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Ring the company to ask about assistance available to you.
If it offers you an instalment plan, it must take notice of how much you say you can afford to pay in each instalment. It’s also entitled to take into account any debt you might build up by paying that amount. It doesn’t have to offer you another instalment plan if you've had two plans in the last 12 months, you haven’t stuck to them, and you haven’t assured the company you’ll stick to another one. Some companies even offer incentives for you to stick to the plan.
All electricity and natural gas companies accept Centrepay and most of the water companies do too. Centrepay is a free direct bill-paying service offered to customers receiving payments from Centrelink. Through Centrepay a customer can choose to pay bills by having a regular amount deducted from their Centrelink payment. Energy companies generally help you with the forms to establish such payment arrangement.
If you have a Healthcare card, ask the company to check that you’re getting all of the government concessions and rebates you’re eligible for.
You may be eligible for a Utility Relief Grant
from the government. This is a once-off payment which will reduce your
debt. You can apply through your energy or water company, but the
decision is made by the Department of Human Services’ Concessions Unit.
Because you can get only one grant for electricity, one for gas and one
for water, every two years, the timing of the application can be
important.
If you use LPG or alternative fuels, there is a non-mains Winter Energy
Concession that may be applicable to your account. As a LPG, carted
water or alternative fuel customer, you may also be eligible to apply
for a non-mains Utility Relief Grant from the government. The same
criteria as for the Utility Relief Grant applies (see above).
Return to Help with paying bills
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