Help paying your energy bills

$100 Power Saving Bonus for concession card households is now closed

The Power Saving Bonus provided a one-off $100 payment to help ease cost-of-living pressures and drive down energy bills for Victorians in need.

The $100 Power Saving Bonus program closed for new applications on 31 March 2026.

For further information visit Victorian Energy Compare

Money off your bills through rebates, concessions and grants

DFFH energy concessions and hardship payments

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.

Tip

If you’re eligible for a concession, verify that it has been applied to your electricity and gas bills. If you’ve missed out on claiming any concessions, reach out to your energy provider.

Provide them with your concession card number and ask them to back-date your concessions for the last 12 months or from your concession card start date if that is more recent.

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.

Businesses can get advice to help understand and manage their energy use and costs on the for businesses webpage.

Support for energy customers

Energy Assistance Program

Victorians who need additional support with their energy bills can seek help through the Victorian Government’s Energy Assistance Program.

The Energy Assistance Program gives Victorians free, tailored, one-on-one help navigating the energy market and saving money on their energy bills.

The Energy Assistance Program can also help if your eligible energy concession is not attached to your electricity account. You can contact the Energy Assistance Program team via free call on 1800 161 215 or visit the Energy Assistance Program web page.

Understanding your energy bill

Knowing how to read your energy bill can help you reduce your energy use and save money.

Your energy rights

Victoria's Payment Difficulty Framework

Under Victoria’s Payment Difficulty Framework, your energy retailer must let you know what help is available if you are having trouble paying your energy bills. This includes discussing various flexible payment options and making disconnection a last resort.

To learn more about your right to assistance under Victoria’s nation-leading Payment Difficulty Framework, visit the Essential Services Commission.

Tip

Talk to your energy retailer early if you are struggling to pay your bills. Ask to speak to their hardship team, who can outline your options.

Victorian Default Offer

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

Complaints about your energy retailer or bill

Step 1: Contact your retailer

Always contact your energy retailer first (unless it is about a power outage - then you should contact your distributor). Your retailer is the business that bills you for your electricity or gas use. You can find contact details for your retailer on your energy bill.

Step 2: Contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria

If you have asked your retailer for help but are not satisfied with their response, contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV). EWOV is an independent, free dispute resolution service for energy and water issues.

It aims to settle problems fairly, independently and as fast as possible. EWOV can help resolve issues so you can manage your bills and keep your energy connected. Visit EWOV or call 1800 500 509 (free call).

If you are having a problem with your energy retailer, distributor or embedded network provider, or feel they may be doing the wrong thing under Victoria’s energy legislation (the law), in addition to contacting EWOV, you can make a complaint through the Essential Services Commission.

Visit the Essential Services Commission website or phone 1300 664 969.

Energy Fairness Plan

Through reforms to the energy retail market, the Energy Fairness Plan benefits Victorian energy customers by:

making energy retail markets simpler and fairer
cutting the cost of energy for Victorian households and small businesses
ensuring companies that do the wrong thing face the consequences.

Find out more about the energy fairness plan.