BACKING BUSINESS

Fine Gael understands that businesses are facing a difficult and uncertain time with higher energy bills and weaker consumer demand. Through Budget 2023, we are backing business by putting more money in people’s pockets, cutting tax, providing special cost-of-living payments, and helping with energy bills. The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme – or TBESS for short – is one of the ways Fine Gael is helping businesses this winter.

TBESS is available to companies, the self-employed and partnerships carrying out a trade or profession. Examples of eligible businesses include cafés, restaurants, pubs and hotels, retailers, hairdressers and barbers, solicitors and accountants, creches and Montessori schools, nursing homes, doctors and opticians, veterinary surgeries and farmers, among others. In some cases, TBESS is available to help with the costs associated with part of a business or organisation, for example a café or bar within a sports club.

TBESS – the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme – is a scheme designed to help businesses manage the higher electricity and natural gas bills this winter. Through TBESS, the government is providing up to €10,000 – or €30,000 in some cases – per month to eligible businesses whose energy bills have increased by more than half when compared with last year.

To qualify for assistance, a business must be able to show that their electricity or natural gas bills have increased by 50% or more when compared with the same month or billing period last year. The increase is measured on the average unit price and is known as the ‘energy cost threshold’.

TBESS does not look at turnover or profitability – it is focused on helping with the increases in energy costs. Eligible businesses receive a payment of up to 40% of the increase in their electricity or gas bill up to a maximum of €10,000 per month. Businesses that operate from more than one premises, e.g., from several branches and have more than one meter point reference number (MPRN) or gas meter reference number (GMPRN), may qualify for up to €30,000 per month.

TBESS is being administered by Revenue on behalf of the Government. The easiest way to apply is through the Revenue Online Service. When registering for the scheme you will need to include details of the business and information on the relevant electricity and gas connections.

Businesses will receive their payment – backdated to 1st September if appropriate – before the end of the year. Claims must be made within four months of the end of the claim period. For example, a claim relating to September 2022 must be made by the end of January 2023.