Restaurant owner welcomes energy bill relief
A Woy Woy restaurant owner has welcomed an energy bill relief fund that will see small business energy bills reduced by $650.
To be eligible, small businesses must be on a separately-metered business tariff and consume less than 100 megawatt hours of electricity per year.
Spices 29 restaurant owner Mr Nelson Fernandes said the rebate offered practical support.
"Every business is needing support at this time, with prices going up on many fronts - from vegetables, to dairy, to meat, as well as interest rates.
"Our customers are feeling the pinch, too.
"They are thinking carefully before they are eating out.
"This energy bill relief will help us sustain our business."
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch said the targeted payment would be welcome news for businesses grappling with cost-of-living pressures.
"This programis for people doing it toughest: our families, our low-income households, pensioners, self-funded retirees and small businesses."
Most eligible households included those with a Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card, a Health Care Card, a DVA Gold Card or life support equipment who already receive a NSW electricity rebate from their energy retailer.
However, energy bill relief is also being provided to some people who are not eligible for existing NSW energy rebates, but they will need to apply.
Eligible small businesses who are part of an embedded network, such as in a shopping centre, will be able to apply from October.
Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid said the Australian and New South Wales Governments were providing targeted energy relief for those that need it most.
"The energy bill relief will assist around 1.6 million households in NSW," he said.
"The Albanese Government will continue to work alongside the Minns State Government to help ease the cost of living and provide targeted relief".
Information about energy relief payments is available online at: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/national-energy-bill-relief.
SOURCE:
Media release, 1 Aug 2023.
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford