COST OF LIVING SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO HELP REDUCE POWER BILLS

Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP is urging all eligible local families and seniors to take advantage of cost-of-living relief measures to save money on their electricity and power bills.

Mr Ward said that there are a number of cost-of-living relief measures available for local families, pensioners and seniors under the Energy Bill Relief Fund.

“I understand that many local families are still doing it tough at the moment across our region with cost-of-living pressures, rising power bills, rising food and grocery prices and interest rates going up.

“The Energy Bill Relief Fund will provide support to 1.6 million eligible NSW households and 320,000 eligible NSW small businesses. Eligible low-income households, pensioners, self-funded retirees, families, carers and people who use life support equipment will receive $500 towards their electricity bills.

“Eligible small businesses using less than 100 megawatt hours of electricity per year will receive $650 towards their electricity bills. Only one rebate under the Energy Bill Relief program will be provided per household or small business.

When will eligible households receive their energy bill relief?

Households with a Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card, a Health Care Card, a DVA Gold Card or life support equipment who already receive a NSW electricity rebate from their energy retailer will automatically receive a quarterly rebate of $125 on their electricity bills from 31st July 2023 onwards.

If the above households do not receive a NSW energy rebate but are eligible, they should apply to their retailer for the relevant NSW energy rebate. These customers will then be provided the additional Energy Bill Relief payment automatically.

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders, Family Tax Benefit A and B recipients, and people living in embedded networks (i.e. private electricity networks used by multiple premises, such as apartment blocks and caravan parks) need to apply for the relevant 2023/24 rebate on the Service NSW website. Applications can be made from August 2023.

There are also measures in place to assist our local small businesses. Around 320,000 NSW small businesses are eligible for the NSW and Australian Government’s $650 targeted and temporary energy bill relief payment in financial year 2023–24 to help to ease the cost of rising electricity bills.

Further information on Energy Bill Relief is available on the Energy NSW website at: www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/national-energy-bill-relief.

Further information on the Energy Social Programs is available on the Energy NSW website at: www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/find-energy-rebate.

If you require additional support, please visit the Service NSW website at www.service.nsw. gov.au, visit a Service NSW Centre or call Service NSW on 13 77 88 from Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm.