Last updated: 06 Dec 2023
Concessions and grants
Do you have a concession card? You may be eligible for concessions on your electricity, gas and water bills.
On this page:
Important concession information
- Concessions can reduce your bills. But you must give your concession card details to your energy company for a concession to be applied and re-contact the company when your card expires.
- The following information on the concession card must match the account holder details with your retailer:
- Name
- Address
- CRN (Customer Reference Number)
- Expiry date
- Concessions can be backdated 12 months if they’ve not been applied to your energy or water bill.
- The Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) energy and water concessions are in the table below.
Appearance of different concession cards
Important concession information
| Concession type | Benefit | How to apply | Important information |
|---|---|---|---|
Concession type Annual Electricity Concession (AEC) |
Benefit 17.5% reduction on electricity bills all year |
How to apply Contact electricity company |
Important information Does not apply to the first $171.60 of eligible electricity bill |
Concession type Winter Gas Concession (WGC) |
Benefit 17.5% reduction on mains gas bills from 1 May to 31 October each year |
How to apply Contact gas company |
Important information Does not apply to the first $62.40 of an eligible winter gas bill |
Concession type Excess Energy Concession (EEC) |
Benefit $1,644 (gas), $2,973 (elec) annual period starting 1 December 2020. Life Support/Medical Cooling customers: no form needed as retailer should automatically apply the EEC to the account. |
How to apply Contact energy company or DFFH Concessions Information Line (CIL) on 1800 658 521 or email concessions@health.vic.gov.au |
Important information Life Support Concession and/or the Medical Cooling Concession recipients are automatically eligible after submitting a form |
Concession type Life Support Concessions |
Benefit Discount on electricity and/or water bills for eligible life support machine use |
How to apply Contact the energy or water company or DFFH CIL on 1800 658 521 |
Important information |
Concession type Medical Cooling Concession |
Benefit 17.5% reduction off summer electricity costs (1 November to 30 April) for qualifying medical conditions including: multiple sclerosis, lymphoedema, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, post-polio syndrome/poliomyelitis, motor neurone disease |
How to apply Contact the energy company, DFFH CIL on 1800 658 521 |
Important information This is in addition to the AEC |
| Concession type | Benefit | How to apply | Important information |
|---|---|---|---|
Concession type Utility Relief Grant (URGS) and Non-mains Utility Relief Grant (NURGS) |
Benefit For temporary affordability issues (within last 12 months) and customers at risk of disconnection or restriction. You can receive a maximum of $650 over a two-year period - for each utility (or $1,300 if you only have electricity at home). |
How to apply Contact the energy, water or LPG company or DFFH (for NURGS) CIL on 1800 658 521 |
Important information To be eligible for URGS, your account must be open, so you must apply before you change companies. You cannot apply for URGS for your final bill. You also need to be living at the property to be eligible, unless you are experiencing family violence. Energy companies must support customers with completing URGS application forms. This includes submitting forms online and on behalf of the customer where possible. No concession card? You may still receive a Utility Relief Grant (URGS) and Non-mains Utility Relief Grant (NURGS) if part of a low-income household. NURGS applies to non-mains sources e.g. carted water, firewood (for households with no other form of heating) and heating oil. |
Concession type Water Sewerage Concession |
Benefit 50% deduction on water and sewerage charges up to a yearly maximum of $345.50 for 2021-22. If you are only billed for a single service, for example, water only, you will receive 50% off water charges up to a maximum of $172.75. |
How to apply Contact water company |
Important information |
Concession type Non-mains water concession (carted water rebate) |
Benefit Rebate amounts for 2021-22 are: $129 for spending from $180 to $517.99, $258 for spending from $518 to $1036.99, $387 for spending $1037 and above. |
How to apply Contact DFFH CIL on 1800 658 521 |
Important information |
Note: From 1 December 2023, the following concessions were no longer available:
- Controlled Load Electricity Concession
- Service to Property Charge Concession
- Electricity Transfer Fee Waiver
Do you live in an embedded network?
Embedded networks are private electricity networks that supply electricity to homes or businesses within one area, such as an apartment building, shopping centre, caravan park or retirement village. Usually, the operator of the embedded network buys electricity in bulk and then sells it to customers inside the embedded network.
Concessions work differently in an embedded network - the concession is payable by cheque once a year.
Applications open on 1 July of every year. Application forms are available by phoning the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 (toll free) and may also be available from LPG suppliers, local councils and caravan park proprietors.
Applications close on 31 December of the following year. Each application must include copies of paid invoices or receipts.
In many lifestyle or retirement villages, the village management will apply for the concession on behalf of its residents. The village will collect the concession card information when customers move in and ask for consent to apply on their behalf. The village will apply at the end of each year for all eligible residents. If the village does not apply on the customer’s behalf they will need to submit an application along with energy invoices for the year.
Need further help? If you think you're entitled to concessions, contact your energy retailer or water company. If you’re not happy with its response, contact EWOV – we’re here to help!
