Are you eligible for government rebates and assistance?

First up, there’s the Energy Bill Relief Fund. A collaborative effort between the Australian Government and state administrations, it offers support for eligible households struggling with energy expenses. The fund’s been in place since 1 July 2023.

How much you’re eligible for and how often you can receive assistance depends on your location. Check out the state-specific information below.

Energy Bill Relief Fund: NSW households and eligible small businesses can get a one-off relief payment of up to $500 in the 2023–24 financial year if they already receive a NSW energy rebate, or hold an eligible Commonwealth concession card or payment. Each household receives a single bill-relief credit per financial year, regardless of how many people live in your home.

NSW Climate and Energy Action rebates: Eligible NSW residents – usually concession card holders – can access a range of energy bill rebates. These include:

• Low Income Household Rebate
• Gas Rebate
• Family Energy Rebate
• Life Support Rebate
• Medical Energy Rebate
• Seniors Energy Rebate

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme: If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, this scheme provides a payment of one or more $50 vouchers, sent directly to your retailer. Unfortunately, Alinta Energy can’t apply for this scheme on your behalf — you’ll need to apply via a community organisation, like the Salvation Army, a financial counsellor or Service NSW.

Energy Saving Upgrades: Looking to save money by switching to energy-efficient appliances? The NSW government has upgrade schemes for lighting, air conditioners, hot water systems and pool pumps.

Energy Bill Relief Fund: Eligible households who receive the Queensland Electricity Rebate automatically get a $700 Cost of Living Rebate on their electricity bill in 2023–24. All other Queensland households get a $550 Cost of Living Rebate on their electricity bill for the same period.

Queensland Electricity and Gas Rebates: Pensioners and seniors in Queensland may be eligible for an electricity rebate of $372.20 per year, and a natural gas rebate of $86.75.

Queensland Savers concessions: The Queensland government also provides these energy-related concessions:

• Electricity Life Support Concession
• Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession

Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme: This program provides up to $720 of one-off emergency assistance to low-income households who are struggling to pay their energy bill. You can apply for the scheme once every two years.

Energy Bill Relief Fund: Eligible South Australian households can get up to $500 in bill relief (applied to your bills at $125 per quarter) if they already get the South Australian Energy Concession or hold an eligible concession card or allowance. The relief is only available to the electricity account holder at their main residence.

South Australian Energy Concession: South Australians on low or fixed incomes can apply to get up to $263.15 per year to help with the cost of energy.

• Department of Human Services Energy concessions: You may also be eligible for a Medical Heating and Cooling Concession, if you are on a fixed or low income and have a clinically verified medical condition

Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme (EEPS): Accessed via a financial counsellor, this one-off payment can be accessed once every three years, and helps people who are struggling financially to pay their electricity bill.

Energy Bill Relief Fund: Victorian households can get $250 in bill relief if they hold an eligible concession or receive a specified payment. The relief is only available to the electricity account holder at their main residence. 

Energy Assistance Program: If you’ve hit a rough patch, this program offers free one-on-one support. Access grants and concessions, manage your bills, find cost-saving options and receive tailored advice. If you’re a low-income earner with a concession card or are finding it hard to pay bills, it’s worth checking out.

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing concessions: Discover different energy concessions and how you can access them. You might be eligible for:

• Annual Electricity Concession
• Excess Electricity Concession
• Excess Gas Concession
• Life Support Concession
• Medical Cooling Concession
• Non-Mains Energy Concession
• Winter Gas Concession

Utility Relief Grant Schemes: These grants help eligible Victorians who are facing financial hardship to pay an overdue bill. With this scheme, you can receive up to $650 on each utility every two years.

Victorian Energy Upgrades: Boost your home’s energy efficiency – and save money in the process – with this upgrade scheme, which offers discounts for the installation of eligible appliances including clothes dryers, fridges and freezers, heating and cooling, hot water systems, in-home displays, lighting and pool pumps.

Energy Bill Relief Fund: West Australian households eligible for the WA Energy Concession Extension Scheme can qualify for up to $500 in bill relief. All other households can get up to $400 in bill relief. The relief is only available to the electricity account holder at their main residence. 

Energy Concession Extension Scheme: Eligible concession-card holders can access the Energy Assistance Payment ($326.33), Dependent Child Rebate ($343.14 for one child; $89.91 for each additional child), and Air Conditioning Rebate ($68.34 per month).

You can also take matters into your own hands by finding a more cost-effective energy plan.

Energy Made Easy is an initiative from the Federal Government that lets you compare different energy companies and choose the most suitable plan – tailored to your specific needs – at no cost. It’s available to people in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Victorians aren’t covered by Energy Made Easy, but they’ve got a state-specific equivalent: the Victorian Energy Compare website. It provides a quick – and free – energy-price comparison.