Frequently Asked Questions

Applications open on Monday, 18 August 2025.

Applications close at 5pm (ACDT) on Friday 31 October 2025, or when funding is exhausted (whichever occurs sooner).

The total funding available under Round 3 is $20 million, with grants ranging from $2,500 to a maximum of $75,000 per eligible business.

The Government is providing assistance under two streams:

• Stream 1 – Solar and Battery Projects
  Grants for solar and battery, or just battery projects are based on the size and capacity of the system you purchase.
  
  The grant value is the lesser of either a) or b) below and will be adjusted at the time of reimbursement:
  
  a) Amount per kilowatt or kilowatt hour:
  Battery - $300 per kWh
  Solar - $250 per kW
  
  b) 50% of eligible out of pocket business expenditure from $5,000 to $150,000

• Stream 2 – Energy Efficiency Projects
  
  Grants of up to 50 per cent matched funding for equipment or infrastructure upgrades that reduce business energy usage or costs.

For example:

• If you spend $5,000, you may be eligible for a grant of $2,500.
• If you spend $20,000, you may be eligible for a grant of up to $10,000.
• If you spend $150,000, you may be eligible for the maximum grant of $75,000.
• If you spend $180,000, you may be eligible for the maximum grant of $75,000.

The Office for Small and Family Business (OSFB) will assess applications in the order in which they are received. The OSFB will endeavour to assess each application within 20 business days, subject to additional information that may be required from applicants as part of the assessment process, or high volumes of applications.

If your application includes items from Section 9 - Other unique projects/equipment of Eligible Project Activities and Expenditure List, assessment of your application may take longer than a standard application as independent third-party verification of the proposed energy efficiency activity may be undertaken by OSFB.

All grant applications must use an approved seller under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC), and the applicant needs to demonstrate eligibility against this criteria.

Applicants can change suppliers after their grant offer is accepted, however the new supplier will still need to be approved under the NETCC.

Goods / services purchased, ordered or deposit paid prior to the grant execution date of your application are not eligible for reimbursement.

Projects may commence any time after you execute the Grant Agreement and Acceptance Form issued by the OSFB (within 14 calendar days of it being sent to you).

Yes, you can purchase solar panels provided that an accompanying request for commensurate battery storage is included in your application.

Where an item from the Eligible Project Activities and Expenditure List refers to ‘replace’, it can only be purchased if you already have one. For any replacement items, as part of your application a photograph will need to be included of the old piece of equipment, the model of the equipment and the energy rating (if known) and clearly show its placement within the business premises. If a photo is not provided, your application may be considered incomplete and declined.

The quote must be provided by an eligible provider that is approved under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code available at https://www.newenergytech.org.au/find-an-approved-seller

A quote provided without seeing the site may result in additional expenses that won’t be covered by the grant, prolonged compliance approval, and unforeseen impacts to time, quality, cost and overall outcomes of your project. It is advisable to arrange for a proper quote by a registered and eligible provider to ensure you are getting the best outcome for your business.

Every business with an active ABN that meets the eligibility requirements can apply for a grant under this Program. Only one application can be submitted per ABN – but you can apply for projects at multiple sites in one application.

If you are unsure, please contact the Powering Business Grants team on 8429 7700 or email PoweringBusinessGrants@sa.gov.au

Eligible businesses are determined by the ABN. You can submit only one application with all proposed goods/services to be purchased, including across different locations.

Only one application can be submitted, per ABN. Total funding must not exceed the maximum grant value of $75,000 per ABN.

You will need to obtain permission from your landlord or property manager to undertake any proposed work(s). You will also need to confirm that you have obtained permission when completing the declaration part of the application form.

A home-based business is only eligible where a separately metered bill can be provided by the business entity (i.e. must have a separate NMI to the residential property).

Home-based businesses that are operating primarily from the owner’s or an employee’s residence (with only one NMI for both residential and business electricity usage) is not eligible.

Yes, if all goods/services meet the required criteria and eligible expenditure, and all items are included in one grant application.

You may only make one claim for reimbursement. Interim or progress payments will not be made.

No. Once an application has been submitted, further goods or services cannot be added. You are responsible for ensuring that all items for which funding is sought are included in your application before submitting.

You may withdraw an application at any time in writing by emailing poweringbusinessgrants@sa.gov.au. You can then submit a new application before the closing date, however, all applications are processed in the order in which they are received.

Applications close at 5pm (ACDT) on Friday 31 October 2025, or when funding is exhausted (whichever occurs sooner).

Yes, your application can include costs of an independent third-party provider to deliver and install the equipment. These items must be included in your application at the time of applying.

The business is required to have an active Australian Business Number to be eligible for funding under the Business Growth Fund. Generally, an entity conducting business within Australia will have both an ARBN and an ABN.

As per the program guidelines, any applicant applying must meet the eligibility criteria. If you are a not-for-profit organisation, not registered for GST, you will need to provide evidence that your annual turnover is greater than $75,000 to be considered for assessment.

All grant amounts exclude GST.

Yes, the grant is taxable and needs to be included as assessable income in your business tax return. If you are unsure, you should discuss this with your accountant or registered tax agent.

Funding from other local, South Australian and Australian Government programs is encouraged, but will not count towards an applicant’s matched contribution.

The maximum grant amount will be calculated after other Government contributions have been deducted and will be no more than 50% of your out-of-pocket expenditure.

Details of additional Local, State and Australian Government grants, payments, loans or incentives that are directly relevant to the requested activity must be disclosed in the application form.

If you have previously been unsuccessful for funding under a separate State Government funding program, but meet the eligibility criteria, you are able to apply to the Powering Business Grants program - Round 3 of the Business Growth Fund.

There is no automatic transfer of applications from other grant funds. As the funds have different criteria and application processes, you will need to submit a new application to Round 3 of the Business Growth Fund to be considered for funding.

You can apply for funding for new projects or activities, or an extension of projects that were approved under the Small Business Energy Efficiency Grants program.

You cannot apply for the same activity that you received a grant offer for under the previous round, whether you claimed the funding or did not claim the funding.

Grantees will be expected to outlay 100% of the costs for eligible activities and apply for a reimbursement of up to 50% of the actual out-of-pocket expenditure excluding GST.

Ineligible co-contribution funds are (and applications cannot include):

• contributions made ‘in-kind’

• Commonwealth, State, Local or other Government funding

• any activities funded from other sources such as grants or concessions

• expenditure incurred prior to the acceptance of a grant agreement

• project development costs such as feasibility studies and consultant reports

• general overhead costs, e.g. wages, rent, vehicles, furniture

• financing, interest or insurance costs

• any costs of preparing an application to this program

• any cost listed as Ineligible Expenditure in the guidelines.

The OSFB will determine whether your application is successful based on the criteria outlined in Round 3 of the Business Growth Fund, Powering Business Grants guidelines.

The decision provided to you as a notification of grant assessment outcome is considered final and a review of the outcome will only be provided at the discretion of the Treasurer or their delegate.

Grievances can be lodged in writing addressed to the Manager, Business Grants.

The grant offer is based on information and evidence provided by you in your application. The product or item can be changed for a ‘like for like’ item i.e. the same item but a different brand or model through the same or an alternate supplier, but the item must be equivalent to the approved activity. Any changes to your purchase may impact the eligible reimbursement amount.

If you are unsure, it is recommended you consult the Powering Business Grants team before making your purchase to avoid any impact to your reimbursement claim.

You will have 6 months to complete purchases and installation and apply for reimbursement from the date a Grant Agreement and Acceptance Form is executed.

Reimbursement claims are to be submitted through the SmartyGrants portal.

Reimbursement will be paid once you have provided satisfactory proof of payment of the approved goods/services and a Certificate of Compliance for installations (if applicable).

Valid proof of payment must be a tax invoice(s) issued to the business (applicant) showing a zero balance or a payment receipt(s) from an Australian retailer, and include:

• name, address and Australian Business Number (ABN) of the supplier that issued the tax invoice or payment receipt
• date of purchase
• purchase price
• clear itemisation and description of goods/services purchased.

Once you provide satisfactory documentation through the reimbursement form, OSFB will assess your claim and advise you of the eligible claim amount. You will then raise a tax invoice and submit it for payment to Shared Services.

Once you have submitted your eligible tax Invoice to Shared Services, payment can be expected within 15 days into your nominated business bank account.

Emails will come from either:

service@smartygrants.com.au

noreply@smartygrants.com.au

businessgrowthfund@sa.gov.au

poweringbusinessgrants@sa.gov.au

Emails from these addresses may go into spam or junk mail folders, and it is your responsibility to check these folders as some steps during the application process have strict timeframes to respond.

The OSFB or Shared Services may contact you to verify your business bank account details. However, please note we will never ask you to confirm your full business bank account number. Please note that calls will show as a private number.

If you are unsure about providing details over the phone, please advise the caller that you will call them back on the Powering Business Grants Infoline 8429 7700

Applications close at 5pm (ACDT) on Friday 31 October 2025, or when funding is exhausted (whichever occurs sooner).

The OSFB will not provide comment on remaining funds at any stage while the round is open, so you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible.

A commercial landlord is not considered an eligible operating business for this round. However, a tenant with an active ABN, who meets the eligibility criteria, is encouraged to apply, with the landlord's permission for building additions/alterations.

An off-grid business will not have been subject to the same increases in electricity prices compared to existing businesses connected to the network, therefore are not eligible for this round.

For each replacement item applied for, evidence of existing equipment must be provided e.g. provide a photo/s of the current item being replaced; taken at the operating business premises.