Quarter of a million Queenslanders missing energy rebates: Are you one of them?

A quarter of a million vulnerable Queenslanders could be missing out on more than $1K in energy bill help, according to the state government, as households begin to weather the impacts of the recent 21.5% default price increase.

An estimated 270,000 Queenslanders are believed to have not taken up the extended power bill rebate offered by the state government from July 1. This rebate offered an additional $700 towards electricity bills for customers also receiving the standard electricity rebate worth $372.

The rebate for vulnerable households coincides with a $550 power bill credit being awarded to all Queensland households in the coming billing cycles.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni urged households to check their eligibility as soon as possible to ensure they aren’t missing out on a potential $1,072 of bill help.

“The Palaszczuk Government is proud of the support we are providing to vulnerable households, and we don’t want anyone who is eligible to miss out,” he said in a statement. “If your Mum, Dad, grandparent, neighbour or friend could be eligible, check in to see if they are aware of what they could be claiming.

“It’s as simple as calling your energy provider and registering your seniors, veterans or concessions card to your account.”

The largest portion of households believed to be missing out are those in Brisbane and surrounds, with 70,164 eligible customers estimated to not be receiving the rebate. This was followed by households on the Gold Coast (34,270), in Moreton Bay (24,078) and the Sunshine Coast (21,962).

According to the Queensland Government’s website, the state’s electricity rebate applies to customers who hold an eligible Pensioner Concession Card, Queensland Seniors Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card, Services Australia Health Care Card, or Asylum seeker status (ImmiCard details).

To apply for this rebate, customers will need to contact their energy provider directly and share their concession details.

The concerns follow significant default power price increases for households across New South Wales, Victoria, south-east Queensland and South Australia which came into effect on July 1.

Not eligible for QLD’s electricity rebate? See if you could be eligible for one of the state’s other concessions with Canstar Blue’s QLD power concession guide.

Are Aussie households struggling to pay their power bills?

The increases to energy bill help, as seen with the QLD Government’s extended power bill rebate, suggest that some households may be feeling the pinch of rising power prices on their back pocket.

According to a recent report from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), the number of households to enter an electricity hardship program had grown by 19% in the March 2023 quarter, in comparison to the previous quarter. The number of residential customers on a payment plan had also grown by 8% during the same period.

While the AER did note that the amount of debt upon entry into an energy hardship program had decreased 28% and the average energy debt had fallen – now sitting at $999 as of March 2023 – the total number of customers with energy debt had still taken a turn, increasing by 13.7% since the previous quarter.

The AER looks at energy market data relevant to customers across NSW, SEQ, SA and Tasmania.

In Victoria, this data is measured by the Essential Services Commission (ESC), which found a similar outcome in its own reporting for the same time period.

According to the ESC’s report, 67,413 Victorian households had accessed electricity bill assistance as of March 2023. This was the highest recorded number of electricity bill assistance since 2019 – the same year the Victorian Default Offer (VDO) was introduced.

A further 55,415 Victorian natural gas customers accessed bill assistance as of March 2023.

ESC Chairperson and Commissioner Kate Symons said rising energy prices were the driving force behind bill assistance increases.

“We understand that rising energy prices increase the burden on consumers, particularly during this cost-of-living crisis,” she said. “There are a range of options available for consumers, including payment plans and concessions, rebates, and utility relief grants.

“We expect retailers to engage with customers who may be experiencing hardship, and we also encourage consumers to contact their retailer early if they need assistance.”

Additional data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released at the same time as both the AER and ESC’s reports suggested that market offer electricity prices – which more than 85% of customers currently access – had spiked between 12% and 25% from April 2022 to March 2023, depending on location.

The biggest price hikes were faced in NSW, where the ACCC noted a $370 increase to the median annual electricity bill for a single rate tariff customer. This was followed by QLD with a $313 jump, SA with a $310 hike and finally Victoria with just a $137 difference.

Canstar Blue Utilities Editor Tara Donnelly reminded customers to remain vigilant in market, for the price pain was far from over.

“Consumers have been weathering pricing volatility in the energy market for more than a year now, for both default and market offers,” she said. “But the power price pain is far from over. With July 1 price hikes now in effect, it’s only a matter of time before fresh bill shock will roll in for a number of households.

“To minimise the blow, it may pay for consumers to start comparing offers sooner rather than later. Alternatively, those customers who are struggling to pay their bills may find it helpful to apply for an energy concession or energy hardship with their retailer.”

To see if you are eligible for an energy rebate or concession in your area, it is best to visit your state or territory government’s website.

Don’t let power price increases get the best of you. See if you could be paying less with one of these cheap deals now

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