Energy Rebates For Seniors

As the cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, rebates and concessions have become essential for alleviating the financial burden of energy bills, especially for seniors. There are several gas and electricity rebates available for seniors across the different states and territories in Australia.

As the cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, rebates and concessions have become essential for alleviating the financial burden of energy bills, especially for seniors. There are several gas and electricity rebates available for seniors across the different states and territories in Australia.

Who is Eligible for Seniors Energy Rebates and Concessions?

Senior citizens in Australia can access energy rebates and concessions if they possess any of the following concession cards:

• Pensioner Concession Card

• Health Care Card

• Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (DVA)

• State-issued or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

Do Seniors Receive Discounts on Electricity and Gas?

There are numerous rebates and concessions designed to provide electricity discounts for seniors, as well as assistance with gas bills. Below are some of the gas and electricity rebates available for seniors in different states, accurate as of December 2023.

Australian Capital Territory:

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) offers electricity rebates and programs that can be beneficial for seniors facing challenges in paying their power bills. Here are the concessions available in the ACT:

• Home Energy Support Program (up to $5,000 for rooftop solar panels and other upgrades)

• ACT Utilities Concession: The ACT Utilities Concession covers electricity, natural gas, water, and sewerage for pensioner and low-income households in the ACT. It provides an annual concession of $750. Additionally, a $50 one-off bonus payment is available on this concession for the 2023-2024 financial year.

New South Wales:

New South Wales has the following energy rebates that may apply for seniors:

• Family Energy Rebate (up to $180 per year)

• Gas Rebate (up to $110 per year)

• Life Support Rebate (up to $1,343 per year)

• Medical Energy Rebate (up to $285 per year)

• Seniors Energy Rebate (up to $200 per year)

• Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme (up to $500 per year)

• NSW Pensioner and Low-Income Household Rebate: The Low Income Household Rebate is specifically aimed at assisting pensioners, seniors, veterans, and households facing challenges in managing their electricity bills. Eligible NSW residents can receive an annual payment of $285 through this concession. You must be a residential electricity customer or resident of a supplied scheme, with the account in your name, to qualify.

Northern Territory:

The Northern Territory has a limited number of electricity concessions compared to other regions. However, seniors in the north still have access to the following energy rebates:

• Electricity Concession (up to $1200 per year)

• Medical Support Allowance (up to $154 per year)

The NT Electricity Concession is available to eligible households across the state, with different payment amounts as per their specific needs. 

Important Note: Residents may need to be enrolled in the NT Concession Scheme to qualify for certain rebates and allowances.

South Australia:

South Australia provides various energy rebates, similar to other states, which may benefit seniors. Below are the energy concessions available in SA:

• Energy Bill Concession (up to $500 per year)

• Medical Heating and Cooling Concession (up to $263.15 for electricity and gas)

• Cost of Living Concession (Up to $243.90; about half of this if you receive other seniors discounts, and/or rent your home.)

• SA Energy Concession Discount Offer (17% off electricity charges, and 11% off gas).

• Home Dialysis Electricity Concession ($165 per year)

• SA Pensioner and Low-income Earner Energy Pension: This comprehensive rebate for pensioners, seniors, veterans, and low-income earners provides a $263.15 rebate to cover both electricity and gas. If you have both electricity and gas, the rebate amount remains at $263.15.

Queensland:

Queensland offers several electricity and gas rebates to residential customers through the state government:

• Cost of Living Rebate (up to $700)

• Emergency Life Support ($975.60 per year)

• Medical Rebate (up to $479.03 per year)

• QLD Pensioner Electricity and Gas Rebate ($372.20 for electricity and $86.75 for gas per year).

The Queensland government provides an annual payment to seniors, pensioners, and veterans. This payment includes a substantial pensioner electricity rebate for eligible customers holding a Pensioner Concession Card, Queensland Seniors Card, Department of Veterans Affairs Card, or asylum seeker status. There’s also relief for your gas bill.

Important Note: Seniors’ eligibility for the gas rebate may vary depending on the cardholder's status.

Tasmania:

In Tasmania, there are several rebates available to assist vulnerable seniors in covering their electricity and gas expenses, particularly those related to heating. These rebates include:

• Heating Allowance (up to $56 per year)

• Life Support Concession (varies from 45.35 cents to 240.845 cents, dispensing on the devices required.)

• Medical Heating or Cooling Concession (51.648 cents per day)

• Annual Electricity Concession: This Concession offers eligible Tasmanian seniors a daily discount to help alleviate the expenses associated with their household electricity usage. The current concession is 172.434 cents per day.

Victoria:

Victoria has several electricity and gas rebates available for seniors. These rebates cover a percentage of your annual bill, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars. However, if your electricity usage exceeds $3,563, you may need to apply for the Excess Electricity Concession to maintain the government discount. Victoria's rebates include:

• Annual Electricity Concession (17.5% off your total bill after discounts and credits).

• Excess Electricity Concession (17.5% off your total bill after discounts and credits).

• Non-Mains Energy Concession (between $59-$619 per year, depending on your energy source, and your billing amount).

• Excess Gas Concession (17.5% off your total bill after discounts and credits).

• Medical Cooling Concession (17.5% off your total bill after discounts and credits).

• Life Support Concession (1,880 kWh worth of electricity per year and 168 kilolitres of water each year, though there are tight restrictions on the devices to which this applies).

• Winter Gas Concession (17.5% off your total bill after discounts and credits).

• VIC Pensioner and Low-Income Earner Electricity Rebate: This rebate is specifically designed for Victorian pensioners, seniors, veterans, and low-income earners. It offers concession cardholders an annual rebate on electricity, equivalent to 17.5% of their bill. Please note that this rebate does not apply to the first $171.60 of the annual bill.

Western Australia:

Western Australia provides several rebates aimed at assisting vulnerable households with their electricity and gas expenses. These include:

• Energy Assistance Payment ($326.33 per year)

• Air Conditioning Rebate ($68.43 per eligible month)

• Household Electricity Credit: This is accessible to all households in Western Australia, valued at $400. However, certain households may qualify for an additional amount.

How to Claim Senior Energy Rebates and Concessions:

Typically, you can contact your energy retailer to apply for your eligible rebates and concessions after verification. Simply ask your provider for your pensioner electricity rebate. You may need to fill out an application form, and the rebates will either be applied to your energy bills or deposited into your bank account.

While energy concessions and rebates offer significant savings, it's essential to explore other ways to reduce energy costs. By comparing energy deals from various providers, you can find better value plans to suit your household.

SOURCES:

Victoria State Government. Concessions and rebates: Energy. March 2023. 

New South Wales Government. Apply for the Seniors Energy Rebate. August 2022. 

New South Wales Government. Concessions, rebates and assistance. February 2023. 

Queensland Government. Electricity and gas rebates. July 2022. 

Government of South Australia. Energy bill concessions. March 2023. 

Government of Western Australia. Apply for an energy concession. January 2023.

Tasmanian Government. Discounts and concessions: Electricity. March 2023.

ACT Government. Utilities Concession. March 2023.

ACT Government. Life Support Rebate. 2023.

Northern Territory Government. Concessions and payments. March 2023.

 Energy.gov - energy rebate seniors

Minister.Infrastructure - Energy Bill Relief Rolling out - Norfolk Island Retirement Essentials - Seniors Energy Rebate

Energy.gov - seniors energy offers

https://www.energytrade.com.au/government-rebates/

Concessions.tas - electricity

Paul Coughran is the General Manager of Emerging Verticals at Compare Club. Paul has over 20 years of experience across a wide range of industries including Banking and Finance, Telecommunications and Energy. Paul leads a team of trusted experts dedicated to helping individuals make informed decisions about their insurance and utilities needs.

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