List reveals businesses and others to pay carbon tax in eight weeks, with impact expected to be wider

The regulator overseeing the Federal Government’s pollution price regime expects around 330 government and private sector entities will be liable to pay the carbon tax when it starts in eight weeks, but the impact on SMEs will vary by sector.

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) published a list of 248 companies and city councils which it is “fairly sure” will be liable to pay $23 for each tonne of carbon dioxide they emit from July.

They account for around 70% of emissions covered by the regime.

CER chair Chloe Munro said the list known as the Liable Entities Public Information Database would be updated as the regulator received information about changes in entities particular circumstances.

“This phase of the LEPID is our first step in providing timely information to participants in the new carbon pricing mechanism,” said Munro.

“Our primary focus is on providing education and training to help them understand and meet their statutory obligations.”

Iain Smale, managing director of consultancy Pangolin Associates, told SmartCompany although the list of businesses directly affected was limited, the impact would be more widely felt to varying degrees.

Smale says electricity pricing is likely to be the most noticeable impact for SMEs, however, he warned businesses to watch out for “price gouging” by suppliers that tried to overestimate the cost of the carbon tax and to pass the cost on to SMEs.

“It is important for businesses to understand what the impacts are to makes sure unnecessary and inflated costs aren’t being passed on by their suppliers as purely price gouging under the guise of an increase due to the carbon price,” says Smale.

“For SMEs, especially service based ones, electricity is generally only a small part of their overall expenses, but that’s not to say it’s not an area to tackle.

“If they are in manufacturing then it is a much larger component, but manufacturers have a huge opportunity to reduce those electricity costs.

“We are doing a lot of audits of manufacturers at the moment and we generally identify around 30% power savings and there is government funding around to help that process as well.”

Pangolin Associates models potential supply chain increases due to carbon prices for business.

“Even though these increases should be relatively small, say in the order 0.1% to 0.8% depending on the nature of the service or product, it is important to understand and make sure that there isn’t price gouging as recently indicated by the ACCC,” says Smale.

“We are finding electricity is a fairly small component of costs for SMES; wages and rent are much higher.

“The impact is going to be far less than people think.”

Smale says while some companies were being very proactive in dealing with the potential impact of the carbon tax, others were putting off action for as long as possible.

“There are those who think that a change of government in a year’s time will fix the problems, but the reality is that electricity prices are going to go up regardless,” says Smales.

Here’s the list of the 248 companies identified by the CER which are likely to be paying carbon tax:

• A.J. BUSH & SONS (MANUFACTURES) PTY LTD
• ACTEW DISTRIBUTION LTD AND JEMENA NETWORKS (ACT) PTY LTD
• ACTEW RETAIL LTD & AGL ACT RETAIL INVESTMENTS PTY LTD
• ADELAIDE BRIGHTON LTD.
• ADITYA BIRLA MINERALS LIMITED
• ALCOA AUSTRALIA ROLLED PRODUCTS PTY LIMITED
• ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED
• ALCOA PORTLAND ALUMINIUM PTY LTD
• ALINTA DEBO PTY LTD
• ALINTA DEWAP PTY LTD
• ALINTA SALES PTY LTD
• ALLGAS ENERGY PTY LIMITED
• ANGLO COAL (CALLIDE MANAGEMENT) PTY LIMITED
• ANGLO COAL (CAPCOAL MANAGEMENT) PTY LIMITED
• ANGLO COAL (DARTBROOK MANAGEMENT) PTY LIMITED
• ANGLO COAL (DAWSON MANAGEMENT) PTY LTD
• ANGLO COAL (DRAYTON MANAGEMENT) PTY LIMITED
• ANGLO COAL (FOXLEIGH MANAGEMENT) PTY LTD
• ANGLO COAL (MORANBAH NORTH MANAGEMENT) PTY LIMITED
• APACHE ENERGY LIMITED
• APEX GOLD PTY LTD
• APT PETROLEUM PIPELINES PTY LIMITED
• ARROW (DAANDINE) PTY. LTD.
• ARROW (SOUTHERN GENERATION) PTY. LTD.
• ARROW (TIPTON) PTY. LTD.
• ASHTON COAL OPERATIONS PTY LIMITED
• ATCO POWER AUSTRALIA (KARRATHA) PTY LTD
• AURORA ENERGY (TAMAR VALLEY) PTY LTD
• AUSTRALIAN CHAR PTY. LTD.
• AUSTRALIAN PAPER PTY LIMITED
• AUSTRALIAN POWER AND GAS PTY LIMITED
• BGC (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
• BHP BILLITON MINERALS PTY LTD
• BHP BILLITON MITSUI COAL PTY LTD
• BHP BILLITON NICKEL WEST PTY LTD
• BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM CORPORATION PTY LTD
• BHP BILLITON PETROLEUM (BASS STRAIT) PTY. LTD.
• BHP BILLITON PETROLEUM PTY LTD
• BHP BILLITON WORSLEY ALUMINA PTY LTD
• BLACKTOWN WASTE SERVICES PTY LIMITED
• BLOOMFIELD COLLIERIES PTY LTD
• BLUESCOPE STEEL (AIS) PTY. LTD.
• BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED
• BM ALLIANCE COAL OPERATIONS PTY LIMITED
• BOC LIMITED
• BORAL LIMITED
• BOWEN COKE PTY. LTD.
• BPL MELBOURNE PTY LIMITED
• BRAEMAR POWER PROJECT PTY LTD
• BREEN HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED
• BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL
• BULGA COAL MANAGEMENT PTY LIMITED
• BULWER ISLAND ENERGY PARTNERSHIP
• C S ENERGY LIMITED
• CALEDON COAL PTY LIMITED
• CALTEX REFINERIES (NSW) PTY LTD
• CALTEX REFINERIES (QLD) PTY LTD
• CEMENT AUSTRALIA (GOLIATH) PTY LIMITED
• CEMENT AUSTRALIA (KANDOS) PTY LIMITED
• CEMENT AUSTRALIA (QUEENSLAND) PTY LIMITED
• CENTENNIAL MANDALONG PTY LIMITED
• CENTENNIAL MANNERING PTY LTD
• CENTENNIAL MYUNA PTY LIMITED
• CENTENNIAL NEWSTAN PTY LIMITED
• CENTRAL GIPPSLAND REGION WATER CORPORATION
• CH4 OPERATIONS PTY LTD
• CHARBON COAL PTY LIMITED
• CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
• CITY OF ARMADALE
• CITY OF KALGOORLIE-BOULDER
• COMMONWEALTH STEEL COMPANY PTY LIMITED
• COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHELLHARBOUR
• COZERO RETAIL PTY LTD
• CROWN MELBOURNE LIMITED
• CSBP LIMITED
• CSR LIMITED
• DBNGP (WA) TRANSMISSION PTY LIMITED
• DELTA ELECTRICITY
• DENDROBIUM COAL PTY LTD
• DODO POWER & GAS PTY LTD
• DOWNER EDI MINING PTY LTD
• EAST AUSTRALIAN PIPELINE PTY LIMITED
• EASTERN ENERGY AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
• ECOGEN ENERGY PTY LTD
• EDL CSM (NSW) PTY LTD
• EDL CSM (QLD) PTY LTD
• EDL NGD (NT) PTY LTD
• EDL NGD (QLD) PTY LTD
• EDL PROJECTS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
• EIT NEERABUP POWER PTY LTD & ERM NEERABUP PTY LTD
• ELECTRICITY GENERATION CORPORATION
• ELECTRICITY RETAIL CORPORATION
• ENDEAVOUR COAL PTY LIMITED
• ENERGY BRIX AUSTRALIA CORPORATION PTY LTD
• ENI AUSTRALIA B.V.
• ENVESTRA (QLD) LIMITED
• ENVESTRA (SA) LIMITED
• ENVIROGEN PTY LIMITED
• EPIC ENERGY QUEENSLAND PTY LIMITED
• EPIC ENERGY SOUTH AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
• ESPERANCE POWER STATION PTY LTD
• ESSO AUSTRALIA RESOURCES PTY LTD
• FLINDERS OPERATING SERVICES PTY LTD
• FONTERRA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
• GLADSTONE REGIONAL COUNCIL
• GOLDFIELDS POWER PTY LTD
• GOLDING CONTRACTORS PTY LTD
• GRANGE RESOURCES (TASMANIA) PTY LTD
• GREAT ENERGY ALLIANCE CORPORATION PTY LIMITED
• GUJARAT NRE COKING COAL LTD
• GUJARAT NRE WONGA PTY LTD
• HAIL CREEK COAL PTY LTD
• HANSON LANDFILL SERVICES PTY LTD
• HUNTER VALLEY ENERGY COAL LIMITED
• HYDRO ALUMINIUM KURRI KURRI PTY LTD
• IG POWER (CALLIDE) LTD
• ILLAWARRA COKE COMPANY PTY. LIMITED
• ILUKA MIDWEST LIMITED
• ILUKA RESOURCES LIMITED
• INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED
• INDUSTRIAL ENERGY PTY LTD
• INTEGRA COAL OPERATIONS PTY LTD
• ISAAC PLAINS COAL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD
• JBS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
• JELLINBAH MINING PTY LTD
• KESTREL COAL PTY LIMITED
• KILCOY PASTORAL COMPANY LIMITED
• KIMBERLY-CLARK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
• KIMBRIKI ENVIRONMENTAL ENTERPRISES PTY LTD
• LA TROBE UNIVERSITY
• LAKECOAL PTY LTD
• LIDDELL COAL OPERATIONS PTY. LIMITED
• LUMO ENERGY (NSW) PTY LTD
• LUMO ENERGY (QLD) PTY LTD
• LUMO ENERGY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
• MACKAY SUGAR LIMITED
• MACQUARIE GENERATION
• MARANOA REGIONAL COUNCIL
• MELBOURNE WATER CORPORATION
• METROPOLITAN COLLIERIES PTY. LTD.
• MILLENNIUM COAL PTY LTD
• MILLENNIUM INORGANIC CHEMICALS LTD
• MILLMERRAN OPERATING COMPANY PTY LTD
• MINDARIE REGIONAL COUNCIL
• MOBIL REFINING AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.
• MOOLARBEN COAL OPERATIONS PTY LTD
• MOUNT ISA MINES LIMITED
• MURRAY GOULBURN CO-OPERATIVE CO. LIMITED
• MURRIN MURRIN OPERATIONS PTY LTD
• NARRABRI COAL OPERATIONS PTY LTD
• NEWCREST MINING LIMITED
• NEWGEN POWER KWINANA PTY LTD
• NEWMONT YANDAL OPERATIONS PTY LTD
• NORSKE SKOG PAPER MILLS (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED
• NORTH GOONYELLA COAL MINES PTY LTD
• NRG GLADSTONE OPERATING SERVICES PTY LTD
• NYRSTAR HOBART PTY LTD
• NYRSTAR PORT PIRIE PTY LTD
• OCEANIC COAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED.
• ONESTEEL MANUFACTURING PTY LIMITED
• ONESTEEL NSW PTY LIMITED
• OPTION ONE PTY LTD
• ORICA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
• OSBORNE COGENERATION PTY LTD
• OWENS-ILLINOIS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
• PEABODY (WILKIE CREEK) PTY LIMITED
• PEABODY ENERGY AUSTRALIA PCI (C&M MANAGEMENT) PTY LTD
• PELICAN POINT POWER LIMITED
• PENRITH WASTE SERVICES PTY. LIMITED
• PORT STEPHENS WASTE MANAGEMENT GROUP PTY LTD
• POWER AND WATER CORPORATION
• QENOS HOLDINGS PTY LTD
• QGC PTY LIMITED
• QUEENSLAND ALUMINA LIMITED
• QUEENSLAND NICKEL PTY. LTD.
• QUEENSLAND NITRATES PTY LTD
• RAVENSWORTH OPERATIONS PTY LIMITED
• RED ENERGY PTY. LIMITED
• REDBANK PROJECT PTY LIMITED
• REGIONAL POWER CORPORATION
• RESOURCE PACIFIC LIMITED
• RIO TINTO ALUMINIUM (BELL BAY) LIMITED
• RIO TINTO ALUMINIUM LIMITED
• RIO TINTO COAL AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
• RIX’S CREEK PTY. LIMITED
• RTA YARWUN PTY LTD
• SANTOS DIRECT PTY LTD
• SANTOS LIMITED
• SCA HYGIENE AUSTRALASIA PTY LIMITED
• SHELL REFINING (AUSTRALIA) PROPRIETARY LIMITED
• SHOALHAVEN STARCHES PTY LTD
• SIMCOA OPERATIONS PTY. LTD.
• SIMPLOT AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
• SITA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
• SMITHFIELD INVESTORS NO. 1 PTY LTD
• SNOWY HYDRO LIMITED
• SOJITZ MINERVA MINING PTY LTD
• SONOMA MINE MANAGEMENT PTY LTD
• SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATION
• SOUTHERN CROSS PIPELINES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
• SOUTHERN REGION WASTE RESOURCE AUTHORITY
• SPI NETWORKS (GAS) PTY LTD
• ST BARBARA LIMITED
• STANWELL CORPORATION LIMITED
• SUN RETAIL PTY LTD
• TAHMOOR COAL PTY LTD
• TARRAWONGA COAL PTY LTD
• TATURA MILK INDUSTRIES LIMITED
• TEYS AUSTRALIA BEENLEIGH PTY LTD
• TEYS AUSTRALIA MEAT GROUP PTY LTD
• THALES AUSTRALIA LIMITED
• THE AUSTRAL BRICK CO PTY LTD
• THE AUSTRALIAN STEEL COMPANY (OPERATIONS) PTY LTD
• THE GRIFFIN COAL MINING COMPANY PTY LIMITED
• THE TRUSTEE FOR SOUTHERN PAPER CONVERTERS TRUST
• THE TRUSTEE FOR THE MADDINGLEY MINE TRUST
• THE TRUSTEE FOR THE PATON UNIT TRUST
• THE WALLERAWANG COLLIERIES LIMITED
• THIESS PTY LTD
• THIESS SERVICES PTY LTD
• TIWEST PTY LTD
• TOMAGO ALUMINIUM COMPANY PTY LTD
• TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED
• TRANSALTA ENERGY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
• UNITED COLLIERIES PTY LTD
• VERMILION OIL & GAS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
• VISY PULP AND PAPER PTY. LTD.
• WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL
• WAMBO COAL PTY LIMITED
• WASTE ASSETS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
• WATER CORPORATION
• WERRIS CREEK COAL PTY LIMITED
• WESFARMERS CURRAGH PTY LTD
• WESFARMERS KLEENHEAT GAS PTY LTD
• WESPINE INDUSTRIES PTY LTD
• WEST AUSTRALIAN LANDFILL SERVICES PTY LTD
• WESTERN DOWNS REGIONAL COUNCIL
• WESTSIDE CORPORATION LIMITED
• WHITEHAVEN COAL MINING LIMITED
• WOODSIDE ENERGY LTD.
• WORLEYPARSONS ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LIMITED
• XSTRATA COAL QUEENSLAND PTY LTD
• XSTRATA MANGOOLA PTY LIMITED
• XSTRATA MT OWEN PTY LIMITED
• YANCOAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED
• YARA PILBARA FERTILISERS PTY LTD
• YARRABEE COAL COMPANY PTY. LTD.
• YOLARNO PTY LTD