Metering Plan Implementation Grants NSW

Purpose and Program Overview

The Metering Plan Implementation Grants NSW program supports eligible NSW businesses to implement comprehensive energy metering and monitoring upgrades, based on an existing energy metering and monitoring plan. The program aims to improve visibility of on‑site energy use, identify efficiency and cost‑reduction opportunities, and support longer‑term emissions‑reduction and net‑zero objectives.

The current round is part of a $2 million total funding pool, with individual grants available between $20,001 and $100,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible project costs. The scheme is aligned with broader NSW climate and energy‑efficiency programs, and is designed to help energy‑intensive sites upgrade monitoring infrastructure so they can make data‑driven decisions about energy performance and decarbonisation pathways.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount per entity: $20,001–$100,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs.
• Application status: Open for the current round.
• Expected closing date: Thursday, 30 April 2026 at 5:00 pm AEST, or earlier if funding is fully committed.
• Eligible business types: NSW businesses with an ABN and GST registration, operating complex energy systems.
• Co‑contribution required: Yes – applicants must contribute at least 50% of total project costs (i.e. matched funding).
• Location applicability: Projects must be delivered at an NSW‑based site address.

Priority Sectors

The guidelines do not specify a narrow list of priority industries; instead, the grant is targeted at NSW businesses with complex energy systems and high annual energy use, typically in manufacturing, industrial, and large commercial sectors. In practice, entities with energy‑intensive operations that already have a detailed metering and monitoring plan are most strongly aligned with the program’s objectives.

Funding Scope

• Per‑entity range: $20,001–$100,000, reflecting matched funding up to 50% of eligible project expenditure.
• Funding stream: The program is a single‑stream, metering plan implementation grant; there is no published sub‑streaming by feasibility, capital works, or R&D. However, funding is limited to implementation activities that follow an existing metering and monitoring plan.
• Eligible project duration: Projects must be implemented after grant approval; the guidelines do not set a fixed maximum duration but emphasise that the quoted plan used for the application must be no more than 3 years old and reflect current site conditions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Business structure: Open to organisations with an Australian Business Number (ABN) and GST registration.
• Location: The project must be delivered at an NSW site address.
• Energy use threshold: The site must spend at least $200,000 annually on energy bills or demonstrate at least 3,600 gigajoules (GJ) of on‑site energy use per year, excluding transport‑related fuels.
• System complexity: The site must have a complex energy system requiring a comprehensive metering and monitoring plan.
• Plan currency: The applicant must have an energy metering and monitoring plan that is no more than 3 years old and accurately reflects current processes and systems on site.
• Other requirements: Applicants must provide itemised quotes (not lump‑sum) for submeters, software and related activities, and must be able to evidence that the project is not fully funded from other NSW climate‑related grants.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

• Capital equipment: Installation and commissioning of permanent submeters required to measure energy performance.
• Hardware and software: Purchase and integration of hardware and software needed to monitor energy use, including data‑logging and analytic platforms used on-site.
• Data services: First‑year subscription to data‑management or monitoring systems linked to the installed infrastructure.
• Implementation support: Post‑installation handover, training, and data‑onboarding support provided during the project period, including configuration and commissioning of the metering and monitoring system.

The grant does not generally fund feasibility‑only studies, R&D unrelated to metering implementation, or standalone management‑consulting services without direct linkage to the specified metering and monitoring works.

Assessment Process

The Metering Plan Implementation Grants NSW are competitive, with funding subject to availability and capped per‑round totals. Applications are assessed primarily against:

• Project merit: Quality and thoroughness of the proposed metering and monitoring implementation, including alignment with the existing metering plan and technical feasibility.
• Strategic alignment: Contribution to improved energy‑performance visibility, potential for energy‑cost reduction, and support for NSW emissions‑reduction and net‑zero objectives.
• Value for money: Cost‑effectiveness of the proposed works, including proportion of grant funding relative to total project cost and use of itemised, competitive quotes.

NSW‑based businesses with complex, high‑energy‑use sites and clear, data‑driven implementation plans are most likely to score well against these criteria.

Recent Program Updates

 Round 2 of the Metering Plan Implementation Grant is currently open, continuing the structure of matched funding between $20,001 and $100,000 per applicant. The total allocation for this round is $2 million, which may be adjusted if related NSW energy‑efficiency schemes (including the Submetering Grant and Energy Performance Services Grant) are under‑committed. The eligibility criteria remain consistent with prior rounds, including the $200,000 annual energy bill threshold or equivalent 3,600 GJ energy‑use requirement and the 3‑year currency rule for metering plans.

Application Tips

• Verify eligibility carefully, in particular, site‑based energy use, ABN/GST status, and whether the energy system is complex enough to justify a comprehensive metering plan.
• Prepare documentation in advance, including up‑to‑date metering and monitoring plans, itemised supplier quotes, energy‑bill evidence (no more than 18 months old), and project timelines.
• Align the proposal with NSW climate and energy‑efficiency priorities, clearly articulating how the proposed metering system will improve energy‑performance visibility and support future efficiency or decarbonisation initiatives.
• Demonstrate capability and outcomes, including prior experience with energy‑management projects, availability of in‑house/contract support for implementation, and quantifiable benefits such as projected energy savings, emission reductions, and operational‑efficiency gains.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today and get connected with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the official website of the Metering Plan Implementation Grants NSW and other associated Australian government websites.