The Australian government recently announced a $500 energy bill relief payment for eligible households in a bid to ease the financial burden on Australians struggling with high power bills. However, eligibility for this payment varies depending on where you live, as different states have their own criteria.
The payment was introduced as part of the federal budget 2023-2024, which was unveiled on Tuesday, May 9th. It is aimed at supporting Australians struggling to pay their energy bills due to rising energy costs. With the increasing cost of living, particularly in relation to housing, energy bills have become a major concern for many households across the country.
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Quotes attributable to the Treasurer, Hon Jim Chalmers
“Back in November, gas bills were set to go up by 20 per cent in 2023–24 – and electricity bills were set to rise by 36 per cent.
“This was the high price Australians were slated to pay for the Russian invasion of Ukraine – and a decade of energy policy failure here at home.
“We are delivering up to $3 billion in direct energy bill relief for eligible households and small businesses, co‑funded with the states.
“More than 5 million households will have up to $500 deducted from their power bills in the next financial year.
“A big part of making sure that energy bills are more affordable into the future is improving the energy efficiency of Australian homes – and not just new builds.”
Household energy bill relief
The $500 energy bill relief payment is a welcome relief for eligible households across Australia. However, it is important to note that the $500 energy bill relief payment is a one-off payment, eligibility criteria vary depending on where you live and it is not an ongoing support program.
To be eligible for the payment, households must meet certain criteria. To get bill relief, households must hold the eligible cards or be in receipt of eligible payments in the state or territory they live in.
To get the energy bill payment, households are not required to do anything right now. In most situations, your electricity provider will automatically apply bill relief to your account, reducing the amount you owe on your next payment. Where you reside determines how and when this occurs. Each state and territory may handle things differently.
| State&Territory | Rebate | Eligible cards and payments | When will you get energy bill relief on your electricity bills |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | $175 per eligible household; also be lower owing to the ACT’s Large-scale Feed-in Tariff Scheme, which will lower the average bill by $152 | ACT Utilities Concession scheme ▪ACT Services Access Card ▪Low-Income Health Care Card ▪Pensioner Concession Card ▪PoW, TPI, and War Widow DVA Gold Cards. DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪all other DVA Gold Cards ▪Carer Allowance ▪Commonwealth Seniors Health Card ▪Family Tax Benefit ▪Health Care Card | Quarterly in the 2023-24 financial year |
| NSW | $500 per eligible household | NSW Electricity concession rebates and assistance schemes ▪Commonwealth Seniors Health Card ▪Family Tax Benefit ▪Health Care Card ▪Pensioner Concession Card ▪Recipients of Life Support Rebate ▪Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold Cards marked with either ‘War Widow’ or ‘War Widower Pension’ or ‘Totally and Permanently Incapacitated’ (TPI) or ‘Disability Pension’ (EDA) DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪all other DVA Gold Cards ▪Carer Allowance ▪Low Income Health Care Card | Quarterly in the 2023-24 financial year |
| NT | $350 per eligible household | NT Electricity concession scheme ▪DVA Commonwealth ▪Seniors Health Card ▪DVA Orange Card ▪DVA Pensioner Concession Card ▪Parenting Payment single ▪Pensioner Concession Card if you get Age Pension or Disability Support Pension ▪TPI, and War Widow DVA Gold Cards DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪all other DVA Gold Cards ▪Carer Allowance ▪Commonwealth Seniors Health Card ▪Family Tax Benefit ▪Health Care Card ▪Indigenous Essential Services ▪Low Income Health Care Card | Quarterly in the 2023-24 financial year |
| QLD | $500 per eligible household | QLD Electricity concession scheme ▪Health Care Card ▪Immicard ▪Low Income Health Care Card ▪Pensioner Concession Card ▪QLD Seniors Card ▪TPI and War Widow DVA Gold Cards DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪all other DVA Gold Cards ▪Carer Allowance ▪Commonwealth Seniors Health Card ▪Family Tax Benefit | Quarterly in the 2023-24 financial year |
| South Australia | $500 per eligible household | SA Electricity concession scheme ▪ABSTUDY ▪Austudy ▪Commonwealth Seniors Health Card ▪Community Development Program ▪Farm Household Allowance ▪Asylum seekers ▪JobSeeker Payment ▪Low Income Health Care Card ▪New Enterprise Incentive Scheme ▪Parenting Payment ▪Partner Allowance ▪Pensioner Concession Card ▪Special Benefit ▪TPI, EDA, War Widow and 80 OIP DVA Gold Cards ▪War widow pension under legislation of the United Kingdom or New Zealand ▪Widow Allowance ▪Youth Allowance DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪all other DVA Gold Cards ▪Carer Allowance ▪Family Tax Benefit ▪Health Care Card | Quarterly in the 2023-24 financial year |
| Tasmania | $500 per eligible household | TAS Electricity concession scheme ▪Health Care Cards ▪ImmiCard ▪Pensioner Concession Card DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪Carer Allowance ▪Commonwealth ▪Seniors Health Card ▪DVA Gold Cards ▪Family Tax Benefit ▪Low Income Health Care Card | September and June quarters of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years |
| Victoria | $250 annual energy rebate on power bills, in addition to the $250 Power Saving Bonus, providing $500 worth of bill relief in total | Victorian Electricity concession scheme ▪DVA Gold Cards ▪Health Care Card ▪Low Income Health Care Card ▪Pensioner Concession Card DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪Carer Allowance ▪Commonwealth ▪Seniors Health Card ▪Family Tax Benefit | Instalments in 2023-24 |
| Western Australia | $350 per eligible household | WA Electricity concession scheme ▪Commonwealth ▪Seniors Health Card Health Care Cards (including Low Income Health Care Card) ▪Pensioner Concession Card ▪DVA Gold Cards DVA will be contacted eligible households in July or Services Australia in September to tell you what you need to do ▪Carer Allowance ▪Family Tax Benefits | July and December 2023 |
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Small businesses energy bill relief
To be eligible for the Energy Bill Relief Fund, small businesses must meet certain criteria. To be eligible, your business must be on a separately metered business tariff with your electricity retailer. Your business’s annual electricity consumption must be less than the threshold for your state or territory.
If you run your small business from home, you are not generally eligible for small business bill relief. Small businesses in embedded networks will not be eligible for the small business bill relief for the ACT and Victoria.
If your small business is in the ACT, your business will benefit from lower electricity charges flowing from the ACT’s Large-scale Feed-in Tariff Scheme. If your business has average electricity use, it will receive a reduction in electricity charges of $624. Your business will also receive a $325 rebate.
If you are eligible, you don’t need to do anything. You will receive bill relief on your electricity bills from 1 July 2023.
| State&Territory | Rebate | Energy consumption threshold |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | $325 rebate | 100MWh |
| NSW | $650 rebate | 100MWh |
| NT | $650 rebate | 160MWh |
| QLD | $650 rebate | 100MWh |
| South Australia | $650 rebate | 160MWh |
| Tasmania | a total bill credit of $650 for 2023-24 | 150MWh |
| Victoria | $325 rebate | 40MWh |
| Western Australia | $650 rebate | 50MWh |
Addressing the cost of living
The energy price relief plan announced in the Federal Budget 2023 is a significant initiative that will provide billions of dollars in relief to eligible households and businesses struggling with high power bills. While some have criticised the plan for not going far enough, it represents an important step towards addressing the cost of living in Australia and supporting economic recovery. The plan has been welcomed by consumer groups and business organisations alike and will provide much-needed relief to millions of Australians.
Source&Image: Australian Government-Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 9news video, Jim Chalmer MP Twitter
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