Grants offered to help pay power bills

The Morrison government will offer businesses and community groups public grants to help cut their power bills.

Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor says businesses and organisations will get help to reduce power bills. (AAP)

Businesses and community groups could soon be given taxpayer-funded grants to help reduce their power bills.

After days of announcing big ticket climate change and energy policies, the Morrison government is localising its focus.

The government plans to establish a $50 million kitty of public funds to help businesses and community organisations cut their energy use and reduce carbon emissions.

High energy-using companies would be able to claim grants of up to $25,000, small businesses up to $20,000 and community groups up to $12,500.

The grants are intended to fund equipment upgrades that reduce energy consumption, as well as investment in emissions monitoring systems.

Community groups will also be able to put the money towards energy generation projects, such as solar panels.

"We know that businesses and community groups are struggling under the weight of high power prices," Energy Minister Angus Taylor said on Thursday.

"That's why we're taking strong steps to ensure they get the practical support that they need to reduce their energy use without reducing productivity."

The coalition also intends to expand a national rating system that tracks the environmental impact of buildings using a six-star scale.

The government wants to broaden the scheme to include schools, industrial buildings and retail stores.

It'll also throw extra resources at a program designed to make new residential buildings more energy efficient.

The proposed measures are the latest in a string of climate and energy policies unveiled by the Morrison government this week, ahead of the federal election in May.

On Wednesday, Scott Morrison announced pumped hydro sites in Tasmania would receive taxpayer support if feasibility studies prove they stack up economically.

The announcement came two days after Mr Morrison promised $56 million to fast-track development of a second interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria.

On Tuesday, Mr Morrison announced $1.38 billion to support a pumped hydro project at the Snowy Hydro in NSW.


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Source: AAP


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Grants offered to help pay power bills | SBS News