Low income household rebate

Small businesses with multiple sites

I AM A SMALL BUSINESS WITH MULTIPLE SITES/PREMISES. WILL THE REBATES BE APPLIED TO EACH SITE?

Yes. The rebates will be applied on a per site basis. Therefore a small business customer that has multiple sites will receive the Commonwealth Government rebate for each site with total consumption less than 100MWh per annum. This is based on the last 12 months of consumption.

NOTE: Some small businesses are not billed directly by a retailer or embedded network operator (e.g. some franchisees), so they may not be identified to receive the rebates initially. These small businesses are encouraged to contact their billing provider and can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Sole traders

I’M A SOLE TRADER OPERATING MY BUSINESS FROM HOME, AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE REBATES?

Where a sole trader is operating a business from home and their usage is separately metered (i.e. on a small business tariff), they are eligible for either the household Commonwealth rebate or the small business Commonwealth Rebate. The rebate applied is based on the tariff with the higher consumption in the previous 12 months.

Where their usage is on a residential tariff, they will not be eligible for the small business rebate.

I’M A SOLE TRADER ON A RESIDENTIAL TARIFF IN AN EMBEDDED NETWORK, AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE REBATES?

No. A similar process applies to residential sole traders who reside in an embedded network. As the sole trader is on a residential tariff, they will not qualify for the small business rebates.

Eligibility for the $500 Household Energy Bill Relief Rebate

Customers receiving the following rebates are eligible for the $500 rebate:

• Low-Income Household (electricity) Rebate
• Seniors Energy Rebate
• Family Energy Rebate
• Medical Energy Rebate
• Life Support Rebate.

If you receive a NSW energy rebate in financial year 2023-24, you will receive the National Energy Bill Relief payment automatically. You do not need to apply.

If you consider that you may be eligible to receive the Low Income Household Rebate, you can apply by calling us with your concession card or healthcare card details on 13 10 46.

If you are eligible for another type of NSW energy rebate but don't receive it, you will first need to apply for the NSW energy rebate. You will then receive the Energy Bill Relief Rebate automatically. Learn more about applying for a NSW energy rebate.

Customers not currently receiving NSW energy rebates may still be eligible for the NSW Energy Bill Relief Rebate. Refer to the eligibility FAQs below for more information.

About the NSW Energy Bill Relief Rebate

WHAT IS THE NSW ENERGY BILL RELIEF REBATE? WHY AM I RECEIVING IT?

Eligible NSW households and small businesses will receive a new National Energy Bill Relief payment during 2023-24. Eligible low-income households, pensioners, self-funded retirees, families, and carers will receive a $500 energy bill relief rebate. The National Energy Bill Relief Fund is a joint initiative between the Australian and NSW Governments.

WHEN WILL THE REBATE BE PAID? DO I NEED TO APPLY?

The type of Commonwealth concession you receive will determine how the rebate is paid to you.

Customers already receiving the NSW energy rebates

• Holders of a Pension Concession Card, DVA Gold Card (marked with either ‘War Widow’, ‘War Widower Pension’, TPI or EDA), Health Care Card and people using certain energy-intensive life support equipment will receive the $500 rebate in quarterly instalments of $125 on their electricity bill. The first instalment commencing from 31st July 2023. Future instalment dates are 31st October 2023, 31st January 2024 & 30th April 2024
• Customers already receiving the NSW Family Energy Rebate will receive the $500 rebate as a one-off lump sum payment on their electricity bill from 31st July 2023 onwards

Customers not currently receiving NSW energy rebates

• If you aren’t already receiving NSW energy rebates, recipients of all other DVA Gold Cards, Low Income Healthcare Card or Carer Allowance will need to contact us to receive the $500 rebate as a one-off lump sum payment on their electricity bill from September 2023
• If you aren’t already receiving NSW energy rebates, and receive Family Tax Benefit A & B, you may be eligible for the NSW Family Energy Rebate. If eligible, you will receive the $500 rebate as a one-off lump sum payment on your electricity bill. New applications for the NSW Family Energy Rebate for 2023-24 will open in August 2023
• Learn more about applying for a NSW energy rebate.

Small business customers

• Eligible small businesses using less than 100 MWh of electricity per year will receive the $650 rebate in quarterly instalments of $162.50 towards their electricity bill from 31 July 2023

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN THE REBATE HAS BEEN CREDITED TO MY BILL?

Under the “Other Charges & Credits” section of your bill you’ll see a credit, with the wording “NSW-AUS Gov Bill Relief”.

WILL THE REBATE AFFECT MY OTHER CONCESSIONS?

No. The Energy Bill Relief Rebate will be provided to all eligible NSW households and small businesses, and does not affect customers’ eligibility for any other concession or rebates.

I HAVE A PAYMENT EXTENSION. DOES THIS AFFECT MY PAYMENTS?

No. The rebate does not impact payment arrangements already in place. Please continue to make payments to your account as per your agreed payment schedule.

I HAVE A SMOOTHPAY. DOES THIS AFFECT MY PAYMENTS?

No. The rebate does not impact SmoothPay arrangements already in place. Please continue to make payments to your account as per your agreed payment schedule.

I HAVE AN OVERDUE ACCOUNT ON MY RECENT ELECTRICITY BILL, AM I STILL ELIGIBLE?

Yes. All eligible households and small businesses will automatically be provided with the rebate instalment, regardless of the account balance.

WILL THE REBATE AFFECT MY SOLAR FEED-IN TARIFF?

No. You’ll receive the rebate in addition to any solar feed-in tariff you may receive.

WILL THE METER SERVICES CHARGE BE TAKEN OUT OF MY REBATE?

No. All eligible customers will receive the rebate as a credit on their bill. Meter services charges aren’t taken out of the rebate – they simply appear in the same section of your bill under ‘Other Charges & Credits’.

WILL I STILL RECEIVE THE REBATE IF MY ACCOUNT IS IN CREDIT?

Yes. The rebate will still be applied to the bill for customers who may be in credit. Any remaining rebate credit is to be carried over to your next bill, and any subsequent bills until you’re no longer in credit.

CAN I HAVE THE REBATE PAID TO MY BANK ACCOUNT DIRECTLY, RATHER THAN MY ELECTRICITY BILL?

Generally, no. The rebate is intended to assist households and small businesses with electricity costs and therefore can only be applied on electricity bills. Only Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders and customers in embedded networks will be paid directly into their bank accounts by the NSW Government.

CAN I HAVE THE REBATE REFUNDED TO ME AS A CREDIT?

You can obtain a refund of the rebate if:

• You are finalising your account, and will no longer hold any active account with Ergon Energy Retail and your account is in credit
• You have solar and are regularly in credit. In this case you are eligible for a full refund, inclusive of the rebate
• You have an active Direct Debit that results in your bills being regularly in credit. In this instance you are only eligible for a full refund of the credit balance after the rebate has been absorbed by energy usage.

WHAT IF I CLOSE MY ACCOUNT AFTER THE REBATE HAS BEEN APPLIED TO THE BILL? WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM IN CREDIT ON MY FINAL BILL?

You can receive a refund of the credit if you no longer hold any active account with Ergon Energy Retail and your account is in credit.

DOES GST APPLY TO THE REBATE?

The Energy Bill Relief Rebate is not taxable or relevant for GST purposes.

Eligibility

WILL ALL HOUSEHOLDS & SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVE THE ENERGY BILL RELIEF REBATE?

Eligible low-income households, pensioners, self-funded retirees, families and carers will receive a one-off $500 bill relief payment towards their electricity bills.
Eligible small businesses using less than 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity per year will receive a one-off $650 bill relief payment towards their electricity bill.
If eligible, the method of payment of the Energy Bill Relief will be determined by the NSW Government.

WHAT IS AN ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD?

National Energy Bill Relief is available to households already receiving the following NSW rebates:

• Low-Income Household (electricity) Rebate
• Seniors Energy Rebate
• Family Energy Rebate
• Medical Energy Rebate
• Life Support Rebate.

Households may also be eligible for the National Energy Bill Relief payment if you don’t receive a NSW energy rebate and:

• hold a valid Low Income Health Care Card
• hold a valid Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Gold Card
• receive the Carer Allowance.

To be eligible:

• You must be the energy account holder for your principal place of residence to receive the energy rebates and bill relief payment
• You may be eligible for multiple energy rebates however only one bill relief payment is available for each household in financial year 2023-24.

WHAT IS AN ELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESS?

To be eligible for the bill relief payment, a small business must be on a separately metered business tariff and consume less than 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity per year.

Please note:

• The rebate will be applied on a per customer basis. For multi-site businesses, eligibility is based on the overall electricity consumption of all accounts held by the customer (rather than on a site by site basis)
• If you run your small business using electricity from your home, you are not eligible
• One energy bill relief payment will be provided per small business in the financial year 2023-24
• Other exclusions may apply.

WILL I BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE $500 REBATE IF I APPLY FOR THE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD REBATE PART WAY THROUGH 2023-24?

Customers who apply for the NSW Low Income Household Rebate after 1 July 2023, may only receive Energy Bill Relief Rebate payment/s from the date their eligibility is determined.  Please refer any enquiries to the NSW Government.

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE REBATE IF I RECEIVE MY ELECTRICITY BILL FROM A BODY CORPORATE OR A SITE MANAGER?

Not all households and small businesses have an account with an electricity retailer. In some situations, a landlord, property manager, park owner or body corporate buys electricity in bulk and on-sells this to residents based on their metered consumption. This is known as an on-supply (exempt seller) arrangement.

On-supply customers will also receive the Energy Bill Relief Rebate. Arrangements are in place with Service NSW to facilitate this payment with embedded network customers.

MY ELECTRICITY IS INCLUDED IN MY RENT AND I DON’T RECEIVE A SEPARATE ELECTRICITY BILL – WILL I RECEIVE THE REBATE?

No. To receive the rebate customers must receive a stand-alone bill for their electricity supply/consumption and have an active account.

ARE ANY BUSINESSES EXCLUDED FROM RECEIVING THE REBATE?

Yes. The following types of businesses are NOT eligible for the rebate, irrespective of their consumption level, as the nature of the business does not fit within the intent of the government’s relief package for small businesses:

• banks and financial institutions (e.g. branches, ATMs)
• utilities, including telcos (e.g. Telstra shops) and rail (e.g. train stations)
• government-owned sites at federal, state and local level (e.g. Centrelink, council-owned libraries and pools)
• health funds (e.g. BUPA and Medibank stores)
• strata, body corporates, unmetered supply (e.g. public lights and power, lifts, common areas).