “…equipment or solutions, such as upgrades to your power supply and generation, lighting, energy efficient appliances, heating, cooling, refrigeration and more.”
When does the Small Business Energy Grant program open for applications?
Applications for this program have opened on 27 August 2024, and will operate on a first-come-first served basis, not competitive application process as per previous grants.
This means that businesses who begin preparing for their grant application now will be held in better stead than those who leave it to the last minute.
Am I eligible?
Eligible business applicants will:
- have a valid and active ABN
- be registered for GST as of 27 August 2024
- be located and operating in South Australia
- be a small business electricity customer that is on a separately metered business tariff with their electricity retailer and consumes less than 160MWh of electricity per year OR have an Australia-wide grouped payoll of less than $1.5 million in 2023-24
- not be a home-based business
- not be a public company
- own or lease the business premises where any work or goods will be installed
- be able to provide matched funding of at least 50% of eligible costs
Read more: https://business.sa.gov.au/programs/small-business-energy-efficiency-grant/eligibility
If you have been considering solar panels, solar battery storage, or you’ve already done these 2 and you’re still seeing ugly energy bills every quarter – this could be your opportunity to receive up to $50,000 towards your business investment.
Get help with the Grant
P4B Solar is trying to help small businesses by gathering the necessary data to create your business case,
Given that the grant has now opened for applications, the time to act has become critical.
In order to do this, P4B Solar can do all of the legwork, gathering the necessary information and building a suitable business case for you as part of our ‘Grant Support Service’ and includes:
- A thorough analysis of your current energy usage, including review of peaks and troughs across the year.
- A review of your business premises so that we can understand available roof space for solar panels, and any issues/challenges that may be present (e.g. shading from large trees).
- A clear and concise overview of your current energy position and the proposed impacts you would gain through the application of the grant fund (e.g. annual cost and environmental impact reduction).
- Provision of a quote for the works to be undertaken, and/or of the proposed goods to be purchased.
If this is of interest to you, please email Dominic@p4b.com.au or call on 0422 172 091 to get the process started.
We have successfully helped a number of South Australian businesses secure grants relating to solar and energy efficiency. We look forward to helping your business become more sustainable and more profitable!
Disclaimer: P4B Solar will perform the analyses, solution design and business case development for your business and will provide you with an application ready to submit. As the program is a First-In, First-Served assessment process, the fairest way to support all interested parties is to provide you with the necessary information for you to submit on your own behalf to speed up your submission time and give you the best chance of success.
