Energy bill relief for residents, small businesses struggling amid COVID-19 crisis

Australian businesses struggling through the coronavirus outbreak have been promised genuine relief on their power bills.

Energy networks across NSW, Victoria and South Australia have outlined several key measures to support customers doing it tough.

"Networks understand these are extraordinarily tough times for small business and energy bill relief will really help," Energy Networks Australia chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Thursday.

"Networks will work with energy retailers to ensure the benefits of this package flow through to customers smoothly."

Mothballed small businesses will not need to pay gas or electricity charges from April until June, if their consumption was less than a quarter of what it was last year.

Network charges will be repaid to small businesses shuttered as a result of COVID-19, as well as residential customers who go into default.

Large retailers that go onto payment plans or hardship arrangements will have their network charges deferred.