The 2023-24 energy bill relief has been extended to eligible small businesses in embedded networks. For example, a shop in a shopping centre that gets electricity from its landlord.
Embedded network operators must apply for energy bill relief on behalf of eligible small businesses on your network.
Help to pay your electricity bill is available for eligible households and small businesses. The Energy Bill Relief rebate applies in addition to the South Australian energy concession.
If you currently receive the energy concession, you’re already eligible for the rebate, and it will automatically be applied to your bills. You don’t need to do anything.
If you don’t receive the energy concession, check if you’re eligible for that first.
Energy concession - who can apply
Some people will be eligible for the rebate, but not concessions. They will need to provide information to Services Australia or to their energy retailer to receive the bill relief.
From 1 July 2024 the Energy Bill Relief will be extended to all Australian households and eligible small businesses.
An annual rebate of up to $300 for households and up to $325 for small businesses will be applied to electricity bills throughout 2024-25.
Who is eligible
Households
Your name must appear on the electricity bill and you must have one of these:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care Card)
- DVA Gold Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Family Tax Benefit (FTB) A or B
- Carer Allowance
Or, you must be eligible for the South Australian energy concession.
A household can only receive a single rebate even if there is more than one eligible person living there.
Eligibility is checked each quarter. You only need to be eligible on one day in a quarter to receive the energy bill relief for that quarter.
Small businesses
You can get the bill relief for your small business if it:
- is located in South Australia
- consumes less than 160MWh of electricity per year, and
- is on a separately metered business tariff with your electricity retailer, or
- is in an embedded network and
- had an active electricity account with an embedded network operator on 1 January 2024
- receives an itemised account from an embedded network operator for the consumption of electricity
New businesses established this financial year that meet the above criteria will be eligible for the energy bill relief and will be backdated accordingly.
Eligible businesses in embedded networks - that do not receive an electricity bill directly from an energy retailer - will receive a one-off energy bill relief payment directly on their electricity invoice.
You're not eligible if you run your small business using electricity from your home, or if your annual electricity consumption is above 160MWh.
Rebate amount
The total rates for the 2023-24 financial year are:
- households - up to $500 a year, paid as:
- a quarterly credit of $125, if billed by an energy retailer
- a one-off $500 bank account payment, if living in an embedded network
- small businesses - up to $650 a year, paid as:
- a quarterly credit of $162.50, if billed by an energy retailer
- a one-off $650 rebate applied to the electricity invoice, if in an embedded network
What happens next
Most eligible people are already receiving the energy bill relief on their electricity bills, or into their bank account if they do not receive bills.
You might need to take action if you're not receiving the bill relief yet. Read the section below that best describes your circumstances.
Already receiving an energy concession
You should have already received the bill relief on your electricity bills this financial year, in addition to your energy concession.
Check your past bills for a quarterly credit with a description like AUS SA Gov Energy Relief.
If you believe you were eligible but have not receive the bill relief for 2023-24, contact ConcessionsSA at 1800 307 758
Read the information about embedded network households on this page if you generate your own energy or live in an embedded network.
Recently applied for an energy concession
You’ll receive the additional energy bill relief if you're approved for the standard energy concession this financial year. You'll also be backdated for any previous quarters for which you were eligible.
The credit should appear on the first electricity bill you receive after you’re approved. Look for a description like AUS SA Gov Energy Relief on your bill.
Read the information about embedded network households on this page if you generate your own energy or live in an embedded network.
Don’t receive an energy concession
You should check:
- if you hold one of the eligible cards or payments
- If you do, apply for household concessions
- your electricity account is in your name. You can ask your retailer to change this if needed.
You could still be eligible for the rebate if you don't have one of these cards or payments.
Eligible Services Australia cards and payments
If you had one of these on 31 July 2023:
- Carer Allowance
- Family Tax Benefit
- Health Care Card
and you provided your consent to be validated to Services Australia or to your energy retailer, you should already be receiving your energy bill relief quarterly.
Your eligibility will be assessed again on 28 June 2024. You’ll continue to receive the bill relief if you remain eligible on this date.
If you started receiving one of these cards or payments after 31 July 2023, contact your electricity retailer directly to be validated for the energy bill relief. You’ll be backdated for any previous quarters for which you were eligible.
Eligible DVA cards and payments
If you have:
- All other DVA Gold cards
Contact your electricity retailer from now until 30 June 2024 and provide them your UIN or Veteran File Number and consent. They will check your eligibility for the bill relief.
If you’re eligible, your energy bill relief will be applied to your electricity account and you’ll be backdated for any previous quarters for which you were eligible.
Your eligibility will be assessed again on 28 June 2024. You’ll continue to receive the bill relief if you remain eligible on this date.
Embedded network households
This information is for people living in an embedded network or who generate their own energy.
Typically, you live in an embedded network if you get your electricity from your strata or landlord in a caravan park, apartment building, or retirement home or village.
You might not live in an embedded network if your household receives energy bills but you don’t have a direct relationship with the retailer – for example you’re a subletter in a sharehouse.
If you're receiving the existing energy concession or were recently approved
You don’t need to do anything. You should receive a one-off payment of $500 directly into your bank account, in addition to the energy concession.
Check your bank statement for a payment description starting with DHS AP followed by a series of numbers – for example, DHS AP 012345678.
If you don’t receive and are not eligible for the existing energy concession
Check if you need to apply for the energy bill relief.
You only need to apply if you were directed to do so by Services Australia, ConcessionsSA, or your energy retailer.
Most people do not need to complete a form to receive the bill relief. If you're unsure, please contact ConcessionsSA.
Small businesses
Billed by an energy retailer - eg AGL, Origin
Eligible small businesses will automatically receive the bill relief from July 2023 through their retailer.
In an embedded network
These are businesses billed for electricity by an embedded network operator or a landlord. For example a shop in a shopping centre that gets electricity through its landlord.
Eligible small businesses don't need to do anything.
The landlord or embedded network operator will arrange for the energy retailer to apply the energy bill relief directly to your small business electricity invoice.
If your business doesn’t receive the bill relief, contact your landlord or embedded network operator.
For more information about energy bill relief, contact the Office for Small and Family Business.
Online: Contact Small and Family Business
Phone: 8429 3801
Email: smallbusiness@sa.gov.au
Embedded network operators
You must apply for energy bill relief on behalf of eligible small businesses on your network.
If you operate an embedded network, apply through the Small and Family Business website and return the form to your energy retailer.
Changing retailers
When you receive your first electricity bill from your new retailer, update your details using the household concessions form or phone the ConcessionsSA Hotline on 1800 307 758.
On your bill, your name must:
- be listed as an account holder
- match your Centrelink or DVA card.
Energy retailers in South Australia cannot transfer your concession, you must contact ConcessionsSA.