Minister Coveney launches Business Users Support Scheme for Kerosene

Minister Simon Coveney today launched a new energy support scheme for businesses that were impacted by significant increases in the cost of Kerosene during 2022.

The Business Users Support Scheme for Kerosene (BUSSK) will compensate eligible businesses for 50% of the increased cost of Kerosene purchased for heating their business premises during the period from 1st March to 31st December 2022, compared to the average retail price for the same period in 2021. There will be a guaranteed minimum payment of €500.

Businesses that have a commercially rateable premises, and purchased a minimum of 1,000 litres of Kerosene during the eligible period, can apply to the scheme. B&Bs that are approved under the Fáilte Ireland National Quality Assurance Framework are also eligible. Businesses that have already received payments from the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme can apply to BUSSK, and businesses with multiple premises can apply in respect of each premises.

Minister Coveney said:
‘The cost of energy is a major factor in the operation of most businesses. The impact of the very significant price increases following the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine was mitigated by the introduction of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme to support companies dealing with increased electricity and natural gas costs. This new scheme now extends similar supports to businesses that rely on Kerosene for heating purposes. It will help alleviate the financial burden that unprecedented energy price increases have placed on businesses.’

Full eligibility criteria and details of how to apply to the scheme are available at the following address: www.bussk.ie. The scheme will be open for applications until the 31st October 2023.

Notes for Editor
- In May, Government agreed to the development and implementation of a scheme to assist business users of Kerosene impacted by significant increases in the cost of this fuel.
- BUSSK will be retrospective and will provide payments to businesses to reimburse half of the increased cost of Kerosene purchased in the eligible period from March to December 2022, compared to the average retail price during the reference period of March to December 2021.
- Average Kerosene prices during the 2022 eligible period were €1.32 per litre, compared to €0.70 per litre in the 2021 reference period.
- BUSSK will be administered by Enterprise Ireland, using the support of an external service provider, and will utilise unspent TBESS funding.
- A business will be eligible to apply to BUSSK where it is a company, self-employed individual or partnership carrying on a trade or profession, the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D by virtue of section 18(2) of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA), 1997.
- Sporting bodies and charities that carry on activities that would be chargeable to tax but for exemptions set out in the TCA will be within the scope of the scheme.
- Applicants must have a fixed premises that is commercially rateable or be a Bed and Breakfast which is approved within the Fáilte Ireland National Quality Assurance Framework.
- Applicants must have tax clearance from Revenue.
- Businesses that have already received the maximum permitted amount from TBESS will not be eligible to apply to BUSSK. The total amount received by businesses from TBESS and BUSSK combined cannot exceed the maximum TBESS payment amounts.
- Businesses that use Kerosene for purposes other than heating the business premises will not be eligible to apply to BUSSK in respect of Kerosene used for these other purposes.
- Where a business has purchased between 1,000 and 1,999 litres in the eligible period, a flat payment of €500 will be made.
- BUSSK will close for applications on the 31st October 2023. All payments under the Scheme will be made before 31st December 2023, in line with the requirements of the EU’s Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, under which BUSSK will operate.
- Cash purchases of Kerosene will not be eligible under this scheme.

Examples of Payment Rates
Company A purchased 4,000 litres of Kerosene during 2022 at a total cost of €5,280. The same amount of Kerosene cost €2,800 during the 2021 reference period
Payment: €1,029.

Company B purchased 8,000 litres of Kerosene during 2022 at a total cost of €10,560. The same amount of Kerosene cost €5,600 during the 2021 reference period
Payment: €2,058

Company C purchased 20,000 litres of Kerosene during 2022 at a total cost of €25,600. The same amount of Kerosene cost €14,000 during the 2021 reference period
Payment: €4,814