Comprehensive insights into the energy bill relief fund in Australia

At a glance

• Australian Govt’s Energy Bill Relief Fund eases bills for homes and businesses.
• Eligible homes get $175-$500 relief quarterly, with automatic application.
• Small businesses receive up to $650 relief spread quarterly from July 1, 2023.
• State-specific initiatives outline eligibility and application details for optimised energy expenses.

The Energy Bill Relief Fund, supported by the Australian Government, is a financial assistance program aimed at providing relief to eligible households and businesses by offering support for electricity bills.

The goal of an energy relief fund is to alleviate financial burdens associated with energy bills, making it easier for household and business to meet their basic energy needs. This may involve direct financial assistance, subsidies, or other support mechanisms to help cover the costs of electricity, heating, or other essential energy services.

Under this program, eligible households can enjoy a $350 discount on their power bills, handed out in quarterly chunks. Each household qualifies for this rebate just once, even if there are multiple eligible individuals living there.

Small businesses, on the other hand, are in line for a $650 total reduction in their power bills. This helpful rebate will also be spread out in quarterly instalments

Energy bill relief fund for small business

Starting from July 1, 2023, eligible small businesses can receive support with their energy expenses through the Energy Bill Relief Fund. The administration of the bill relief is carried out by state and territory governments.

To qualify for this relief, your business must have an annual electricity consumption below the threshold set by your state or territory. If your business doesn’t have a separately metered business tariff with your electricity retailer, your eligibility will be determined by the rules of the state or territory where your business operates.

Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses in ACT

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government is offering energy bill relief to eligible small businesses through the Energy Bill Relief Fund. Starting from July 1, 2023, qualifying businesses in the ACT can receive a one-time $325 relief on their electricity bills. In addition, businesses may benefit from reduced electricity charges through the ACT’s large-scale feed-in tariff scheme, potentially lowering costs by around $624 for those with average electricity use.

To be eligible, businesses must be based in the ACT, use a separately metered business tariff, and have an annual electricity consumption below 100 MWh. Applications for relief must be submitted by September 30, 2024, and eligibility is determined as of July 1, 2023. Businesses operating on electricity from home, exceeding the 100 MWh threshold, or within an embedded network are ineligible.

Eligible businesses will automatically receive the relief on their electricity account, with the amount deducted from their next bill. Further information is available on the ACT Government website.

Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses in Northern Territory

The Northern Territory Government is offering energy bill relief to eligible small businesses through the Energy Bill Relief Fund. Starting from July 1, 2023, qualifying businesses in the Northern Territory (NT) can receive a one-time $650 relief on their electricity bills, provided their annual consumption is below 160 MWh.

New customers over the relevant period will be automatically considered eligible. To qualify, businesses must be based in the NT, operate on a separately metered commercial tariff, and have an annual electricity consumption below the specified threshold. Ineligible businesses include those using electricity from a home, exceeding the consumption threshold, classified as agencies, institutions, or Commonwealth corporations, and local governments.

Customers in embedded networks are eligible only if they receive bills from a licensed electricity retailer and meet specific requirements. Eligible businesses will automatically receive the relief from July 1, 2023, with the amount deducted from their next bill on a pro-rata basis for bills issued between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Further information is available on the NT Government website.

Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses in New South Wales (NSW)

The NSW Government is offering energy bill relief to eligible small businesses through the Energy Bill Relief Fund. Starting from July 31, 2023, qualifying businesses in New South Wales (NSW) can receive up to $650 in bill relief, provided their annual electricity consumption is below 100 MWh, and they operate on a separately metered business tariff.

Ineligible businesses include those using electricity from a home or exceeding the consumption threshold. The relief, administered quarterly in instalments of $162.50, will automatically be applied to eligible businesses’ electricity accounts on July 31, 2023, October 31, 2023, January 31, 2024, and April 30, 2024. Small businesses becoming eligible after July 31, 2023, won’t receive backdated payments. Additional information can be found on the NSW Government website.

Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses in Queensland

Small businesses in Queensland can benefit from energy bill relief through the Energy Bill Relief Fund administered by the Queensland Government. Eligible businesses, based in Queensland and operating on a separately metered business tariff with an annual electricity consumption below 100 MWh, can receive $650 in relief from July 1, 2023.

Ineligible businesses include those using electricity from a home or exceeding the specified consumption threshold. The relief, automatically applied to electricity accounts from July 1, 2023, will be credited quarterly at $162.50 per quarter for most small businesses, contingent on retailers’ system requirements and individual billing cycles. Businesses becoming eligible later in the fiscal year will receive future quarterly rebate payments. Further details can be found on the Queensland Government website.

Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses in Tasmania

Small businesses in Tasmania can access energy bill relief through the Energy Bill Relief Fund administered by the Tasmanian Government. Eligible businesses, based in Tasmania and operating on a separately metered business tariff with an annual electricity consumption below 150 MWh in 2022-23, can receive a total of $650 in bill relief rebates from July 1, 2023.

Ineligible businesses include those using electricity from a home, operating on an embedded network, or exceeding the specified consumption threshold. Small business customers on embedded networks are not eligible for relief. The relief, automatically applied to electricity accounts from July 1, 2023, will be in the form of two rebates of $325 each, credited in the September and June quarter bills of 2023-24. Further information is available on the Tasmanian Government website.

Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses in Victoria

Small businesses in Victoria can receive energy bill relief through the Energy Bill Relief Fund administered by the Victorian Government. Eligible businesses based in Victoria and operating on a separately metered business tariff with an annual electricity consumption below 40 MWh can receive $325 in bill relief from August 7, 2023. Ineligible businesses include those using electricity from a home or exceeding the specified consumption threshold.

The relief automatically applied to electricity accounts from July 1, 2023, will be in the form of a $325 reduction in the amount owed on the next bill, effective from August 7, 2023. Further details are available on the Victorian Government’s website.

Energy Bill Relief for Small Businesses in Western Australia

The WA Government is offering energy bill relief to eligible small businesses in Western Australia through the Energy Bill Relief Fund. Small businesses and charity groups, customers of Synergy or Horizon Power, can receive $650 in bill relief, distributed in two instalments of $325 each. Payments are scheduled for July 8, 2023, and December 2, 2023.

To qualify, businesses must be on specific electricity tariffs, excluding certain accounts, such as those with consumption exceeding 50 MWh in the 12 months prior to May 9, 2023. Ineligible accounts also include those held by local governments, government entities, major corporations, and certain utility providers. Small businesses within embedded networks may be eligible for relief administered by the Small Business Development Corporation.

Eligible businesses may receive a lump sum payment from July 31, 2023, provided they held a valid and active ABN, were incurring electricity costs, and met specific consumption criteria. Further details are available on the WA Government website.

Energy bill relief fund for household

Energy Bill Relief for Households in ACT

Starting July 1, 2023, eligible households in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) can benefit from the Energy Bill Relief Fund, overseen by the ACT Government. Qualifying households may receive $175 in bill relief, with an additional reduction of approximately $152 per year through the ACT’s large-scale feed-in tariff scheme. To be eligible, residents must have a valid concession, and the bill relief will be applied automatically by electricity providers in most cases.

Various concession cards, such as the ACT Services Access Card, Low Income Health Care Card, and Pensioner Concession Card, make households eligible. Existing ACT Utilities Concession recipients need to take no additional action, while those eligible but not currently receiving it can apply through their electricity retailer.

Services Australia will contact eligible recipients directly, and DVA cardholders can inquire with their energy provider. Residents in embedded networks can apply for a direct payment through the territory government. Eligible households will receive a one-time payment of $175 starting from September 2023, and applications for bill relief close on September 30, 2024.

Energy Bill Relief for Households in the Northern Territory

Commencing on July 1, 2023, eligible households in the Northern Territory (NT) can get assistance with their energy bills through the Energy Bill Relief Fund administered by the NT Government. Qualifying households stand to receive $350 in bill relief, effective from the mentioned date.

To be eligible, individuals must possess a concession, with the electricity account holder at the principal residence receiving the relief. Only one bill relief credit is permitted per household in the 2023–24 financial year. Eligible concession cards encompass various schemes and DVA cards, while residents in remote communities automatically qualify. In most cases, electricity providers will automatically apply the relief, and the process varies based on individual circumstances.

Existing NT Concession Scheme recipients need no additional action, and those eligible but not receiving it can apply before March 31, 2024. Services Australia will directly contact eligible individuals, and DVA cardholders can contact the NT Energy Bill Relief team. Residents in embedded networks can access direct payment through the territory government, with application details available on the NT Government website.

Energy Bill Relief for Households in NSW

Starting from July 31, 2023, eligible households in New South Wales (NSW) can access assistance for their energy bills through the Energy Bill Relief Fund administered by the NSW Government. Qualifying households may receive a one-time bill relief payment of up to $500 in the 2023–24 financial year.

To be eligible, individuals must hold an eligible Commonwealth concession card, receive the Family Tax Benefit A and/or B, or have a qualifying medical condition. The relief will be applied automatically by electricity providers in most cases, with existing NSW energy rebate recipients receiving quarterly instalments of $125 from July 31, 2023.

Those eligible but not currently receiving an existing NSW energy rebate can apply on the NSW Government website. Services Australia will contact eligible individuals, and DVA cardholders can apply from November 2023. Residents in embedded networks can apply on the Service NSW website from November 2023, receiving the $500 bill relief payment in one lump sum upon approval of the rebate application.

Energy Bill Relief for Households in Queensland

The Australian and Queensland Governments are jointly providing support to eligible households in Queensland through the Energy Bill Relief Fund, as part of the cost-of-living relief package. Vulnerable households currently receiving the $372 Queensland Electricity Rebate will automatically receive an additional $700 Cost of Living Rebate on their electricity bills in the 2023-24 fiscal year, totalling relief of $1,072.

All other Queensland households will receive an automatic $550 Cost of Living Rebate during the same period. Eligible concession cardholders, including Queensland Seniors Card holders and those with Pensioner Concession Cards or Health Care Cards, can benefit from the scheme.

Electricity providers will typically apply the rebate automatically, with existing Queensland Electricity Rebate recipients receiving quarterly instalments of the Cost of Living Rebate, while non-recipients will receive the rebate quarterly as well. Eligible residents in embedded networks will receive the rebate as a lump sum payment in the second half of 2023. The rebate is expected to be credited to electricity bills quarterly, starting from July 1, 2023, with the exact timing dependent on individual billing cycles and retailer requirements.

Energy Bill Relief for Households in South Australia

Households in South Australia can receive energy bill relief through the Energy Bill Relief Fund, administered by the Government of South Australia. Eligible households may receive up to $500 annually, distributed as quarterly payments of $125. To qualify, individuals must hold an eligible concession, including existing recipients of the South Australian energy bill concession or those with other specified concessions.

Electricity providers are expected to automatically apply the bill relief in most cases, with existing energy concession recipients seeing relief starting from July 2023 on a quarterly basis. New applicants for the energy concession can apply through the SA Government website to receive relief from July 2023.

Eligible recipients of Services Australia concession cards will be contacted directly in September 2023, and DVA cardholders should contact their electricity provider before June 2024. Residents in embedded networks eligible for bill relief may access a direct payment through the state government.

The timing of relief varies based on eligibility and payment frequency, with quarterly credits applied approximately every three bills for existing energy concession recipients and relief for new applicants starting from the initial bill after approval. Services Australia or DVA concessions are assessed on specific anchor dates, with relief applied quarterly after each anchor date, starting from September 2023.

Energy Bill Relief for Households in Tasmania

Tasmanian households can receive assistance with their energy bills through the Energy Bill Relief Fund, administered by the Tasmanian Government. Eligible households are entitled to a $250 bill relief rebate per year over two years (2023-24 and 2024-25). To qualify, individuals must hold an eligible concession card or receive an eligible government payment.

Most electricity providers will automatically apply the bill relief, with existing Tasmanian Annual Electricity Concession recipients requiring no additional action, and new applicants can register with their electricity retailer. Services Australia concession cardholders will be contacted directly in September 2023, and DVA cardholders should contact their electricity retailer until June 2024 for eligibility checks.

Embedded network customers can apply for the rebate through the Renewables, Climate, and Future Industries Tasmania website, receiving a one-off grant payment of $250 per year for 2023-24 and 2024-25 starting from August 2023. Eligible customers of retailers will receive two bill rebates of $125 per year for two years, applied in the September and June quarters of 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Energy Bill Relief for Households in Victoria

Starting from July 1, 2023, eligible households in Victoria can benefit from the Energy Bill Relief Fund administered by the Victorian Government, providing $250 in bill relief. To qualify, individuals must hold an eligible concession, and the electricity account holder for the primary residence must be the recipient. Most electricity providers will automatically apply the relief, with existing Victorian Electricity Concession recipients requiring no action, and new applicants can register with their electricity retailer.

Services Australia concession cardholders will be contacted directly in September 2023, while DVA cardholders should contact their electricity provider until June 2024 for eligibility checks. Embedded network customers can apply for the rebate through the Victorian Energy Compare website, receiving the $250 relief as a single payment. Depending on eligibility, relief payments will be applied automatically in quarterly instalments or as a lump sum, with specific dates varying based on the type of concession or network.

Energy Bill Relief for Households in Western Australia

The Energy Bill Relief Fund, jointly provided by the Australian and WA Governments, offers assistance to eligible households as part of the cost-of-living support package. Households meeting the criteria, including those under the WA Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES) or the Energy Assistance Payment (EAP) on May 9, 2023, can receive up to $500 in bill relief, with additional payments for EAP customers from Synergy or Horizon Power.

Other households can receive up to $400 in relief, automatically identified for Synergy or Horizon Power customers, while non-customers can apply on the WA Government website. Embedded network residents can access relief through direct payment, and those supplied by mining companies or alternative energy retailers may also be eligible. Eligibility and payment timelines vary based on individual circumstances and network affiliations.

In summary, the Energy Bill Relief Fund, supported by the Australian Government, provides substantial assistance to households and businesses across various states

and territories. Eligible households may receive bill relief ranging from $175 to $500, with quarterly payments and automatic application by electricity providers in most cases. Small businesses can also benefit from relief up to $650, tailored to their annual electricity consumption.

The comprehensive insights into individual state programs highlight eligibility criteria, application processes, and payment timelines, offering a holistic overview of the initiative’s nationwide impact. To make informed decisions about energy plans and costs, residents are encouraged to compare energy plans based on their location, whether in VIC, QLD, NSW, SA, or the ACT. By staying informed and exploring available options, consumers can optimise their energy expenses and take advantage of the relief measures provided by the Energy Bill Relief Fund.