A new tool to help small businesses reduce their energy costs and improve energy efficiency has been launched today.

The Liberal National Government's Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP) will give small businesses access to two new free services: a personalised energy advice service, and an online tool to help them understand their energy saving opportunities.

The BEAP allows small businesses identify the best available energy plan, make practical changes to equipment and usage to improve energy efficiency, and apply for grants to deliver real energy savings.

The NSW Business Chamber will assist in the national delivery of one-on-one energy consultations for businesses with 6'20 employees. The Chamber is a multi-industry, peak business organisation that has proven ability to generate interest in energy advice and deliver services to small business. Small businesses can register for their free consultation at businessenergyadvice.com.au

The Government has partnered with AlphaBeta and Xero to develop the Small Business Energy Check online benchmarking tool, which allows small businesses to compare their energy spend to that of other similar businesses in their area and industry.

Whether you are a bakery in Bendigo or a manufacturer in Maroochydore, you can find out how your energy spend compares to other businesses like yours and take action, all in a matter of minutes.

The BEAP is a result of recommendations from the 2018 ACCC Retail Electricity Price Enquiry, which found that small businesses can find it difficult to navigate the energy retail market and as a result are paying more than their fair share for energy.

We are investing in small businesses, so they can invest in their business and their staff.

Small and family businesses contribute billions of dollars to the Australian economy and BEAP services build on the Australian Government's strong record of support for small business and commitment to reducing energy costs.

Today's launch at the National Innovation Centre in Sydney was supported by an energy data innovation workshop to explore other uses for the data which informs the Small Business Energy Check, to help drive further innovation for small businesses and the energy sector. Further workshops will be held in Perth and Melbourne.

For more information about the Business Energy Advice Program visit energy.gov.au/government-priorities/energy-programs/business-energy-advice-program