Submetering Grant NSW

Funding program archive

This page preserves a dated funding-program record and links it to current project-planning guidance.

Publication date: 1 January 2022.

Status note: This archive does not confirm that applications are open, funds remain available or the earlier eligibility and co-funding settings still apply. Verify the current administrator page and guidelines.

What this article reported

This program aims to help NSW businesses purchase and install new submeters to measure energy performance.Submeters differ to regular utility meters in that they provide data about equipment performance, which can help businesses save energy.

Funding can be used for:

Who is this for?

To be eligible, you must:

If the application is for a commercial building:

Finding a suitable grant opportunity is just the start of the process of getting funding. Let us help you! The application for each grant is different and the process can take time and effort. Contact us to walk you through everything from, processes, eligibility criteria and the grants, funding and financial assistance available at the moment.

How to use this information now

Before relying on a grant, confirm the current round, applicant and project eligibility, eligible expenditure, co-contribution, assessment process, closing date and evidence obligations. Build the technical case so the project remains understandable with grant support shown separately.

Separate source-reported facts from forecasts, targets and commentary. For a current project, retain the official source, version, effective date, assumptions and decision record in the evidence file.

What is the difference between submeters and regular utility meters?

Regular utility meters measure total energy consumption at a site boundary for billing purposes. Submeters, by contrast, measure energy use at individual equipment or system levels, providing granular data about how specific assets perform. This equipment-level visibility allows businesses to identify which systems consume the most energy, detect inefficiencies, and quantify savings from targeted improvements. Submetering transforms energy from a single monthly bill into actionable operational information, enabling evidence-based investment decisions.

Why is submetering data important for energy management decisions?

Submetering data reveals consumption patterns across equipment, sites, or time periods that aggregate billing cannot show. This transparency supports several business decisions: identifying which systems warrant investigation, establishing baselines before upgrades, verifying savings after implementation, and monitoring ongoing performance. For measurement and verification under energy-efficiency schemes, submetering provides the evidence quality needed to distinguish genuine improvements from changes in production or weather. Without submeters, businesses often cannot answer why their energy costs rise or fall.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Submetering Grant NSW?

Applicants must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), operate a business with a submetering project at a NSW site address, and spend a minimum of $200,000 annually on energy bills at that location. For commercial buildings, only the base building qualifies, and the occupancy certificate must predate 1 January 2022. These thresholds ensure the grant targets businesses with sufficient energy consumption to benefit materially from submetering data and cost-effective implementation at established facilities.

What is covered by the Submetering Grant NSW funding?

The grant covers the purchase and commissioning of permanent submeters required to measure energy performance, including associated hardware and software integration needed to monitor energy use. This holistic scope recognises that meters alone are not useful without the data systems and platforms that enable businesses to interpret readings and act on findings. The integration component is particularly important: data collection must connect to operational dashboards or reporting systems to support the business decisions the metering is meant to inform.

How does submetering support energy efficiency investment decisions?

Submetering provides the evidence foundation for building credible investment cases. Baseline data collected before upgrades establishes what consumption would be without intervention. Post-installation monitoring then quantifies actual savings under comparable conditions, separating genuine improvements from changes in production volume or operating hours. This measurement capability is essential for accessing energy-efficiency schemes: the NSW Energy Savings Scheme and similar programs require documented baselines and verified outcomes. Without submetering infrastructure, businesses cannot access certificate programs or demonstrate savings to lenders or internal stakeholders.

What role does Northmore Gordon play in the Submetering Grant NSW process?

We offer expressions of interest and metering and monitoring assessments for eligible businesses. The assessment process establishes the site's specific measurement needs, defines the equipment and data boundaries, and scopes the installation requirements. This planning stage is critical: a poorly designed metering system answers the wrong questions or collects data that cannot be interpreted. Our involvement ensures the grant funding delivers usable information that supports genuine operational and investment decisions, rather than installing meters disconnected from business needs.

What timeline should businesses expect for the Submetering Grant NSW application?

The program opened on 12 January 2022 at 09:00 AM AEDT and closed on 3 March 2022 at 05:00 PM AEDT. This fixed window means timing is critical for any remaining rounds or future equivalent programs. Businesses should establish their project scope, confirm eligibility, and engage an assessor well before deadlines. Early engagement with we allow sufficient time to prepare a metering and monitoring assessment, resolve design questions, and complete applications before closing dates. Missing a program window can delay submetering implementation by years.

Why would a business with high energy costs want to pursue submetering even without an immediate grant?

Submetering transforms energy spending from an unexplained cost into actionable information. Businesses spending $200,000 or more annually on energy typically operate equipment consuming significant resources. Without submetering, they cannot identify which systems are inefficient, verify whether maintenance is working, or build credible business cases for upgrades. The investment in submetering often pays for itself by revealing quick wins—shutdown improvements, maintenance issues, or control optimisations—while enabling access to energy-efficiency schemes and financing options. The grant makes this business case even stronger by reducing capital barriers.

How does submetering data support measurement and verification under energy schemes?

Energy-efficiency schemes such as NSW ESS require documented evidence of savings, not just engineering estimates. Measurement and verification uses pre- and post-project submetering data to calculate actual consumption changes under comparable conditions. The submetering infrastructure established through this grant provides the data quality, boundary definition, and operational record needed to satisfy scheme audit and reporting requirements. Without this evidence foundation, businesses cannot access certificate programs or prove outcomes to stakeholders, leaving efficiency investments dependent on forecasts rather than verified results.

Images on This Page