Advice for small businesses to help get better energy deals and reduce their energy usage.

Through the program you can get a Business Energy Advice consultation. This is a personalised service delivered by Business Australia and funded by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

With this service you will:

• understand your energy saving opportunities
• choose the best energy plan for your business
• receive tailored advice on energy efficiency opportunities best suited to your industry

Why not also take a look at the Small Business Energy Check tool? You can get an immediate review of your energy use, compared to similar businesses in your area.

What are the eligibility criteria?

This service is targeted at small businesses that have:

• 6 to 20 employees
• 5 or fewer employees that have been adversely affected by drought 

How do you apply?

To apply for free independent energy advice tailored to your business, register at the Business Energy Advice Program website or call 1300 415 224.

The program also offers a Small Business Energy Check. This is a free online energy spend benchmarking tool. It allows businesses to compare energy spend to other similar business in the same industry and region. You can learn if your business is paying too much for energy.

You can use it on its own or in conjunction with a Business Energy Advice consultation.

It's designed for businesses that:

• have up to 20 staff
• earn up to $10 million revenue
• are located anywhere in Australia
• operate out of any type of premises

For example, it can be used by:

• small business owners and workers
• accountants or bookkeepers
• business advisers
• energy experts

It will only take a couple of minutes to complete the check. You only need a recent energy bill and some basic information about your industry and business size.