Ministerial Directions applying to all retailers
Last updated: 5 July 2011
The NSW Government's new Low Income Household Rebate commenced on 1 July 2011, replacing the Energy Rebate. The Low Income Household Rebate will see an increase in the rebate amount from $145 per year to $200 per year for eligible customers.
The Medical Energy Rebate has also been increased from $145 per year to $200 per year for eligible customers.
The new Ministerial Direction and Guidelines for Retailers are available below.
The NSW Government has established the following financial assistance measures to assist vulnerable customers pay their energy bills:
- NSW Low Income Household Rebate
- Life Support Rebate
- Medical Energy Rebate
- Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) scheme.
Clause 75 of the Electricity Supply (General) Regulation 2001 provides the authority for the framework of obligations of retailers as set out in the Ministerial Direction for Social Programs issued to NSW electricity retailers in regards to the:
- NSW Low Income Household Rebate(for Pensioners and Centrelink Health Care Card holders and Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold Card holders)
- Life Support Rebate; and
- Medical Energy Rebate.
The Ministerial Direction and Guidelines for administration of these rebates are found below. These only apply to electricity retailers:
- Ministerial Direction for Social Programs - Low Income Household Rebate, Medical Energy Rebate and Life Support Rebate (120kb PDF)
- Guidelines - Low Income Household Rebate (53kb PDF)
- Guidelines - Medical Energy Rebate (83kb PDF)
- Guidelines - Life Support Rebate (67kb PDF)
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme
Energy Account Payment Assistance (EAPA) is a NSW Government scheme designed to help residential energy customers who are financially disadvantaged and experience difficulty paying their home gas and/or electricity bill because of a crisis or emergency situation. The scheme is aimed at helping people in such situations to stay connected to essential energy services.
The retailer guidelines for administration of the EAPA Scheme are found below. These apply to both gas and electricity retailers: