Concessions & Rebates

 Low-Income Household Rebate

The Low Income Household Rebate helps eligible NSW households to pay their energy bills.

The Low Income Household Rebate provides:

$285 (excluding GST) a year to eligible customers who hold an electricity account, or;

$313.50 a year to eligible long-term residents of residential communities (caravan and mobile home parks) and retirement villages who receive electricity bills from their community operators.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Low Income Household Rebate a person must:

• be a resident in New South Wales;
• a residential customer of the retailer;
• a long term resident of an on-supplied residential community, or a resident of an on- supplied retirement village, or a resident of an on-supplied strata scheme; or
• an on-supply customer on or after 1 February 2022; and whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to his or her principal place of residence; and
• hold a: Pensioner Concession Card issued by SA/DVA, SA Health Care Card; or DVA Gold Card marked with:
• War Widow or War Widower Pension;
• Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI); or
• Disability Pension (EDA)

How do I apply for the Low Income Household Rebate?

Different application and payment processes apply depending on whether you hold an electricity account with an electricity retailer of your choice or receive an electricity bill from, or on behalf of, the operator (or strata manager) of an on-supplied residential community, retirement village or strata scheme.

If you are billed for electricity by 1st Energy, you apply for this rebate by phoning your electricity retailer and supplying your concession card or healthcare card details over the phone.

There is no form to apply directly to your retailer for the Low Income Household Rebate.

$285 (excluding GST) a year to eligible customers who hold an electricity account unless advised otherwise in writing by the Department.

2, Family Energy Rebate

The Family Energy Rebate helps NSW family households with dependent children to cover the costs of their energy bills.

In 2018-2019 the Family Energy Rebate provides eligible households a credit on an energy bill of up to $180.

If you live in an on-supplied residential community, retirement village or strata scheme the rebate is up to $198.

Am I eligible for the Family Energy Rebate?

To be eligible for the Family Energy Rebate in a given financial year, you must:

• be a resident of New South Wales;
• a residential customer, or a person with the authority to act on behalf of the residential customer of the retailer:
• a long term resident of an on-supplied residential community, or a resident of an on-supplied retirement village, or a resident of an on-supplied strata scheme;
• whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to her or his principal place of residence; and
• have been assessed by the SA as being eligible for the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) A or B during the financial year immediately preceding the financial year in which an application for the FER is made to have received a payment of FTB in respect of that eligibility.

How do I apply for the Family Energy Rebate?

You can apply in either of two ways:

• apply online using the Online Application Form; or
• download a Paper Application Form, complete and submit via email, fax or post.

If you are a long term resident of an on-supplied residential community, a resident of an on-supplied retirement village or an on-supplied strata scheme, or you do not have an email address, or your energy retailer is not listed in the pull down menu on the online application form, you will need to submit a paper application form. Visit the Applying for the Rebate page for detailed information.

3, Medical Energy Rebate

The Medical Energy Rebate is for customers who have an inability to self-regulate body temperature when exposed to extremes (hot or cold) of environmental temperatures. It is associated with certain medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. However, to be eligible for the Rebate a customer will require a separate diagnosis that they are unable to self-regulate their body temperature.

The Medical Energy Rebate provides:

$285 (excluding GST) a year to eligible customers who hold an electricity account with an electricity retailer of their choice; or,

$313.50 a year to eligible residents of on-supplied residential communities, retirement villages and strata schemes.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Medical Energy Rebate you need to:

• be resident in New South Wales; and
• be a customer of the retailer, or a long term resident of an on-supplied residential community, or a resident of an on-supplied retirement village, or a resident of an on-supplied strata scheme; and whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to his or her principal place of residence; and
• submit a valid application form as provided by the Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development (the Department), which will be made available to customers on the Department’s website, duly signed by a registered medical practitioner (who is not the applicant) to verify that either the customer named on the bill or anyone residing at the residence has an inability to self-regulate body temperature; and
• hold either a:
• Pensioner Concession Card issued by the DHS/DVA; or
• DHS Health Care Card; or
• DVA Gold Card.

Note: Commonwealth Senior Health Card holders are not eligible for this rebate.

For the purpose of this rebate, an eligible customer has an inability to self-regulate body temperature where the eligible customer (or someone living at the supply address of the eligible customer) has been assessed by a registered treating medical practitioner (who is not the applicant) who has been treating them for at least three months as meeting at least one Primary Qualifying Conditions AND at least one Secondary Qualifying Conditions.

How do I apply for the Medical Energy Rebate?

If you are an Electricity Retail Customer you will need to fill out the Medical Energy Rebate Application Form and have it signed by your doctor and submit the completed form to your electricity retailer.

You can download the application form here Medical Energy Rebate Application Form

This application form needs to be filled in and signed by your treating physician of no less than three months (if you are treated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the same doctor is not necessarily required to have treated you for three consecutive months).

4, Life Support Rebate

The Life Support Rebate assists people to pay their electricity bills if they are required, or have someone living with them who is required, to use approved energy-intensive equipment at home.

The value of the rebate varies depends on the type of machine used by the customer. The list of approved Life Support Equipment includes medical equipment that is essential for supporting life such as home dialysis, ventilators and oxygen concentrators.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Life Support Rebate a person must:

• be resident in New South Wales; and
• be a customer of the retailer, or a long term resident of an on-supplied residential community, or a resident of an on-supplied retirement village, or a resident of an on-supplied strata scheme; and whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to his or her principal place of residence where approved equipment is used by the customer or another person who lives at the same address; and
• submit a valid application form as provided by the Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development (the Department), which will be made available to customers on the Department’s website, duly signed by a registered medical practitioner (who is not the applicant) to verify that the use of the approved life support equipment is required at his or her principal place of residence.

How do I apply for the Rebate?

Different application and payment processes apply depending on whether you hold an electricity account with an electricity retailer of your choice or receive an electricity bill from, or on behalf of, the operator (or strata manager) of an on-supplied residential community, retirement village or strata scheme.

If you are an Electricity Retail Customer you will need to fill in the Life Support Rebate Application Form, have it signed by your doctor to confirm that you require the equipment, and send the completed form back to your electricity retailer.

The Life Support Rebate Application Form can be obtained from your electricity retailer or downloaded from Life Support Electricity Rebate Application Form

You will need to submit a new, signed application form every two years to your retailer.

5, Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA)

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA)

You may be eligible for Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) if you are experiencing payment difficulty because of a short term or emergency crisis. EAPA vouchers are sent electronically to your energy retailer to help pay your home electricity or gas account. Applying for EAPA vouchers involves an eligibility assessment by a NSW Government representative or an approved non-government EAPA provider.

EAPA voucher limits apply, and vouchers can’t be used to put your energy account into credit, on closed accounts, or if your account has already been paid.

For more information on how you can apply, please click here.

Eligibility

• have an electricity or natural gas account for a NSW residential address, which is your primary place of residence and the account must be active at the time of your assessment (all other accounts are not eligible)
• be the electricity or natural gas account holder (your account and bill must be in your name)
• be experiencing a short-term financial crisis or emergency that has caused you financial hardship and impacted your ability to pay your current residential energy bill (in part or in full).

6, Seniors Energy Rebate

The Seniors Energy Rebate is to provides assistance to eligible customers who receive the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to help cover the cost of their electricity.

An eligible customer, who completes a valid application and receives confirmation of eligibility from the Department, will be paid the rebate once per financial year into their nominated bank account.

To apply, please visit the Department for the rebate using the form available from the Department’s website here.

Eligibility

• be a resident in New South Wales;
• the primary account holder of an electricity retailer;
• a long term resident of an on-supplied residential community, or a resident of an on-supplied retirement village, or a resident of an on-supplied strata scheme; or
• an on-supply customer and whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to his or her principal place residence; whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to his or her principal place of residence; and
• hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card issued by SA/DVA.

Energy Bill Relief Fund 2023–24 

Payments were automatically applied to customers who were eligible for this relief in FY 2023-24. Visit the State Government website for more information on National Energy Bill Relief for households and small businesses for FY 2024-25
https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/national-energy-bill-relief 

Pleae Download Pdf’s from below :

Low Income Household Rebate

Medical Energy Rebate

Life Support Rebate

For more information on rebates, please visit the NSW Department of Planning and Environments website.

Electricity Rebate

Queensland pensioners and seniors may be eligible for a rebate to assist with their electricity consumption.

The Electricity Rebate provides:

An Electricity Rebate of 372.2 per year (GST inclusive) paid on a daily rate over the billing period.

Eligibility

Rebates are available to people who have any of the below:

• Pensioner Concession Card
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (and receive the War Widow/er Pension or special rate TPI Pension)
• Queensland Seniors Card.
• Commonwealth Health Care Card (Electricity Rebate only)
• Asylum seeker status (residents will need to provide their ImmiCard details)

To be eligible, the card holder must also live alone or share their principal place of residence with (only) any of the below:

• their spouse
• other people who hold a Pensioner Concession Card or Queensland Seniors Card
• other people wholly dependent on them
• other people who receive an income support payment from Centrelink, the Family Assistance Office, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and who do not pay rent
• other people who live with the card holder to provide care and assistance, and who do not pay rent.

If you live in caravan park or multi-unit residential building (e.g. apartment), you must also show that your electricity is paid on the basis of metered consumption.

2, Home Energy Assistance Scheme

The Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme:

• is for Queensland households experiencing problems paying their electricity or reticulated natural gas bills as a result of an unforeseen emergency or a short-term financial crisis
• is one-off emergency assistance to help with paying your home energy bills

The Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme:

The Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme pays up to $720 once every 2 years.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must be responsible for paying the outstanding bill (the bill does not need to be in your name) and meet one of the following:

• hold a current concession card, or
• have an income equal to or less than the Australian Government’s maximum income rate for part-age pensioners. Contact Centrelink for details of the maximum income rate.
• be part of your energy retailer’s hardship program or payment plan.

Full eligibility details, including the types of emergency situations you might get help for, are available from 1st Energy or participating financial counselling service.

3, Medical Cooling Concession and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme

The Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme helps with electricity costs for people who have a chronic medical condition, such as multiple sclerosis, autonomic system dysfunction, significant burns or a severe inflammatory skin condition, which is aggravated by changes in temperature.

The Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme provides:

It currently provides $340.85 (including GST) per year to eligible applicants (eligibility is reviewed every two years).

1, Residential Energy Concessions

Eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes can apply for help with the cost of energy bills for their principal place of residence.  If you’re eligible for a South Australian energy concession, you’ll need to register via the Department of Human Services. You can apply by calling the government’s concessions hotline on 1800 307 758 or apply online.

If you live in a residential park you may be eligible for a combined concession for your water, sewerage and energy – see Residential Park Concessions.

2, SA Concession Energy Discount Offer

South Australians who are already receiving an energy concession are eligible for additional discounts through the SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer (SACEDO). For more information visit the South Australian Government website by clicking here.

3, Cost of Living Concession

The Cost of Living Concession helps those on low or fixed incomes with their cost of living expenses, whether that be electricity, water, gas or medical bills.

4, Medical Healing and Cooling Concession

The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession assists South Australians on a fixed or low income who have a clinically verified medical condition which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home to prevent the severe worsening of their condition.

5, Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme

The Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme (EEPS) provides assistance to South Australians who are experiencing significant financial difficulties or are at risk of having their electricity disconnected. EEPS is only accessible through financial counsellors, who will assess the individual’s financial situation before lodging an application. For more information visit the South Australian Government’s financial assistance website by clicking here. 

1, Annual Electricity Concession

The annual electricity concession provides a daily discount to eligible customers as a cents per day rate. The current concession is 176.460 cents per day.

Eligible cards are:

• DHS or DVA Pensioner Concession Card
• DHS Health Care Card
• ImmiCard (Bridging Visa E)
• Tasmanian Concession Card (issued by Department of Communities Tasmania)

To apply for the annual electricity concession, eligible customers will need to complete the Application Form. If you require further assistance,

2, Heating Allowance

An allowance of $56 a year is made to eligible pensioners to assist with heating costs. Payments of $28 are made in May and September.

The allowance is available to people who hold a:

DHS or DVA Pensioner Concession Card.

A single pensioner must not have more than $1,750* in cash assets and married/de facto pensioners must not have more than $2,750. *

*Other conditions also apply.

3, Life Support Concession

The life support concession provides a daily discount to eligible customers who use an approved life support system or who live with someone who uses such a system in their principal place of residence.

The approved devices and current rates are:

• Oxygen concentrator, 116.707 cents per day
• Peritoneal dialysis machine, 86.590 cents per day
• Haemo-dialysis machine, 86.590 cents per day
• Chronic positive pressure and airways regulator, 41.412 cents per day
• Continuous positive airways pressure machine, 41.412 cents per day
• Respirator (iron lung), 154.354 cents per day
• Combination oxygen concentrator and chronic positive pressure and airways regulator, 158.119 cents per day
• Phototherapy machine, 219.930 cents per day
• Left ventricular assist device, 41.412 cents per day

To apply for this concession, eligible customers need to complete the Application Form and have it certified by their medical practitioner before submitting it to their electricity retailer.

4, Medical Cooling or Heating Concession

The medical cooling or heating concession provides a daily discount to eligible customers who have, or who live with a person who has, a medical condition that requires the cooling or heating of the customer’s principal place of residence in order to manage that medical condition. The current concession is 47.163 cents per day.

To apply for this concession, eligible customers need to complete the Application Form and have it certified by their medical practitioner before submitting it to their electricity retailer.

5, Winter Bill Buster

• It is a once-off discount of $119 for eligible customers.
• it will be automatically applied as a discount to the bills of eligible customers.
• eligibility criteria is the same as the annual electricity concession eligibility.
• to receive the Winter Bill Buster discount automatically a customer needs to be eligible for the annual electricity concession on 30 June 2022.
• the discount will be applied to the bills of eligible customers as soon as practicable after 30 June 2022.
• the Winter Bill Buster discount cannot be exchanged, transferred, or refunded where your 1st Energy account is in credit.

If you become eligible after 30 June 2022, you will still get the supplement if you are eligible during the period 1 July 2022 to 31 August 2022 and let us know.