Only 100 businesses given access to South Australian energy relief after months

Months after it was announced, only 100 businesses have been awarded access to a key cost-of-living package from the South Australian government. 

Critics say the criteria for the program are too strict, with businesses forced to dig into their own pockets to access support.

One of the few who has taken up the support is ice cream parlour owner Brian O'Donnell, who has been faced with a staggering electricity bill.

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"It's in the vicinity of around $150,000-$200,000 over six stores, so it's considerable," he said.

In an effort to reduce these costs, O'Donnell invested $103,000 in energy-efficient upgrades, including a new blast freezer and pasteuriser. 

While the government contributes half of this cost, the stringent criteria for approval has resulted in a slow uptake of the program.

"They've got to go and get quotes, they've got to go and get tradespeople and supply companies to come and look at their premises," Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said.

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One of the conditions for grant approval is that businesses must match the government's contribution, which has left some questioning if the government's doing enough to help all businesses, especially those that don't have the money to spend on upgrades. 

"Unfortunately there may well be some worthy businesses that could make use of this funding but they just don't have the spare cash," opposition spokesperson Stephen Patterson said.

But the government believes the support goes far enough.

"I realise this won't be for everyone but we're trying to make it as flexible for as many small businesses across any industry," Mullighan said.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.