Concessions & rebates

Let’s get your concessions and rebates sorted

To help pay your energy bills, the federal government and some state governments offer concessions and rebates that may apply in certain circumstances.

Check your eligibility

There are a range of government concession and rebate options available. If you meet the relevant eligibility criteria(s), you may qualify for assistance with your electricity bills.

Last checked by Telstra 10/10/2022.

New South Wales

The Energy NSW site provides concession information translated into community languages.  When you visit the Energy Saver NSW site, select your language from the Language dropdown menu in the top right corner of the Energy NSW site to translate the Energy NSW page into the following community languages:  

  • Arabic 
  • Chinese (simplified and traditional) 
  • Greek 
  • Italian 
  • Korean
  • Spanish
  • Vietnamese
 
 
 

Eligibility criteria

You can apply if you:

  • Have a valid concession card or health card from the list of eligible cards below.
  • Are a NSW resident and are applying for your principle place of residence.
  • Are an account holder of an energy retailer.
Eligible concession cards

Must have a valid card:

  • Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) or Services Australia
  • Health Care Card issued by Services Australia
  • DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) Gold Card 
  • DVA Gold Card marked with War Widow, War Widower Pension, Totally and Permanently Incapacitated or Disability Pension

Note: Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders are not eligible for this rebate.
Rebate value/calculation

Up to a total of $285.00 (excl. GST) / $313.50 (incl. GST) per year

Note: Household can only receive this payment once per financial year.
Energy type
Electricity
How to apply
  1. Provide your concession card details to Telstra Energy. 
  2. Your card will be checked for eligibility. 
  3. The rebate will automatically be applied to your account once your concession card details have been validated. 
More information Visit the Services NSW site for details about the Low income household rebate.


If you live in an on-supplied residential community, retirement village or strata scheme, you may instead be eligible for the Low Income Household Rebate (on supply customers). 

Eligibility criteria You can apply if you

  • Are a NSW resident 
  • Are the account holder of an energy retailer
  • Have been the recipient of the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) for the previous financial year and have had your entitlement to the FTB payments finalised by Centrelink.
  • Are the person in your household who’s registered as the FTB recipient. The recipient is the person who receives correspondence on FTB from Services Australia
Eligible concession cards Not applicable. See Eligibility criteria.
Rebate value/calculation Up to $180.00 (excl. GST) / $98.00 (incl. GST) per year
Energy type Electricity
How to apply You can apply online using the NSW Government’s Family energy rebate online application form.

For details about application deadlines for this rebate please visit the Service NSW site for the Family energy rebate. 
More information Visit the Services NSW site for details about the Family energy rebate.

If you receive your energy bill from a strata manager or community/village operator, apply for the Family energy rebate (on supply customers).

Eligibility criteria
You can apply if you or someone living at the address is:
  • A NSW resident.
  • An account holder named on the bill of an energy retailer
  • Assessed by a registered medical practitioner verifying that the use of the approved life support equipment is required at their principal place of residence.  
Eligible concession cards No card required
Rebate value/calculation The amount of the rebate depends on the machine and the number of days in the billing period.
Energy type Electricity
How to apply
  1. Complete the Life support rebate application form (PDF, 1,773KB)
  2. Ask your medical practitioner (GP or specialist) to complete the relevant section of the form and sign the declaration. 
  3. Send completed form to us via email or Send by post: Telstra Energy c/o Locked Bag 20036 Melbourne Victoria 3001
  4. The rebate will be applied to your account once your application has been approved.
  5. You'll need to renew your application every two years.
More information Visit the Services NSW site for details about the Life support energy rebate.

If you're an on supply customer and are billed for your energy use by the strata manager or community/village operator, please apply for the Life support energy rebate (on supply customers).

Eligibility criteria
You can apply if you or someone living at the address:
 
  • Is a NSW resident.
  • Is an account holder named on the bill of an energy retailer.
  • Has an inability to self-regulate body temperature.
  • Has been assessed by a registered medical practitioner (who is not the applicant) who has been treating them for at least 3 months.
  • Meet at least one Primary Qualifying Condition and at least one Secondary Qualifying Condition.
  • Holds one of the concession cards listed below.

Eligible concession cards
  • Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) or Services Australia
  • Health Care Card issued by Services Australia
  • DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) Gold Card 

 

Note: Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders are not eligible for this rebate

 
Rebate value/calculation

Up to a total of $285.00 per year. 

The amount is calculated daily from the day you apply.
Energy type

Electricity
How to apply
  1. Complete the Medical energy rebate form (PDF, 601KB) 
  2. Ask your medical practitioner (GP or specialist) to complete and to sign the relevant sections of the form. 
  3. Send completed form to us via email or Send by post: Telstra Energyc/o Locked Bag 20036 Melbourne Victoria 3001
  4. The rebate will be applied to your account once your application has been approved.
More information Visit the Service NSW site for details about the Medical energy rebate.

If you're an on supply household and receive your energy bill from a strata manager or community/village operator please apply for the Medical energy rebate (on supply customers).

Eligibility criteria
You must:
  • Have an electricity account for a NSW residential address , which is your primary place of residence and the account must be active at the time of your assessment (all other accounts are not eligible). 
  • Be the electricity  account holder (your account and bill must be in your name).
  • Be experiencing a short-term financial crisis or emergency that is causing financial hardship and impacting the ability to pay current residential energy bill (in part or in full).
Eligible concession cards

No card required. 
Rebate value/calculation

  $50.00 voucher
Energy type

Electricity
How to apply

Apply online to be assessed by a NSW Government representative

  1. Check the eligibility requirements.
  2. Select the 'Apply online' button 
  3. Log in or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
  4. Follow the prompts to submit your application.

Apply by phone or in person

Visit the Service NSW site for a list of approved EAPA providers. 
More information

Visit Service NSW for details about the EAPA vouchers.

You are not eligible if you:

  • Are residing in embedded networks (some strata plans, retirement villages and residential parks).
  • Have already paid your energy bill.
  • Have a business account.
  • Are not the account holder and the bill is in another person’s name.
  • Have closed your energy account.

Eligibility criteria
You must:
  • Have a valid Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
  • Be a NSW resident.
  • Be applying for the rebate for your primary place of residence.
  • Be the primary account holder named on the electricity bill. 
Eligible concession cards
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by either Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)  
Rebate value/calculation

$200.00 per household, per financial year
Energy type
Electricity
How to apply

Go to Senior energy rebate and click the apply now button. 

  1. Log in or create your MyServiceNSW Account
  2. Enter the required details
  3. Submit the application

 

If you are unable to apply online, visit a Service NSW Centre or call Service NSW on 13 77 88. 

If your application is successful, you'll receive payment within 5 working days into your nominated bank/Credit Union account. Service NSW will contact you if there are problems issuing your payment.

If your application is unsuccessful, you'll be notified during the application process.
More information

Visit Service NSW for details about the Seniors energy rebate.

  • A household can only receive the rebate each financial year (even if more than one eligible retiree lives at the same address).
  • Rebates are paid directly into the nominated bank/credit union account.

The application and rebate is processed by Service NSW, not your electricity supplier.  
The rebate is not automatically applied each financial year. You need to reapply if you want to receive it the following year.

Queensland

Information about electricity concessions available to Queensland residents that are provided by the Queensland Government are listed below.

Eligibility criteria
You must:
  • Be a Queensland residential customer.
  • Be charged separately for your electricity and not where electricity is included as part of the rent.

This is also available to households:

  • In an on-supply arrangement.
  • Using card-operated electricity meters. 
Eligible concession cards

Not applicable. See eligibility criteria.
Rebate value/calculation

Households are set to receive a  $50.00 bill credit in 2021-22
Energy type
Electricity
How to apply

This dividend will be automatically applied as a credit on your electricity bill. You don’t need to apply for it. 
More information Visit QLD Government site for details about the Electricity asset ownership dividend

Eligibility criteria
You must:
  • Have a valid concession card from the list of cards below.
  • Be the electricity account holder and also live alone or share principal place of residence with any of the below:
    • Spouse
    • Other people who hold a Services Australia Pensioner Concession Card or Queensland Seniors Card
    • Other people wholly dependent
    • Other people who receive an income support or families payment from Centrelink who do not pay rent
    • Other people who receive an income support payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and who do not pay rent
    • Other people who live with the cardholder to provide care and assistance, and who do not pay rent.

If you live in a caravan park or multi-unit residential building (e.g. apartment), you must also show that your electricity is paid, based on metered consumption. 
Eligible concession cards

Eligible cards for electricity rebate:

  • Queensland Seniors Card
  • Services Australia or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
  • Services Australia Health Care Card* 
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (and receive the War Widow or special rate TPI Pension)
  • Asylum seeker status—residents will need to provide their ImmiCard details 

*This includes holders of a Low Income Health Care Card and Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card
Rebate value/calculation

Electricity rebate

  • $309.86 (excl GST) / $340.85 (incl GST) per year
Please note, all rebates are GST inclusive. Rebates for eligible card holders may appear as GST exclusive on bills. 
Energy type

Electricity
How to apply
  1. Provide your concession card details to Telstra Energy.
  2. Your card will be checked for eligibility.
  3. The rebate will automatically be applied to your account once your concession card details have been validated.
More information

Visit QLD Government site for details about the Electricity and gas rebate.

 

Please note: only the electricity rebate is applicable to eligible Telstra Energy customers. 

 

Holders of a Foster Child Health Care Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are not eligible for the electricity rebate. If you live in an apartment complex, residential park, retirement village or a granny flat contact the person/organisation sending your electricity bill. If you receive your electricity through an Ergon card-operated meter go to the Ergon Energy Queensland website.

Eligibility criteria

Must: 

Be responsible for paying the outstanding bill and meet one of the following:

  • Hold a current concession card
  • Have an income equal to or less than the Australian Government’s maximum income rate for part-age pensioners
  • Be part of your energy retailer's hardship program or payment plan.
You must also have experienced one or both of the following:
  • A substantial decrease in your household income (due to loss of employment/decreased hours/family separation)
  • High unexpected expenses on essential items 
Eligible concession cards
Must have a valid concession card
Rebate value/calculation
Pays up to $720.00 once every 2 years
Energy type

Electricity
How to apply
  1. Provide your concession card details to Telstra Energy.
  2. Your card will be checked for eligibility.
  3. You will receive an application number that is needed for your application.
  4. Complete the online application form for the Home energy emergency assistance scheme.
  5. The one off payment will be applied to your account by Telstra Energy once your application has been validated.
More information

Further details on reasons that will not be accepted for a substantial decrease in household income and high unexpected expenses on essential items can be found at the Home energy emergency assistance scheme site. 

Visit the QLD Government site for details about the Home energy emergency assistance scheme. 

Eligibility

Oxygen concentrators

You must comply with three criteria:

  • Receive your oxygen concentrator free of charge through the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) 
    AND
  • Have been medically assessed in accordance with the eligibility criteria determined by MASS.
    AND
  • Hold one of the listed concession cards.

Kidney dialysis machines

  • You must receive your home-based kidney dialysis machine free of charge through a Queensland Health hospital.

Note: full eligibility requirements for the concession are outlined on the application form. 

Eligible concession cards

 

Must have a valid card:

  • Pensioner Concession Card 
  • Health Care Card 
  • Health Care Interim Voucher
  • Child Disability Allowance
  • Queensland Seniors Card

Rebate value/calculation

 
  • $694.18 per year or $57.85 per month ($173.55 per quarter) for each oxygen concentrator

OR

  • $464.88 per year or $38.74 per month ($116.22 per quarter) for each kidney dialysis machine you use

The concession is calculated monthly and paid quarterly.

Energy type

Electricity

How to apply

Oxygen concentrator

  1. You'll need to complete the Electricity life support concession application form. The form will be sent to you within 14 working days of receiving your machine. 
  2. If you do not receive an application form, contact the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme to request a new one.

Kidney dialysis

You'll need to complete the Electricity life support concession application form that will be provided to you from the Renal Unit at Queensland Health hospitals.

  • A parent or guardian can submit an application on behalf of a child under 18
  • A person holding power of attorney, under the Powers of Attorney Act 1998 (Qld), may sign the application on behalf of the applicant

For help completing the application, phone Concession Services on 
13 QGOV (13 74 68). Incomplete or inaccurate applications may delay your concession payment.

 
More information Visit the QLD Government site for details about the Electricity life support concession.

Eligibility criteria

You must:

  • Be a Queensland resident.
  • Live at your principal place of residence, which has an air-conditioning or heating unit.
  • Have a qualifying medical condition and need cooling or heating to stop your symptoms becoming significantly worse. Qualifying medical conditions include:

    • Multiple sclerosis 
    • Autonomic system dysfunction
    • Loss of skin integrity or sweating capacity
    • Severe compromise of functioning such as mobility at extremes of environmental temperature 
    • Hypersensitivity of extremes of environmental temperature leading to increased pain or other discomfort or an increased risk of complications

The applicant and/or legal guardian of a minor with a qualifying medical condition must:

  • Hold one of the eligible concession cards below.
  • Be financially responsible for paying the electricity bill.

Note: You must re-apply for this concession every two years.

Eligible concession cards

 
  • Pensioner Concession Card issued by Services Australia or Department of Veterans’ Affairs
  • Health Care Card issued by Services Australia

Rebate value/calculation
  • $309.86 (excl. GST) per year with $77.47 (excl. GST) / $85.22 (incl. GST) paid into your account each quarter. 

Energy type

Electricity

How to apply

1. Print and complete the Medical cooling and heating electricity concession scheme application form. 

2. Send by post to the address listed on the form.

3. If you do not have access to a printer, email  to be sent a copy.

Please note: This form is not currently available as an RTF. Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) if the PDF form is not accessible to you.
More information

Visit QLD Government site for details about the Medical cooling and heating concession scheme. 

If you are receiving the Electricity Rebate or other energy concessions, you can apply for this concession.

Full details of eligibility for the concession including qualifying medical conditions, are listed on the application form. Your medical specialist must fill out the medical certification section.

Group homes, residential parks and unit complexes  

If there are multiple applicants living in the same group home with one electricity account, each person can apply separately. If you live in a residential park, caravan park or unit complex, you will need to show that your electricity usage is metered and billed (include an invoice or letter from the manager in your application).

 

 

South Australia

The South Australian Government Customer Concession Scheme for Energy is administered by the Department of Human Services. For details about concessions and how to apply please contact the Concessions SA Hotline on 1800 307 758 or go to www.sa.gov.au/concessions.

Eligibility criteria

Must:

  • Live at the property.
  • Have an eligible concession card from the list of cards below, receive an eligible Centrelink payment, or meet low income provisions.

Tenants must not be living with anyone who earns more than the low-income provisions, unless they either:

  • Get an allowance from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA).
  • Are your spouse, domestic partner or dependent.

Eligible Centrelink payments:

  • JobSeeker Payment
  • Widow Allowance
  • Youth Allowance
  • Partner Allowance
  • Parenting Payment
  • Special Benefit
  • Community Development Project (CDP)
  • New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)
  • ABSTUDY
  • Austudy
  • Farm Household Allowance (FHA)
  • War widow pension under legislation of the United Kingdom or New Zealand. 
 
Low income provisions: 
For the 2021/2022 financial year, your income from all sources must not be more than the income limits shown below.

Single

  • Fortnightly income before tax : $770.80
  • Annual income before : $20,040.80

Single with children

  • Fortnightly income before tax : $817.50
  • Annual income before : $21,255.00

Partnered

  • Fortnightly income before tax : $1,280.80
  • Annual income before : $33,300.80
 

Eligible concession cards

 
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) Gold Card
    • Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI)
    • Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
    • War Widow
    • Issued to a person with 80 or more overall impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (Cth) 
  • Low Income Health Care Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

Rebate value/calculation
For the 2021/2022 financial year the amount per eligible household is: 
  • Homeowner-occupiers: $215.10
  • Homeowner-occupiers who are self-funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: $107.60
  • Tenants: $107.60

Energy type

 Electricity

How to apply

Apply to Concessions South Australia  SA DHS: Cost of living concession

 

Applications must be submitted by 31 December to receive the concession for that financial year.
More information Visit SA Government site for details about the Cost of living concessions.

 

Eligibility criteria

Must: 

  • Hold an eligible concession card from the list of cards below or receive an eligible Centrelink payment.
  • Live at the property.
  • Hold an energy account in your name and be listed first on your energy bill.
  • Not be living with anyone who has an income of more than $3,000 per year, unless they either:
    • get an allowance from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA)
    • are your spouse, domestic partner or dependent.

Eligible Centrelink payments:

  • JobSeeker Payment
  • Widow Allowance
  • Youth Allowance
  • Partner Allowance
  • Parenting Payment
  • Special Benefit
  • Community Development Project (CDP)
  • New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)
  • ABSTUDY
  • Austudy
  • Farm Household Allowance (FHA)
  • War widow pension under legislation of the United Kingdom or New Zealand.

Eligible concession cards

 
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) Gold Card
    • Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI)
    • Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
    • War Widow
  • Issued to a person with 80 or more overall impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 
  • Low Income Health Care Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

You may also be eligible if you are a verified asylum seeker and your principal place of residence is in South Australia, you can apply for an energy concession through your Status Resolution Support Service.

Rebate value/calculation

For 2021, may be eligible to receive up to $231.41 to cover energy payments, including fuels used to generate energy (eg LPG bottled gas and petrol). 

This is indexed for each financial year.
  • Energy type

Electricity

How to apply

Managed by South Australian Department of Human Services (DHS). Apply to Concessions South Australia SA DHS: Energy bill concession

To apply you will need:

  • Your Centrelink customer reference number (CRN) or DVA file number
  • Information from your most recent electricity bill, including:
  • Retailer name
  • Account number
  • National Metering Identifier (NMI) number
  • Billing dates.
More information

Visit the SA government website for details about Energy bill concessions.

If you are a verified asylum seeker and your principal place of residence is in South Australia, you can apply for an energy concession through your Status Resolution Support Service if you:

  • Are receiving case management and/or support from an organisation contracted by the Department of Home Affairs to provide services under the SRSS program.
  • Meet low income requirements.
  • Hold an energy account in your name for your principal place of residence.
  • Are not living with anyone who earns more than $3,000 per year. 

 

Eligibility criteria

Any person undergoing dialysis treatment at home is eligible provided that the concession has been approved by a SA Health practitioner.

Eligible concession cards
No card required.

Rebate value/calculation

$165.00 per year

Energy type
Electricity

How to apply

Applications for the electricity concession can only be made through the SA Health renal units. 

To apply for the concession you will need to fill out a Dialysis concession application form (DOC 340KB) and a Vendor Creation/Amendment form. Health sites are required to have hard copies of the forms available for eligible patients to complete on request.

The Dialysis Concession Application form must be signed and approved by a SA Health practitioner to verify the patient receives such treatment at home.  
More information Visit SA Health for details about the Home dialysis electricity concession.

 

Eligibility criteria

You must: 

  • Hold an eligible concession card from the list of  cards below or receive an eligible Centrelink payment.
  • Live at the address on the application form.
  • Have, or be the parent or legal guardian of, a child who has a qualifying medical condition requiring cooling or heating to prevent severe worsening of their condition.
  • Provide certification from their medical specialist or general practitioner that the medical condition is severely worsened by hot or cold weather.
  • Use an air conditioning unit at that address to meet their medical heating and cooling requirements.
  • Be financially responsible for the full or part payment of the energy bill.

Eligible Centrelink payments:

  • JobSeeker Payment
  • Widow Allowance
  • Youth Allowance
  • Partner Allowance
  • Parenting Payment
  • Special Benefit
  • Community Development Project (CDP)
  • New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)
  • ABSTUDY
  • Austudy
  • Farm Household Allowance (FHA)
  • War widow pension under legislation of the United Kingdom or New Zealand

Eligible concession cards
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) Gold Card 
    • Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI)
    • Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
    • War Widow
    • Issued to a person with 80 or more overall impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
  • Low Income Health Care Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

Rebate value/calculation

Indexed each financial year and is currently $231.41 per year

Energy type
Electricity

How to apply
  1. Download and complete the Medical heating and cooling concession - application form (257 KB PDF) or phone the Medical Heating and Cooling line on 1300 735 350 and ask for a form to be sent to you.
  2. Complete and sign the application form with your medical practitioner.  Medical heating and cooling concession clinical guidelines (120 KB PDF)
  3. Email the form to MHC@sa.gov.au
More information Visit SA Health for details about the Medical heating and cooling concession. 

 

Eligibility criteria

Must:

  • Hold an eligible concession card from the list of cards below or receive an eligible Centrelink payment.
  • Occupy the property as your principal place of residence.

Eligible Centrelink payments:

  • JobSeeker Payment
  • Widow Allowance
  • Youth Allowance
  • Partner Allowance
  • Parenting Payment
  • Special Benefit
  • Community Development Project (CDP)
  • New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)
  • ABSTUDY
  • Austudy
  • War widow pension under legislation of the United Kingdom or New Zealand

Eligible concession cards
Must have a valid card:
 
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) Gold Card 
    • Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI)
    • Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
    • War Widow
    • Issued to a person with 80 or more overall impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
  • Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card)

Rebate value/calculation

The concession amount is indexed each financial year. The amount you can receive depends on your living arrangements and the utilities you pay for. For example, from 1 July 2021

  • Residents who own their own dwelling and pay for water, sewerage and energy - up to $548.81 per annum (paid quarterly)
  • Tenants who pay for water and energy - up to $360.51 per annum (paid quarterly)

Energy type

Electricity

How to apply
  1. Download and complete the Application for Concessions residential park residents (297.0 KB PDF)
  2. Email the form and supporting documents. 
More information Visit SA Government site for details about the Residential park residents concessions. 

 

Eligibility criteria Households with significant financial difficulties, or who have had their electricity disconnected (or are at risk of disconnection).
 

Eligible concession cards

 No card required.

Rebate value/calculation

Up to $400 (excl. GST) / $440 (incl. GST). 

Note: you can only receive an EEPS payment once every 3 years.  

Energy type

Electricity

How to apply
The EEPS is only accessible through financial counsellors, who will assess your financial situation before lodging an application. 
More information Visit the SA Government site for details about the Emergency electricity payment scheme. 

 

Eligibility criteria South Australian households and businesses. 

Eligible concession cards

 No card required.

Rebate value/calculation

Free or discounted energy efficiency and energy productivity activities from energy retailer participating in the REPS.  

Energy type

  • Electricity 

  • Water*

*Note – Telstra is not a water retailer and so it is not possible to apply for this scheme through Telstra in relation to water.  You should speak to your water retailer for further information about this. 

How to apply

 Call 13 22 00 and say “Energy” to speak directly to our Telstra Energy support team or email energysupport@team.telstra.com for information about products and services available to you.  
More information Visit the SA Government site for details about the Retailer energy productivity scheme. 

 

Victoria

The Victorian Government provides electricity concessions for eligible Victorian residents. Visit the Concessions and benefits site for more information or read about the individual concessions below.

Eligibility criteria

You must:

  • Be an electricity account holder.
  • Have an eligible concession card from the list of cards.

Eligible concession cards
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • Health Care Card (HCC)
  • Veterans' Affairs 

Rebate value/calculation

17.5% of electricity usage and service costs 

The concession is calculated after retailer discounts and solar credits have been deducted. 
The concession does not apply to the first $171.60 of the annual bill. This is calculated as a daily rate on each bill

Energy type
Electricity

How to apply
  1. Provide your concession card details to Telstra Energy.
  2. Your card will be checked for eligibility.
  3. The rebate will automatically be applied to your account once your concession card details have been validated.
More information Visit Victorian government site for details about the Annual electricity concession. 

 

Eligibility criteria

An electricity account holder whose annual electricity costs are above $3,000.00 and who holds one of the eligible cards listed below.

Eligible concession cards
 
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • Health Care Card (HCC)
  • Veterans' Affairs Gold Card 

Rebate value/calculation

17.5 per cent of electricity usage and service costs.

The concession is calculated after retailer discounts and solar credits have been deducted.

Energy type
Electricity

How to apply
  1. Telstra Energy will check if you need to apply for the Excess Electricity Concession and send you an application form.
  2. You must sign a declaration confirming that the electricity used at your address is for domestic purposes, that no commercial business is being conducted at the address, and that the electricity is not being used for an illegal purpose.
  3. After you have signed and dated the form, send to the address listed on the form 
  4. Email to: eec@dhhs.vic.gov.au
More information Visit Victorian government site for details about the Excess energy concession. 

 

Eligibility criteria

An electricity or water* account holder who:

  • Holds an eligible concession card listed below.
  • Uses an eligible life support machine.
  • Has a household member who uses an eligible life support machine. 

Approved machines are those that use at least 1,880 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Machines already approved are:

  • Intermittent peritoneal dialysis machines (electricity)
  • Oxygen concentrators (electricity)
  • Haemodialysis machines (electricity and water)

Applications for other machines must be approved by the department.

Most continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machines do not meet the 1,880 kilowatt hour threshold.

*Note – Telstra is not a water retailer and so it is not possible to apply for this rebate through Telstra in relation to water.  You should speak to your water retailer for further information about this. 

Eligible concession cards
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card
  • Health Care Card (HCC)

Rebate value/calculation

The electricity discount is the cost of 1,880 kilowatt hours (470 kilowatt hours per quarter) of electricity each year, calculated using the general domestic tariff of your retailer.

The water discount for haemodialysis users is the cost of 168 kilolitres (42 kilolitres per quarter) of water each year.

Energy type

 Electricity

How to apply

1. Complete the Life support concession form

2. Ask your doctor , nurse or social worker to sign the form and confirm your use of a life support machine. 

3. Send completed form to us via email or Send by post: Telstra Energyc/o Locked Bag 20036 Melbourne Victoria 3001

4. The concession will be applied to your account once your application has been approved.

5. You'll need to renew your application every two years. 
More information Visit the Victorian government site for details about the Life support concession.

 

Eligibility criteria
An electricity account holder who holds an eligible concession card from the list of cards and:
  • Has has a medical condition that affects their body's ability to self-regulate temperature.
  • Has a household member with a medical condition that affects their body's ability to self-regulate temperature.

Pre-approved conditions are:

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Lymphoedema
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Post-polio Syndrome/Poliomyelitis
  • Motor Neurone Disease
Applications for other conditions must be approved by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. 

Eligible concession cards
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • Health Care Card (HCC)
  • Veterans' Affairs Gold Card

Rebate value/calculation

17.5% of electricity usage and service costs between 
1 November and 30 April

Energy type

 Electricity

How to apply

1. Complete an application form for the Medical cooling concession.

2. Ask your doctor to confirm your medical condition.

3.  Send completed form to us via email or Send by post: Telstra Energyc/o Locked Bag 20036 Melbourne Victoria 3001

You may be asked to renew your application for the concession periodically.
More information Visit the Victorian government site for details about the Medical cooling concession. 

 

Eligibility criteria

You must:

  • Show that you have no way of paying the account without assistance.
  • Meet one of the following criteria:
    • you or someone in your house has experienced family violence
    • you have had a recent decrease in income, for example, lost your job
    • you have had high unexpected costs for essential items
    • the cost of shelter is more than 30% of your household income.

Eligible concession cards
 
  • Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
  • Health Care Card (HCC)
  • Veterans' Affairs Gold Card
 
If you don’t have one of these cards but are part of a low-income household, you may also be able to apply. We will ask you some questions to check if you are eligible before issuing a form.

Rebate value/calculation

The amount of the grant is based on the amount you owe at the time of application. It is also based on the reasons you have given for applying in your application form.

Up to $650.00 for electricity in a two-year period (or $1,300 for households with a single source of energy (for example, electricity only).

Energy type

Electricity

How to apply
  1. Phone 13 22 00 and say 'Energy'
  2. We'll complete the URGS application with you over the phone. 
  3. We'll submit the application on your behalf.
  4. If approved, the grant will be credited against your energy debt.
More information Visit the Victorian government site for details about the Utility relief grant scheme

 

Australian

The Australian government provides energy concessions to Australian residents who meet certain criteria.

Eligibility criteria You are eligible to the Energy supplement if you:

Live in Australia and receive either
  • Income support payment
  • ABSTUDY living allowance

You might get the supplement if you either:

  • Get Family Tax Benefit 
  • Have a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
If you receive either of these 2 and an income support payment, you may not get Energy Supplement. This depends on when you started getting Family Tax Benefit or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. 
Eligible concession cards Not applicable, see eligibility criteria.
Rebate value/calculation The supplement amount will depend on your circumstances and the payments your receive.
Energy type Electricity and Gas
How to apply You don't need to apply for the Energy supplement. This will be included in your regular payment from the government if you are eligible.
More information Visit the Services Australia site for details about the Energy supplement

Get in touch

Contact us directly for help with concessions and rebates.

Give us a call on 13 22 00 and say “Energy” to speak directly to our Telstra Energy support team or email  energysupport@team.telstra.com.

For interpreter or translation services call 1800 241 600.

Important information

ENERGY ESSENTIALS

Life support

CONSUMER ADVICE

Priority assistance