Energy concessions and relief grants

The Government provides a range of energy concessions and relief grants to low income people for electricity, gas and LPG to assist with energy affordability. If people are going without other essentials such as food and appropriate heating and cooling, this is a sign of experiencing energy stress or what is referred to ‘hardship’.

Utility Relief Grant Scheme

The Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS) is available to assist low-income Victorian households who are unable to pay their mains electricity, gas or water bill without assistance, and are at risk of disconnection due to a temporary financial crisis. An eligible person or household can apply multiple times in a two-year period up to a maximum of $650 on each utility account and up to a maximum of $1300 for single source households (e.g. Electricity only).

To receive this assistance, you must be the named account holder in your household and:

• hold a current Centrelink issued concession card (Pensioner Card / Health Care Card / DVA Gold Card) or
• be on a low income in line with Centrelink benefits.

You must also have experienced:

• a substantial decrease in your household income (e.g. loss / reduction of employment, family separation) or
• unexpected expenses for essential items (e.g. car repairs, replaced / repaired a fridge) or
• cost of housing is 30% or more of your fortnightly combined household income (private rental or mortgage)

Read more on the Utility Relief Grant Scheme and how to get help on paying your bills.

Non-mains Utility Grant Scheme

The Utility Grant Scheme (non-mains) can help you with paying for non-mains energy or water bills. This includes things such as:

• liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
• diesel or petrol for a generator
• firewood
• metered electricity from an embedded network
• heating oil.

The amount you can receive is based on the amount you owe. It is capped at $650 or six months’ worth of use. More information and eligibility criteria can be found online.

To apply for either of the Utility Grant Schemes, call the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521.

Energy concessions

The Victorian Government offers a variety of concessions and benefits to eligible cardholders to assist low-income Victorians with energy bills. If you have a relevant concession card, you may be eligible for one of these concessions:

• Annual electricity concession – you must provide your concession card details to your electricity retailer in order to receive the annual electricity concession
• Excess electricity concession – find out what you can do when your annual electricity costs are more than you expected
• Excess gas concession – if your winter gas bill more than you expected, you may be able to claim a concession if you have a relevant concession card
• Life support concession – if you are a concession card holder using a life support machine at home you could be eligible for concessions on your electricity and water bills
• Medical cooling concession – to receive a concession on electricity bills related to medically-required cooling, your medical condition must be confirmed by your doctor
• Non-mains energy concession – concession card holders who source non-mains energy for their heating, cooking and hot water can apply for a concession to help cover their yearly energy costs
• Winter gas concession – discounts on gas bills are available for eligible concession cardholders to help ease the cost of living during the winter months.

Solar Homes package

Solar Victoria is continuing with its Solar Homes package which is meant to help Victorians reduce their energy bills in a sustainable manner with the aid of solar panels, solar hot water heaters and solar batteries. The program is targeting 770,000 homes over the next 10 years.

There is a substantial solar panel rebate available, interest-free loans for solar PV, solar battery rebate and solar for rental properties, visit Solar Victoria for more information.

A word of warning: if you are considering getting solar – get professional advice – not just a salesperson

Victoria’s solar rebate scheme has been capped to about 3000 homes a month from 1^st of July, in a revamped, first-in best-dressed system that will also be available to renters for the first time. Each month, a total of 3333 rebates for rooftop solar panels will be available through an online portal for homeowners, while 166 will be available for landlords and renters. Once those subsidies are exhausted, homeowners and renters will have to wait until the next month to apply for a rebate.

The rebate amount and conditions will remain the same until December 31 this year – up to $2225 is available to households with a combined income of below $180,000. The maximum rebate amount will drop to $1888 from January 1, and again to $1850 for the 2020-21 financial year. The rollout from July 1 will cover close to 40,000 rooftop solar systems over the next year. In addition, 2000 rebates will be available for solar panels on rental properties over the year, 6000 for solar hot water systems and 1000 for solar battery systems.