Funds set aside to promote the interests of energy consumers are being granted to one of Australia’s largest business groups to campaign against renewable energy, a solar industry group says.

The Consumer Advocacy Panel (CAP) was set up by the state and federal governments in 2008 and is funded from a levy on energy bills. While offering funds to many groups, it claims to have made “outreach to under-represented groups a strategic priority”, including households, small businesses and rural users, its website says.

Funds for consumers: The Consumer Advocacy Panel claims to prioritise households and other under-represented groups in the energy debate.

Among recipients of its $2.6 million in grants for 2013-14 was the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. On February 6, the chamber received $50,000 to fund the group’s submission “and associated modelling” for the Abbott government’s hand-picked expert panel that is reviewing the renewable energy target.

The chamber is opposed to the current target, which mandates that large generators lift annual supply of renewable energy to 41,000 gigawatt hours by 2020.