Victoria energy concessions and rebates explained

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If you’re a Victorian resident, you may be eligible for a range of electricity and gas rebates and concessions to help cut your power bills. In this article, Canstar Blue lists current energy rebates in Victoria, and how to access them.

Energy concessions and benefits in Victoria

Victorians may be eligible for the different electricity and gas rebates provided by the Victorian Government. Pensioners, seniors, low-income households, sick or vulnerable people and asylum seekers are among those who may qualify for energy rebates in Victoria.

Annual Electricity Concession

The Annual Electricity Concession is designed to give pensioners, veterans or concession card holders a discount on their energy bill in relation to their yearly power bill.

• Concession amount: 17.5% of electricity usage and service costs.
• Eligibility: To be eligible, the electricity account holder must hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card. Customers with very high power bills (more than $3,563 annually) are not eligible for this concession. This concession does not apply to the first $171.60 of the annual bill.
• Applied to: Electricity bills.
• How to apply: Applicants need to contact their electricity provider directly.

Note: Have concession card and energy account details ready.

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Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

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Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. Costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Excess Electricity Concession

The Excess Electricity Concession is for financially vulnerable Australians with unusually high energy bills for reasons other than medical.

• Concession amount: 17.5% of electricity usage and service costs.
• Eligibility: This concession is suitable for households with energy bills that exceed $3,563 annually. Customers must have either a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.
• Applied to: Electricity bills.
• How to apply: Applicants need to contact their energy retailer and request an Excess Electricity Concession Application Form.

Winter Gas Concession

Over the course of winter (May 1 to October 31), the Victorian Government provides concession card holders with an extra discount on their gas bills.

• Concession amount: 17.5% of gas usage and service costs.
• Eligibility: A gas account holder with a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card will be eligible for this at their residential address.
  Note: this concession does not apply to the first $62.40 of the six-month winter period bills
• Applied to: Gas bills.
• How to apply: Applicants need to contact their natural gas supplier over the phone, or submit the application online. Customers will receive the Winter Gas Concession on their next bill after the gas provider verifies concession card details with Centrelink.

Excess Gas Concession

Financially vulnerable households with particularly high gas usage could be eligible for a concession on their gas bills.

• Concession amount: 17.5% of gas usage and service costs.
• Eligibility: Concession card holders with gas bills above $2,067 between May 1 and October 31 should apply for this concession. Pensioner Concession, Health Care and Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card holders are also eligible.
• Applied to: Gas bills.
• How to apply: The applicant’s retailer should send an application form for the Excess Gas Concession once they’ve been alerted of a customer’s eligibility. Applicants need to fill out the application and mail it back to the address listed.

Life Support Concession

The Life Support Concession is for homes with at least one member requiring the use of a life support machine, making them eligible for assistance with their electricity bills.

• Concession amount: The cost of 1,880 kWh of electricity per year, or 470 kilowatt hours per quarter, at the chosen retailer’s rate. For water, it is the cost of 168 kilolitres each year, or 42 kL per quarter.
• Eligibility: Applicants must hold an eligible concession card and either use a life support machine or live with someone in need of one.
  Machines must use more than 1,880kWh/year, such as dialysis machines or oxygen concentrators.
• Applied to: Electricity and/or water bills.
• How to apply: Receive an application form through your electricity retailer or hospital supplying the life support machine. Obtain a signature by a doctor or nurse to confirm usage of the life support machine. Send the form directly to the electricity retailer once application is completed.

Medical Cooling Concession

Certain medical conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Lymphoedema, inhibit people from self-regulating body temperature. The Victorian Government provides concession card holders suffering with body temperature issues with an electricity bill concession.

• Concession amount: 17.5% of electricity usage and service costs between November 1 and April 30.
• Eligibility: Applicants must hold a Concession, Health Care or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card. They or someone in their household must have a medical condition that affects their ability to self-regulate body temperature.
• Applied to: Electricity bills.
• How to apply: Applicants can contact their electricity company or the Concessions Information Line for a Medical Cooling Concession application. The application needs to be filled out by the applicant, then signed by a health professional. The form should be sent directly to the electricity retailer once completed.

Non-mains Energy Concession

Concession card holders could be eligible for a concession on non-mains energy supply for heating, cooking or hot water.

• Concession amount: Varies according to your spending, between $55 and $619.
• Eligibility: Applicants must hold a Pensioner Concession, Health Care or Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.
• Applied to: LPG bills, embedded network electricity or heating costs through firewood, heating oil or generator fuel.
• How to apply: Applicants can call the Victorian Concessions Information Line and ask for an application form.

Note: Applications close on December 31 for the following year’s bills.

Utility Relief Grant Scheme

The Utility Relief Grant Scheme is available for Victorian households needing assistance to pay an overdue mains electricity, gas or water bill.

• Concession amount: Up to $650 for each utility type in a two-year period, or $1,300 over two years for households using a single source of energy (electricity only).
• Eligibility: The applicant must prove inability to pay the bill while also having one of the following: an unexpectedly high cost for essential items, someone at the applicant’s property who has experienced domestic violence, a recent drop in income or the cost of rent/mortgage is over 30% of the applicant’s income.
• Applied to: Electricity bills.
• How to apply: Applicants need to contact their energy provider.

Utility Relief Grant Scheme (Non-mains)

The Victorian Government has made the Utility Relief Grant Scheme (Non-mains) available for Victorian households with very low incomes facing unexpected financial hardships. This scheme applies to non-mains energy or water bills, such as LPG, diesel and petrol, metered electricity or carted water.

• Concession amount: Up to $650 in a two-year period, for each type of utility.
• Eligibility: The applicant must prove inability to pay the bill while also having one of the following: an unexpectedly high cost for essential items, someone at the applicant’s property who has experienced domestic violence, a recent drop in income or the cost of rent/mortgage over 30% of the applicant’s income.
• Applied to: Electricity bills.
• How to apply: Applicants can phone Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521.

Victorian energy concessions that are no longer available

There are several previously available rebates and concessions that have now been withdrawn, including:

• Service to Property Charge Concession
• Electricity Transfer Fee Waiver
• Controlled Load Electricity Concession

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