On this page:

New - Energy Bill Relief Fund

The Commonwealth Government is partnering with states and territories to deliver $1.5 billion of targeted electricity bill relief to eligible Australian households and small businesses under the Energy Bill Relief plan.

Energy Bill Relief Fund – for Victorian households

$250 per eligible household.

This is in addition to the Victorian Government’s $250 Power Savings Bonus.

Customers will need to ensure their name (or that of another eligible household member) is on the electricity account.

The $250 rebate will be provided in periodic instalments on bills during 2023-24.

Households where the primary electricity account holder, or another household member named on the account, is a recipient/holder of:

  • Pensioner Concession Card (including those issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA))
  • Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care Card)
  • DVA Gold Cards
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (including those issued by DVA)
  • Family Tax Benefit (FTB) A and B
  • Carer Allowance
  • Households eligible for the existing electricity bill concession schemes
  • Households in embedded networks who receive their electricity via a private network (e.g. some apartment buildings, caravan parks or retirement villages) will also be eligible for the scheme.

Customers currently receiving an energy relief payment or rebate will start receiving this bill relief from 1 July 2023 onwards, depending on when they receive their electricity bill.

This will be automatic and those people will not be required to do anything.

Customers who may be eligible and do not currently receive an energy relief payment or rebate will be contacted by Services Australia in September 2023 if they need to take any action.

Customers who may be eligible by holding a qualifying DVA issued card and who are not eligible for existing energy relief payments will be contacted by DVA from July 2023.

Customers who live in an embedded network will not automatically receive a rebate. Information will be provided from July 2023 on how these customers can access the rebate.

Energy Bill Relief Fund – for Victorian small businesses

$325 per eligible small business customer.

Small businesses that are considered electricity ‘small customers’ due to energy consumption under the annual threshold of 40 MWh will receive the bill relief.

Eligible small businesses will start receiving this bill relief from 1 July 2023 onwards, depending on when they receive their electricity bill.

There is no action required by small businesses.

Having trouble paying your bills?

There are many reasons you may struggle to pay your energy bills:

  • higher energy prices
  • you could be using more energy than usual
  • your income has been recently impacted
  • you’re already experiencing financial distress.

Talk to your energy company

There are measures in place to ensure you are always getting a fair deal regarding energy. If you are having trouble paying your energy bill, there are rules which mean your energy company must let you know what help is available.

You should contact your energy company first and ask to speak to their hardship team. This team will be able to discuss your assistance options, such as paying smaller amounts more often or delaying the payment of a bill. Anyone with an active payment assistance plan can't be disconnected or be followed for debt. It's important that you contact your company if you are having trouble paying your bills.

The Essential Services Commission website has information on how to get help.

Concessions and grants

Eligible concession cardholders can receive discounts on their energy bills. Visit the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) website to find out more about different energy concessions and how to access them.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for a grant. A grant is a payment to help you pay your bills.

Visit DFFH Hardship for information on how to apply.

Check your energy and gas bills to ensure your concession has been applied. If you’ve missed out on claiming any concessions, call your energy company, provide your concession card number, and ask that they back-date your concessions for the last 12 months or from your concession card start date, if that is more recent.

Victorian Default Offer

The Victorian Default Offer is a simple and fair electricity price set annually by the Essential Services Commission, not energy companies.

It provides Victorian residential and small business consumers access to a fair electricity deal even if they are unable or unwilling to engage in the retail market.

For more information, visit the Essential Services Commission.

$250 Power Saving Bonus payment

A new $250 Power Saving Bonus program is open for all Victorian households and is available from 24 March 2023.

To be eligible for the $250 Power Saving Bonus, you must:

  • be a Victorian residential energy consumer, for example, have a residential electricity account
  • be the account holder

Eligible households can access the $250 Bonus via the Victorian Energy Compare website or apply through a participating community organisation.

How to lower your energy bills

Victorian Energy Compare

Check if you are on the cheapest energy offer that suits your circumstances. An energy 'offer' is the price you pay for your energy, plus any conditions, such as email-only billing (no paper bills) and pay-on-time discounts. The government's Victorian Energy Compare website is a great way to compare energy offers.

Victorian Energy Compare is the only independent website comparing electricity, gas and solar offers. It includes all prices from all energy companies, including discounts and conditions, so you can choose the best one for you. Seven out of 10 people saved money by switching to a better offer using Victorian Energy Compare. On average, people saved up to $330 in the first year when using the site to switch.

Save energy and money

You can do many easy and practical things to save energy and money at home. See our Energy saving tips for information and ideas on discount energy saving products, in-home energy assessments, and solar power.

Page last updated: 31/05/23