County Wexford Chamber calls on Government to review TBESS

County Wexford Chamber has called on the Government to re-examine the eligibility criteria for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). The TBESS was introduced in Budget 2023 to help the business sector with soring energy costs.

Acting CEO Emma Dunphy recently wrote to Government Ministers, outlining how most businesses could not avail of the support. “While we all know that energy costs have increased exponentially, many businesses that  are currently struggling cannot show a 50% increase on wholesale energy costs for the reference period indicated.”

TBESS application process too complex

In addition, the application process is extremely complex and time consuming for a small return. Ms Dunphy called for the process to be simplified with busy business owners in mind. “It also needs to take into account business owners who are not currently covered under the scheme, such as those who have moved premises in the last year and those who are currently leasing space from a landlord. These business owners are at present in eligible under the scheme and are facing the same significant increases in cost.”

Poor take-up of TBESS

These pitfalls were evident in the poor take up of the scheme. As of end-January 2023, just 18,700 businesses had registered for TBESS, with 11,200 claims approved at a value of €22.7 million. That is just 2% of the €1.2 billion budget set aside for the scheme.

County Wexford Chamber called for a re-evaluation so this scheme can actually deliver some meaningful results for our business community.