Assistance with electricity,
water and gas bills
If you hold a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) a Health Care Card (HCC), A Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card (except those specifying Dependant), a DVA Gold Card specifying War Widow, or a DVA Card specifying TPA you may be eligible for the following concessions from the Victorian State Government.
Utility Relief Grants
The Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS) and the Non-Mains Utility Relief Grant Scheme provide once–off assistance for domestic customers who are unable to pay their utility bills due to a temporary financial crisis.
If you cannot pay your electricity, gas or water bill, call your utility company as soon as possible and let them know of your problem. You may be able to arrange to pay the bill in instalments or use the Easy-Way payment plan.
The Utility Relief Grant Scheme may be able to assist in certain circumstances where there is no other way to pay your bill and you are at risk of disconnection.
If you use bottled gas the Non-Mains Utility Relief Grant Scheme may be able to assist in certain circumstances where there is no other way of paying your gas bill and you risk non-supply of further gas bottles.
Eligibility Criteria: PCC or HCC. You need to demonstrate that unexpected hardship has left you without the money to pay and that you risk disconnection or non-supply.
How to apply: Application forms are available from your electricity, water or gas retailers or LP Gas supplier. Send the completed form to:
Utility Relief Grant Scheme
Department of Human Services
PO Box 4057
Melbourne 3001
For further information contact:
Utility Relief Scheme 1800 658 521
Non-Mains Utility Relief Scheme 1800 658 521
Winter Energy Concession
Concession: 17.5 per cent off mains electricity and mains gas bills between May and November.
Eligibility: PCC, HCC and GOLD Card holders
How to apply: Present your concession card when paying these bills or contact your electricity or gas retailer. PCC holders may register for the concession by contacting the electricity and/or gas retailer.
Non-Mains Winter Energy Concession
Concession: A rebate for people who use LP gas and/or who are individually metered for electricity but who pay a caravan park or accommodation proprietor, or for people who use an alternative fuel as their main domestic energy source (e.g. diesel or petrol for electricity generators, heating oil). The rebate is capped at $145 year.
Eligibility: PCC, HCC and GOLD Card holders
How to apply: Application forms are available from LP gas suppliers, local council or by contacting the Concessions Information Line. You must apply before 31 January for a rebate for the previous year.
Off-Peak Concession
Concession: 13 per cent reduction on the off-peak tariff rates on all quarterly electricity bills.
Eligibility: PCC, HCC and GOLD Card holders
How to apply: Present card when paying account or contact your electricity retailer.
Medical Cooling Concession (previously the Multiple Sclerosis Concession)
Concession: 17.5 per cent off electricity bills for the period between 1 November to 31 April for people with Multiple Sclerosis and other qualifying conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, scleroderma and lupus.
Eligibility: PCC, HCC and GOLD Card holders.
How to apply: Application forms are available from your electricity supplier, MS Society office or the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521
Life Support Concession
Concession: A quarterly rebate on electricity and water bills to card holders who use eligible life support machines such as an oxygen concentrator or haemodialysis machine, or where a member of the household uses such a machine.
Eligibility: PCC, HCC and GOLD Card holders.
How to apply: Applications from the hospital supplying the life support machine, your electricity retailer or by contacting the Concessions Information Line 1800 133 014. Contact your electricity or water retailer for details.
Service to Property Charge Concession
Concession: For households where the electricity usage charge is less than the supply charge (or service to property charge). The supply charge is reduced to the cost of electricity used.
Eligibility: PCC, HCC and GOLD Card holders.
How to apply: Present card when paying account or contact your electricity retailer.
Water and Sewerage Concessions
Concession: 50 per cent off water and sewerage charges up to a maximum of $150 in 2005/6 and then indexed annually. The maximum discount for 2008/09 is $189.70.
Eligibility: PCC, HCC and GOLD Card holders.
How to apply: Contact your water supplier to automatically deduct the concession or present your card when paying the bill.
Homewise: Appliance and Infrastructure Grants (previously the Capital Grant Scheme)
Homewise: Appliance and Infrastructure Grants provide assistance to eligible people by repairing or replacing essential water, gas and electrical appliances (including water and gas pipes) for households who otherwise could not afford to do so. This scheme also assists eligible households of five or more people to install ceiling insulation.
Homewise grants can be accessed once every five years or for 2 items simultaneously in a ten year period. For information regarding this scheme contact 1800 658 521
Hardship Relief Grant Scheme
The Hardship Relief Grant Scheme provides once-off assistance to eligible people experiencing financial hardship with the costs of connecting to a mains water and sewerage service. For information regarding this scheme contact 1800 658 521.
There are other concessions available and you may be eligible for them as well.
For further information about State and Commonwealth concessions contact the Concessions Information Line on: 1800 658 521
