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National Energy Bill Relief for Small Business - Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions
 

1. Definitions

  1. The following definitions apply to these Terms and Conditions: 
    1. Applicant means a person who is: 
      1. an authorised officer of a business as listed on the Australian Business Register 
      2. applying on behalf of the business. 
    2. Business an entity carrying on a business as per the Corporations Act 2001 with an ABN. 
    3. Department means the Office of Energy and Climate Change, within the Treasury NSW. 
    4. National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment means financial assistance to eligible small businesses to help cover the cost of their electricity in the 2023-24 financial year. 
       

2. Application

  1. These Terms and Conditions: 
    1. apply to applicants for the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment and  
    2. must be read in accordance with the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code found on the Energy NSW website. 
  2. Your business can only receive the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment once in the 2023-24 financial year.
  3. You understand that it is a serious offence under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) to knowingly give false or misleading information to a public authority, including to the Department.
  4. By applying, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.  

 

3. Eligibility

  1. To be eligible for the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment the business must:  
    1. operate in New South Wales; and 
    2. have an active ABN as listed on the Australian Business Register; and 
    3. be an on-supply customer whose business name appears on the electricity account for supply to its place of business; and 
    4. be a small customer as defined in the National Energy Retail Law (NSW) based on total annual electricity consumption across all sites included on that customer’s electricity accounts.    

      *Eligibility should be read in accordance with the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code found on the Energy NSW website.      
       
  2. A small business that is paid the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment for the 2023-24 financial year only, except if your business has already received it for the 2023-24 financial year, and regardless of whether the payment is paid as a lump-sum or in instalments up to a maximum of $650.
    1. Payment or reimbursement of monies paid will be made via EFT to the Australian bank account nominated by you that is in the name of the business.
    2. The Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment is available only for electricity bills.
    3. You must notify the Department immediately if you no longer meet the eligibility criteria in clause 3 or can no longer comply with these Terms and Conditions;
    4. In accordance with clause 2.2, if an electricity retailer or the Department identifies a business that has already received the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment in the 2023-24 financial year, the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment may be reversed by your energy retailer. 

 

4. Identifying small customers as defined in the National Energy Retail Law (NSW)

4.1 The Department will use at least 90 days of metered electricity consumption from the 2023-24 financial year to determine whether a business is expected to consume less than 100MWh of electricity annually to be considered a small customer under the National Energy Retail Law (NSW). 

4.2 Annual electricity consumption will be calculated by annualising the mean daily electricity consumption of all business sites. 

4.3 Business consumption is to be based on the metered consumption only, that is to exclude behind-the-meter generation and consumption. 

 

5. Verification

5.1 The Department has the right, at their discretion, to verify any information (including information with Australian Business Register) provided as part of your application. Verification may include, without limitation, any or all of the following: 

  1. Requesting the provision of additional information. 
  2. Confirmation that the Eligibility Criteria have been met. 
     

6. Privacy

  1. You understand that: 
    1. Australian Business Register will disclose your business information to the Department including name/address, and business entity type and status to confirm your eligibility for the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment.  
    2. This consent, once signed, remains valid while you are a customer of the Department unless you withdraw it by contacting the Department. 
    3. If you withdraw your consent, you may not be eligible for the National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment. 
       

7. Closure, suspension or variation

  1. The Department reserves the right, at any time, to: 
    1. Vary these Terms and Conditions, including the process for making an application. 
    2. Suspend the operation of or close down any right to make an application for the Payment. 
    3. Alter the opening and closing date for applications. 
    4. Any changes to these Terms and Conditions or action taken to suspend or revoke the Payment will be notified on the Department’s website. 
       

8. General

8.1 No rights under these Terms and Conditions will be waived except by notice in writing signed by both you and the Department. 

8.2 The National Energy Bill Relief Small Business Payment and all related information is governed by the laws of the State of New South Wales. 

8.3 Where the Department has issued a notice to the email address provided as part of the application process, the notification will be deemed to have been received by you immediately upon receipt of electronic transmission confirmation. 

8.4 Without limiting anything in these Terms and Conditions, the Department will not be responsible or liable to you as the applicant, to the maximum extent permitted by law, for any of the matters set out in clause 3, 4 and 5.