Elsie Lange
Sunbury businesses have growing concerns about rising prices and supply pressures amid the national energy crisis, reflecting recent findings by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
A survey by the VCCI found nearly half of businesses said the instability was affecting them, and Sunbury Tyrepower owner Frank Buffone said he was experiencing it first hand.
“Having something like energy, something simple, especially when we run quite heavily on it with all the equipment, machinery, and we need good lighting… you really don’t want an extra expense on your bottom line,” Mr Buffone said.
Like 79 per cent of those who responded to VCCI’s survey, Mr Buffone said he was uncertain about forecasting costs and investments for his business over the next 12 months.
“I think everyone would be concerned, especially if it’s something that’s an oversight and you didn’t expect it, if you haven’t forecast it,” Mr Buffone.
Sunbury Business Association president Michael Osborne said while he hadn’t seen the issue flow through “a great deal” just yet, coupled with “other areas”, costs were increasing.
“There’s also upward pressure, due to inflation, on wages as well,” Mr Osborne said.
“Not only is it hard to get people to work, we’re having to pay more for them.
“So all in all, it’s making it very difficult for small businesses to survive and increasing energy costs is just going to add something else to it again.”
VCCI chief executive Paul Guerra said the survey showed the impact the energy crisis was having on businesses, in particular their “levels of confidence and investment as they deal with rising costs and growing uncertainty around supply”.
“It also tells us that we need to explore all options to alleviate pressure on businesses in the short term while looking at longer term solutions that will provide certainty and benefits for businesses, the economy and wider community,” he said.
Like 58 per cent of businesses surveyed by VCCI, Mr Buffone said he’d be more willing to invest in renewable energy, or switch from gas to electricity with more government financial support.
“With any incentive and it comes in and it works well within your business, you’d be crazy not to,” he said.
“We recently took up the LED light change, just to help a little bit with the energy costs and we certainly look at other ways of reducing our energy consumption day to day.”
