Australian state and territory governments fund energy concessions — direct rebates or bill reductions applied to electricity and gas accounts for eligible households. Nationally, hundreds of millions of dollars in concessions go unclaimed each year because eligible households either do not know about them or assume they are already receiving them when they are not.
Concession amounts, eligibility criteria, and how to apply vary significantly between states. Here is the current landscape as of 2026.
Eligibility is broadly consistent across states. You typically qualify if you hold any of the following: a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, a DVA Gold or White Card, a Low Income Health Care Card, or a Healthcare Card. Some states also offer concessions for holders of a NSW Companion Card, disability support concessions, or specific medical equipment allowances (such as home oxygen or dialysis machines).
The most common point of confusion: holding an eligible card does not automatically enrol you in your state's energy concession program. In most states, you need to notify your electricity retailer that you hold an eligible card and ask to be enrolled. If you switched retailers and did not re-register your card, your concession may have lapsed.
If you hold a Pensioner Concession Card and you have not specifically confirmed your energy concession is active with your current retailer, call them and check. Many households carry eligible cards and are not receiving the concession they are entitled to.
| State | Concession name | Value (approximate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Low Income Household Rebate | $285/year | Applied quarterly to bill |
| NSW | Life Support Rebate | Varies by equipment | For approved medical equipment |
| VIC | Annual Electricity Concession | 17.5% off usage + daily supply charge | Applied monthly; averages $170-250/year |
| VIC | Excess Energy Concession | Up to $258 additional | High-usage households; auto-assessed |
| QLD | Electricity Rebate | $372/year (approx) | Paid as a credit each quarter |
| SA | Cost of Living Concession | $237/year (electricity component) | One combined payment covering multiple costs |
| WA | Energy Assistance Payment | Up to $660/year | Includes electricity and gas; one of the most generous |
| TAS | Pensioner Electricity Concession | ~12% off electricity bills | Applied to Aurora Energy bills |
| ACT | Utilities Concession | ~$300-700/year | Combined utilities concession; varies by usage |
These figures are approximate and change with annual government budget updates. Always check your state government's official concession website for current rates.
In addition to state concessions, the Australian Federal Government has provided direct energy bill relief payments in recent years — typically as automatic credits applied to electricity accounts without requiring an application. These payments have varied in amount and eligibility each year. Check the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website (energy.gov.au) for the current year's status and amount.
Every state has a separate concession for households with approved life support or medical equipment that requires continuous electricity — home oxygen concentrators, home dialysis machines, ventilators, and similar. These rebates partially offset the higher power consumption these devices require. Application usually involves your treating medical practitioner completing a form confirming the equipment is in use and medically necessary.
In most states, the process is: contact your electricity retailer directly, tell them you hold a concession card, provide your card number, and ask to be enrolled in the relevant concession. The retailer submits your details to the state government scheme and the credit starts appearing on your bills.
Some states have moved to a centralised registry. In Victoria, Centrelink and the state government exchange card information, so the concession can be applied more automatically — but you may still need to prompt your retailer if you switch. In NSW, you must actively register with each retailer separately.
If you are unsure whether you are receiving the concession, check your most recent electricity bill. A correctly applied concession will appear as a line item, often labelled "government rebate," "electricity rebate," or "[state] concession."
Most state concession programs also cover natural gas bills for connected households. The same eligibility cards typically apply. If your household has both electricity and gas, confirm both services are registered for the concession — some households successfully register electricity but miss the gas component.
Check whether your energy plan is at a competitive rate on top of any concessions you receive.
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