Hundreds of thousands of Australians eligible for concessions on their energy bills may not be receiving them, new research has shown, partly because the concessions system varies between states.
The following state-by-state guide aims to help you figure out whether you might be eligible for a discount on utility bills.
But first some general advice. Always check your bill to make sure the concession has been correctly applied. For many rebates, only one concession can apply per household, and the name and address of the concession holder must exactly match those on the utility bill.
Centrelink card holders will often need to complete a new application every time their card is updated – or when transferring to a new provider.
Erin Turner from the Consumer Policy Research Centre says often people don’t access concessions simply because they don’t know about them.
“One of the most useful things you can do is contact a loved one who might fall into a concessions category,” she says. Turner advises anyone who thinks they might be eligible to “get on the phone”, as “sometimes it can be easier to call your retailer to navigate this”.
New South Wales
Am I eligible and what for? NSW has a range of separate rebate schemes for electricity, gas and water bills, which include programs for recipients of the family tax benefit, self-funded retirees, Centrelink healthcare card holders, pensioners, veterans’ card holders, low-income households and more. It’s worth clicking through each to find out which ones you may be eligible for and how much that’s worth. The low-income household concession is worth $285 per year and the family energy rebate is worth up to $180.
How do I get it? If you’re eligible for the low-income household energy rebate, you’ll need to call your energy provider and request it be applied to your account. For a number of other schemes, you’ll need to submit a form to the NSW government. Check the details of the particular scheme for what’s required as they can vary.
Australian Capital Territory
Am I eligible and what for? In the ACT, the utilities concession covers electricity, natural gas, water and sewerage and is worth up to $750 per year. You are eligible if you hold a pensioner concession card or low-income healthcare card from Centrelink, an ACT service access card, or one of a number of veterans’ cards. Commonwealth seniors health card holders are not eligible.
Eligible residents of ACT caravan parks and retirement villages with embedded electricity networks can also get the concession, but it’s paid to you directly instead of being discounted on your bill.
How do I get it? Contact your energy provider. If you’re a caravan park or retirement village resident, you’ll need to contact the ACT Revenue Office instead. Details are on the Revenue ACT website along with a list of energy providers, contact details, sign-up forms and more information.
Victoria
Am I eligible and what for? The annual electricity concession reduces usage and service costs of household bills by 17.5% after the first $171.60 of the annual bill. The winter gas concession is available from 1 May to 31 October each year, and reduces usage and service costs of household bills by 17.5% after the first $62.40 accrued over that six-month period. Holders of a pensioner concession card, healthcare card or veterans’ affairs gold card are eligible for both schemes.
How do I get it? Call your electricity or gas retailer and give your concession card details over the phone. Check the rebate has been applied to your next bill.
Queensland
Am I eligible and what for? The electricity rebate is worth $372.20 per year, and holders of a Queensland seniors card, pensioner concession card, low-income healthcare card, veterans’ gold card, and asylum seekers holding an ImmiCard are eligible. Many of these cardholders are also be eligible for the reticulated natural gas rebate of $80.77. Check the full list of criteria and eligible cardholders to be sure.
How do I get it? The process is different depending on your energy set-up. For the gas rebate, you’ll need to contact your provider and give them some information about your bills and concession details. For electricity, it depends on whether you hold the account directly, or if you live in an apartment, residential park or other kind of dwelling and someone else sends your bill to you. Check the details on the Queensland government website. For contact details of energy providers, check the listings on the Queensland energy and water ombudsman’s website.
South Australia
Am I eligible and what for? The energy bill concession is available to people who hold a pensioner concession card, a veterans’ gold card, a low-income healthcare card or a commonwealth seniors health card. Some asylum seekers and many people receiving one of a number of Centrelink payments are eligible, including youth allowance and jobseeker.
The concession is worth up to $241.63 a year and can also cover fuels used to generate energy, such as bottled gas and petrol. It’s calculated as a flat rate per day.
How do I get it? Apply through the ConcessionsSA website.
Tasmania
Am I eligible and what for? The Tasmanian government’s annual electricity concession gives eligible residents a discount calculated on a cents-per-day rate, which is 157.460 cents per day at the time of writing. Holders of a pensioner concession card, a low-income healthcare card, an ImmiCard on bridging visa E or a Tasmanian concession card are eligible for the discount on their primary place of residence.
How do I get it? You need to fill out a form provided by the Tasmanian government, and send that form to your electricity provider, who will assess your application.
Western Australia
Am I eligible and what for? The energy concession extension scheme is an annual payment, made up of one or more sub-payments, some of which are worth more than $300, to assist with electricity costs for holders of a pensioner concession card, healthcare card, commonwealth seniors health card or veterans’ gold card. The household electricity credit is a $400 payment for eligible people whose electricity is billed to them by a third party.
How do I get it? Apply on the WA government website or call your electricity provider directly.
Northern Territory
Am I eligible and what for? An electricity concession of up to $1,200 per household per financial year is available to members of the NT concession scheme. Concession scheme members can also get a concession of up to $800 a year for water and $486.12 a year for sewerage.
How do I get it? Apply through the forms and prompts on the NT government concessions website or call your provider and ask them to talk you through it.
