The Rockliff Liberal Government is committed to supporting Tasmanian households and businesses with the cost of electricity and cost-of-living pressures and today we are releasing the overview and criteria of the Business Energy Efficiency Scheme (BEES).
Minister for Energy and Renewables, Guy Barnett, said the scheme will facilitate no-interest loans of up to $10,000 to approved eligible businesses, with an option to apply for a further low interest loan of up to $50,000 for three years.
“For large electricity customers, the new scheme will enable investment in a very wide range of energy efficiency measures such as installing solar panels, upgrading heating, cooling and lighting systems or replacing diesel irrigation pumps with electric,” Minister Barnett said.
“These investments will make a real difference to the way businesses run their operations, improving energy efficiency and bringing down their electricity costs.
“There are more than 2,000 commercial and industrial customers with energy consumption of over 150 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year that will be eligible to apply, and the scheme will support up to $50 million in finance.”
The new scheme is targeted at commercial and industrial electricity customers that are, due to their higher energy use, unable to access the existing Energy Saver Loan Scheme and delivers on the Government’s policy commitment announced in November.
The scheme has undergone consultation with industry and is supported by peak bodies including Tasmanian Hospitality Association, Aged and Community Care Providers Association, Tasmanian Small Business Council, Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, Tasmanian independent Retailers, and the Property Council of Australia.
“This scheme is in addition to the $20,000 hardship payments announced earlier this month to support larger businesses who were exposed to recent wholesale price volatility when coming off non-regulated contracts,” Minister Barnett said.
“By continuing to prioritise Tasmanian households and businesses with targeted energy and cost of living support, the Rockliff Liberal Government is building a strong economy.”
More information on the Business Energy Efficiency Scheme (BEES) is available at
recfit.tas.gov.au/grants_program/business_energy_efficiency_scheme. The scheme will open for applications in mid-April.
Businesses with consumption below the 150MWh threshold are eligible for the existing Energy Saver Loan Scheme, already open for applications.
More Media Releases from Guy Barnett
More Media Releases from the Minister for Energy and Renewables