What the Government Promised
With voters looking for solutions to their energy woes, the Albanese Government made a host of promises to help improve things. Here’s what they pledged:
- $150 Energy Bill Rebate for Households
From July to December 2025, households will receive a $150 rebate to help ease cost-of-living pressures. While this won’t impact commercial energy bills directly, it’s a signal of continued government willingness to intervene in pricing. - 30% Off Battery Storage for Homes
Through a $2.3 billion program, Labor pledged to cut the cost of home battery systems by 30%. Although targeted at households, widespread battery uptake could ease grid pressure and indirectly benefit the broader energy market. - $15 Billion for Energy Infrastructure
A major investment aimed at modernising and expanding Australia’s transmission network, critical for supporting renewable energy adoption and improving grid reliability across states. - 82% Renewable Energy Target by 2030
Labor reaffirmed its commitment to reaching 82% renewable energy within five years. Hitting this goal will require significant private and public investment, alongside better transmission and storage solutions. - Net Zero by 2050
No shift here — the government stuck to its long-term net zero emissions reduction trajectory, with green hydrogen, wind, solar, and battery tech all playing key roles.
The intention behind these policy promises is obvious: build a cleaner, more affordable energy system over time—with some shorter-term relief-based investment attached. But as you’ll notice, much of this relief is aimed at households, not businesses.
What Will It Take to Deliver?
This wasn’t the only ambitious energy policy announced during this election (see the Liberals’ plan for nuclear energy). But as ever, it’s the delivery that’s the tricky part.
One thing that is going to work heavily in Labor’s favour is how convincingly they won the election. Having won over double the number of seats as the Liberal party, they have one of the strongest majorities in recent memory. This will allow Labor to enact its policies much faster than the last election, when it only formed a majority by one vote.
With that said, these policies will take time to be implemented, and they’ll need even more time to see results. Such is the nature of nationwide energy reform.
Take Labor’s $15 billion infrastructure pledge. Unlocking more renewables will require new transmission lines, faster project approvals, and large-scale storage — all of which can take years to plan and build. The same goes for reaching 82% renewables by 2030. It’s a bold target, but one that depends on rapid delivery and private sector momentum in a system still juggling global volatility and ageing coal assets.
None of it is unachievable, and with barely two weeks passed since the election result, it’s still too early to pass judgment on policy success. But being told to wait simply isn’t good enough for businesses.
What This Means for Businesses in 2025
The reality for businesses is the same after May 3rd (election day) as it was before: energy costs are high, and relief is needed today.
While the government’s roadmap shows intent (and hopefully a better energy future), the gap between now and then leaves businesses exposed. Rising wholesale prices, unpredictable peak charges, and increased pressure on the grid continue to affect the bottom line for SMEs across the country.
And with little in the way of direct support for commercial energy users in this year’s election promises, it looks like businesses will once again need to navigate these price issues themselves for the time being.
What Businesses Can Do Today
With the results of the 2025 election all but finalised, the energy transition is now in full swing, but for most businesses, the only energy transition that will help in the immediate future is their own.
Now more than ever is the time for businesses to take matters into their own hands. At Choice Energy, we help organisations cut costs and regain control through tailored, proven strategies such as:
- Energy procurement – Access competitive market rates and contract terms that work for your business.
- Commercial solar – Reduce grid reliance and protect yourself from rising daytime costs.
- Battery storage – Use stored energy when it’s most valuable, and make the most of future-ready infrastructure.
Policy promises will shape the future, but your energy strategy needs to work today. If you don’t want to wait for government timelines to catch up, book in a free energy assessment with Choice Energy today.
