Energy rebates for seniors

Senior concession cardholders in Victoria are eligible for the Annual Electricity Concession, a percentage rate discount off energy usage and supply costs, as well an additional Excess Electricity or Gas Concession, if your energy bills were above a specified amount. The Winter Gas Concession is a similar percentage-based discount for concession cardholders with a gas connection.¹

The VIC government also offers eligible seniors the following concessions:

• Medical Cooling Concession. A rebate for customers with medical conditions that affect their ability to regulate body temperature (e.g. Parkinson’s Disease).
• Life Support Concession. Available when the primary account holder or a permanent member of the family uses an eligible life support machine.
• Utility Relief Grant Scheme. Eligible low-income Victorians unable to pay overdue energy bills due to temporary hardship can be offered relief grants to assist with covering bills. The government sets maximum amounts per type of utility.

Victoria also offers an Energy Assistance Program to help people navigate the electricity market, including applying for concessions, understanding your bill, offering advice for saving on your energy bill and more.

Learn more about Victorian energy concessions and rebates.

Energy rebates for pensioners in New South Wales include:²

• The Seniors Energy Rebate. An electricity rebate available for independent retirees (i.e. self-funded retirees) who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). You can apply for the NSW Seniors Energy Rebate through the Service NSW’s website or visiting a service centre.
• Low-Income Household Rebate. This rebate may be available to you if you’re a senior but do not hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and have not claimed the Seniors Energy Rebate.
• Life Support Rebate. You may be eligible for this rebate if you or a member of your household requires approved life support equipment at home which has high energy consumption. This rebate can cover equipment such as dialysis machines or ventilators and is based on a daily rate and how often the equipment is used.
• Medical Energy Rebate. For eligible customers who can’t properly regulate their body temperature due to certain medical conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis).

The NSW Government also offers the Gas Rebate for concession cardholders using natural gas and or LPG, and the Family Energy Rebate. In addition, the NSW Government also offers a Pensioner Water Rebate for assistance with your water bills.³

Learn more about New South Wales energy concessions and rebates.

Eligible Queensland senior cardholders can benefit from the Electricity Rebate, an annual rebate to help cover the cost of electricity bills.⁴ In addition, there’s the Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate for customers with natural gas bills.

Other concessions Queensland seniors may be entitled to include:

• Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme. If you’re struggling to pay an energy bill due to financial issues, you may be eligible for a one-off payment.
• Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme. If you have a medical condition that affects your body temperature, you could be eligible for an annual concession to help with electricity bills.
• Electricity Life Support Concession. This concession can help cover the energy costs of using life support devices (e.g. kidney dialysis machines or oxygen concentrators).
• Cost of living rebate. The Queensland Government offers a concession to all eligible households to help with the cost of living by crediting eligible energy accounts.

Visit Queensland energy concessions for more information.

Seniors in South Australia on a low income may be eligible for Energy Bill Relief and the Cost of Living Concession to help pay their electricity and gas bills.⁵ The South Australian Government may offer other energy rebates for seniors, which include:

• Home Dialysis Electricity Concession. If you require a dialysis machine at home, the state government may offer an annual concession, provided your medical practitioner has confirmed your eligibility.
• Medical Heating and Cooling Concession. An electricity concession for eligible customers with physical ailments that require constant heating or cooling for their conditions.
• Home Dialysis Electricity Concession. If you have a kidney disease and need a dialysis machine for treatment at home, you may be able to get a concession on your electricity.
• Home Oxygen Therapy Rebate. A rebate for those requiring home-based, state-funded oxygen therapy using an oxygen concentrator.
• Residential Park Resident Concession. This concession can help seniors living in a caravan or residential park with energy, sewerage and water bills.
• Emergency Electricity Payment. This is an urgent payment towards your electricity bills if you’re in financial hardship.

Learn more about South Australian energy concessions and rebates.

Eligible seniors in Tasmania can take advantage of the state’s Heating Allowance, which is available to help with heating costs by providing a singular payment each financial year to help cover the cost of heating.⁷ Seniors may also qualify for the following:

• Annual Electricity Concession. An annual discount for eligible concession card holders on their electricity.
• Energy Bill Relief Fund. This is an additional rebate to assist Tasmanians with the cost of living and is usually received automatically if you’re also receiving the Annual Electricity Concession.
• Medical Cooling or Heating Concession. A daily electricity discount for eligible customers who have a medical condition requiring heating and cooling at their residence.
• Life Support Concession. A concession for people who use an approved life support system and need assistance with the electricity costs of the equipment.

For more information, visit the Tasmanian Government’s energy discounts and concessions.

In Western Australia, seniors may be eligible for a number of general concessions.

Possible energy discounts for seniors include:⁶

• Air Conditioning Rebate. This rebate helps subsidise the cost of running your aircon, although the amount can vary depending on where you live.
• Cost of Living Rebate. This energy rebate for seniors is offered to energy customers who are registered WA Seniors Card members.
• Energy Assistance Payment. Eligible customers will receive a rebate to help pay for your electricity that’s divided into a daily amount and applied to your bills.
• Life Support Equipment Electricity Subsidy Scheme. A medical rebate for financially disadvantaged individuals on life support at home needing assistance with electricity costs.
• Thermoregulatory Dysfunction Energy Subsidy Scheme. This energy rebate helps eligible people with thermoregulatory dysfunction (unable to control their body temperature) run their medical equipment at home.
• Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES). For eligible concession cardholders, this concession assists with electricity costs for those living in apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks.

Visit Concessions WA for more information.

Seniors in the ACT may have the following energy rebates available to them:⁸

• Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate. This rebate covers electricity, natural gas, water and sewerage. The rebate is available for eligible ACT residents, while the amount depends on several factors, including the season.
• Energy Bill Relief Fund. This is another payment offered to help with the cost of living and rising bills that’s automatically applied to your electricity account.
• Life Support Rebate. Eligible to people using medical equipment (e.g. life support machines). A sub-category of this rebate is available for concession cardholders who have an eligible, medically-diagnosed inability to regulate their body temperature.

Visit the ACT revenue office for more information on energy rebates and concessions.

The Northern Territory doesn’t offer any senior concessions and rebates exclusively for energy. Instead, they have more generalised schemes:⁹

• The NT Seniors Recognition Scheme. While not a traditional concession, the Northern Territory Government allocates money to residents aged 65 and over for expenses such as fuel, internet bills and electricity and gas bills.
• NT Concession Scheme. Seniors may also be eligible for this scheme, which offers a range of discounts on essential goods and services, including electricity, water and sewerage.

Learn more about Northern Territory energy concessions and rebates.