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. The Winter Gas Concession is a similar percentage-based discount for concession cardholders with a gas connection.¹

The Victorian 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).
• Essential Medical Equipment Concession. You may be eligible for this extra payment if you need heating, cooling or other medical equipment for a medical condition.
• Life Support Concession. Available when the account holder or a permanent member of the family uses an eligible life support machine.
• Utility Relief Grant Scheme. Eligible low-income Victorians who are 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.

Learn more about Victorian energy concessions and rebates.

Energy rebates for pensioners in New South Wales include:

• The Seniors Energy Rebate. An electricity rebate available for independent retirees (otherwise known as self-funded retirees) who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).²
• 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.³
• 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).
• Pension Supplement. If you’re receiving Centrelink payments, this is a supplement payment you can use to assist with household utilities (like energy) and medication.

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

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.
• Life Support Concession. This concession can help cover the costs of using life support devices (e.g. kidney dialysis machines).

Visit Queensland energy concessions for more information.

Seniors in South Australia on a low income may be eligible for Energy Bill Concessions and the Cost of Living Concession to help pay their electricity and gas bills.⁵ Other energy rebates for seniors in South Australia 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 consistent heating or cooling for their conditions.
• 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.

Learn more about South Australian energy concessions and rebates.

There are no specific senior energy discounts in Western Australia; however, seniors may still be eligible for a number of general concessions.

Possible senior electricity and gas discounts include:

• Life Support Equipment Electricity Subsidy Scheme. A medical rebate for financially disadvantaged individuals on life support at home needing assistance with electricity costs.6
• 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.

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.
• 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.

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

• Utilities Concession. 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.⁸
• 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.⁹

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:

• 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.¹⁰
• 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.

¹ Victoria State Government. Concessions and rebates: Energy. Last updated March 2023. Accessed March 2023.

² New South Wales Government. Apply for the Seniors Energy Rebate. Last updated August 2022. Accessed March 2023.

³ New South Wales Government. Concessions, rebates and assistance. Last updated February 2023. Accessed March 2023.

⁴ Queensland Government. Electricity and gas rebates. Last updated July 2022. Accessed March 2023.

⁵ Government of South Australia. Energy bill concessions. Last updated March 2023. Accessed March 2023.

⁶ Government of Western Australia. Apply for an energy concession. Last updated January 2023. Accessed March 2023.

⁷ Tasmanian Government. Discounts and concessions: Electricity. Accessed March 2023.

⁸ ACT Government. Utilities Concession. Accessed March 2023.

⁹ ACT Government. Life Support Rebate. Accessed March 2023.

¹⁰ Northern Territory Government. Concessions and payments. Accessed March 2023.