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Government assistance
If you’re having difficulty paying your energy bills, you may be able to get government assistance if you’re eligible. We can also organise payments via Centrelink.
On 9 December 2022, National Cabinet agreed to introduce the National Energy Bill Relief scheme, to help soften the impact of rising energy prices through temporary and targeted energy bill relief. This means eligible customers will be credited with a payment on their electricity bill.
The Federal Government has recently expanded the scheme and the 2024-25 Energy Bill Relief Fund will be provided as an electricity rebate to all Australian households and eligible small businesses.
In Queensland, the Energy Bill Relief rebate will take effect from 1 July 2024. In other states (ACT, NSW, SA and VIC), the rebate will take effect from 31 July 2024.
Please note: The previous 2023-24 Energy Bill Relief scheme ended on 30 June 2024.
How much is the new rebate?
All households will receive a $300 rebate, paid in quarterly $75 instalments.
Eligible small businesses will receive a $325 rebate, paid in quarterly $81.25 instalments.
Residential customers
For most customers, you don’t need to do anything to receive this rebate. The rebate will be automatically applied to electricity bills in quarterly instalments.
For QLD households the first instalment was applied by the 8 July 2024.
For ACT, NSW, SA and VIC households, the first instalment will be applied from the end of August 2024.
Please note that if your household or small business is part of an embedded network (for example, some apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks) then you’re still eligible for the rebate.
To find out how to apply for the rebate go to ‘I think I’m eligible for the Energy Bill Relief payment, but it hasn’t been applied to my electricity bill’ FAQ under the applicable residential or business tab below.
| State | Total Amount | Energy bill relief will be | First instalment will be |
|---|---|---|---|
| QLD | $300 | Quarterly in the 2024-2025 financial year | 8 July 2024 |
| ACT, NSW, SA & VIC | $300 | Quarterly in the 2024-2025 financial year | From the end of August 2024 |
Small business customers
If you’re a small business whose annual electricity consumption is under or meets the threshold below, you don’t need to do anything to receive this rebate.
| State |
| Total Amount | Energy bill relief will be applied | First instalment will be applied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QLD | 100MWh | $325 | Quarterly in the 2024-2025 financial year | 8 July 2024 |
| ACT | 100MWh | $325 | Quarterly in the 2024-2025 financial year | From end of August 2024 |
| NSW | 100MWh | $325 | Quarterly in the 2024-2025 financial year | From end of August 2024 |
| SA | 160MWh | $325 | Quarterly in the 2024-2025 financial year | From end of August 2024 |
| VIC | 40MWh | $325 | Quarterly in the 2024-2025 financial year | From end of August 2024 |
For eligible small businesses, the rebate will be automatically applied to electricity bills in quarterly instalments.
For QLD businesses the first instalment will be applied by 8 July 2024.
For ACT, NSW, SA and VIC small businesses, the first instalment will be applied from the end of August 2024.
Queensland customers
Residential and small business customers in Queensland are eligible for this rebate and the Queensland Government Cost of Living Rebate or Small Business Rebate.
For further information please refer to Energy Bill Relief Fund page.
To be eligible you must be the account holder or named on your household electricity bill.
Please note that if your household is part of an embedded network (for example, some apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks) then you’re still eligible for the rebate but we’re waiting on further information from each state government regarding the rollout process. We’ll update this information once we know more.
For further information please refer to Energy Bill Relief Fund page.
In most cases, you don’t need to do anything to receive this rebate. The first $75 instalment will be automatically applied to your electricity account by 8 July 2024 (QLD) or from the end of August 2024 (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC).
Embedded Network Properties
If your household is part of an embedded network (for example, some apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks) then you’re still eligible for the rebate.
QLD customers – Property managers or landlords who manage the residential site’s electricity bills, can apply for the rebate by submitting the 538 Form and forwarding the completed form to enq@energyaustralia.com.au
ACT, NSW, SA & VIC customers - We’re waiting on further information from ACT, NSW, SA & VIC state governments regarding the rollout process for embedded network customers in these states. We’ll update the information for each state as we know more.
The Energy Bill Relief payment for ACT, NSW, SA and VIC customers will be applied per customer. For example, if you have two or more active electricity accounts with us, the payment will apply to one of those accounts.
QLD customers - The Energy Bill Relief payment is applied to all active electricity accounts. For example, if you have a primary residence and a secondary residence then you will receive the rebate for both properties.
This payment will only be applied to electricity accounts.
The first $75 instalment will be automatically applied to your electricity account by 8 July 2024 (QLD) or from the end of August 2024 (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC). Subsequent instalments will be applied quarterly.
No, this payment will be split in quarterly instalments during 2024-25 and each instalment will be $75.
There’ll be a bill message on the front of your bill letting you know that the payment has been applied. You will find the payment added to the ‘Adjustments, other fees and charges’ section of the bill.
You’ll receive any future instalments on your electricity account at your new home.
You’ll receive any future instalments on your electricity account from your new energy retailer.
The first $75 instalment will be automatically applied to eligible electricity accounts by 8 July 2024 (QLD) or from the end of August 2024 (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC) and it will then appear on your next bill after this date.
Embedded Network Properties
If your household is part of an embedded network (for example, some apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks) then you’re still eligible for the rebate.
VIC customers – can apply for the rebate online at Victoria Energy Compare.
NSW customers - can apply for the rebate online at NSW Government Energy website.
ACT customers - can apply for the rebate online at ACT Revenue Office website.
SA customers – household embedded network operators can apply for the rebate on behalf of their network online at Government of SA Office for Small & Family Business website.
QLD customers – Property managers or landlords who manage the residential site’s electricity bills, can apply for the rebate by submitting the 538 Form and forwarding the completed form to enq@energyaustralia.com.au.
If you think you’re eligible for this payment and it’s not listed on your next bill after 8 July (QLD) or after the end of August (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC), contact us on 133 466.
To be eligible, your business must be on a separately metered business tariff, and your business’ total annual electricity consumption (aggregating consumption of all sites using the ABN/ACN to identify relevant sites) must be less than the threshold for your state or territory.
The energy consumption threshold is:
- 40MWh in VIC
- 100MWh in the ACT, NSW and QLD
- 160MWh in SA
For further information please refer to Energy Bill Relief Fund page.
If you meet the criteria set by your state or territory government, you don’t need to do anything. The first $81.25 instalment will be automatically applied to your electricity account by 8 July 2024 (QLD) or from the end of August 2024 (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC).
No, this payment will be split in quarterly instalments during 2024-25 and each instalment will be $81.25.
The first $81.25 instalment will be automatically applied to your electricity account by 8 July 2024 (QLD) or or from the end of August 2024 (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC). Subsequent instalments will be applied quarterly.
Small business payments are made per company and not per account, with the payment made to the electricity account with the highest debt.
The first $81.25 instalment will be automatically applied to eligible electricity accounts by 8 July 2024 (QLD) or from the end of August 2024 (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC) and it will then appear on your next bill after this date.
Embedded Network Properties
If your business is part of an embedded network (for example, some apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks) then you’re still eligible for the rebate.
VIC customers – can apply for the rebate online at Victoria Energy Compare.
NSW customers - can apply for the rebate online at NSW Government Energy website.
ACT customers - can apply for the rebate online at ACT Revenue Office website.
SA customers – household embedded network operators can apply for the rebate on behalf of their network online at Government of SA Office for Small & Family Business website.
QLD customers – Property managers or landlords who manage the business site’s electricity bills, can apply for the rebate by submitting the 540 Form and forwarding the completed form to enq@energyaustralia.com.au.
If you think you’re eligible for this payment and it’s not listed on your next bill after 8 July (QLD) or after the end of August (ACT, NSW, SA or VIC), contact us on 133 466.
Centrelink
If you receive Centrelink payments, we can arrange for regular amounts to be transferred from your payments to pay your EnergyAustralia bill.
Visit Centrelink to find out more or call us on 133 466 and we’ll be happy to help.
General state government support
You could be eligible for state government assistance to help pay your utility bills. Visit the Government’s MoneySmart website for information in your state.
South Australian customers can apply for assistance from the Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme (EEPS). To apply, you’ll need to visit a financial counsellor who’ll assess your situation.
For information on this scheme, call the Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI)’s concession hotline on 1800 307 758 or visit the South Australian Government website.
The South Australian Government has also confirmed that the 2023-24 Energy Bill Relief will be extended to include eligible small businesses receiving electricity through an embedded network, for example a shop in a shopping centre that gets electricity from its landlord.
Eligible small businesses will be provided with a one-off lump sum rebate of $650, rather than a quarterly payment. The payment will be credited on 2024-25 electricity bills by their embedded network operator.
Under this scheme, an embedded network operator will apply for relief from their energy retailer on behalf of the small businesses on its network. Eligible small businesses do not need to apply directly.
Visit Energy Bill Relief: 2023-24 | Small and Family Business for more information. 1
New South Wales customers can apply for Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA). Visit the Department of Industry Resources & Energy
On 5 July 2023, the NSW Government announced they will increase the EAPA payment limits up to $500 for the 2023-2024 financial year.
View information about the EAPA scheme in other languages below:
View additional information on the EAPA Scheme in Arabic, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese.
Queensland customers can apply for assistance from the Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme (HEEAS). Visit the Queensland Government website for more information.
QLD Government Cost of Living or Small Business Rebate
The QLD government has delivered further electricity bill support in the 2024–25 Budget for households and small businesses.
- $1,000 QLD Government Cost of Living Rebate on electricity bills for all QLD households.
- $325 QLD Government Small Business Rebate on electricity bills for all QLD small businesses.
This rebate will be automatically applied to QLD electricity accounts by 8 July 2024.
Embedded Network Properties
If your household or business is part of an embedded network (for example, some apartment buildings, retirement villages or caravan parks) then you’re still eligible for the rebate.
QLD customers – Property managers or landlords who manage the site’s electricity bills, can apply for the rebate by submitting the applicable form:
Please forward the completed form to enq@energyaustralia.com.au.
Victorian customers can apply for assistance from the Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS) if they are unable to pay their energy bills due to a short-term financial crisis or emergency. Find out more here.