Cost of Living Support
Energy costs getting you down? Maybe something here could help:
NSW Energy Support
Compare energy plans
Energy Made Easy is an energy price comparison service for households and small businesses.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/compare-energy-plans-energy-made-easy
Family Energy Rebate
Helps families receiving the Family Tax Benefit with their electricity costs. Either $20 per financial year or $180 per financial year.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-family-energy-rebate-retail-customers
NSW Gas Rebate
Helps concession card holders with their gas costs. Currently $110 per annum for households and $121 per annum for bottled gas or on supply households.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-gas-rebate-retail-customers
Low Income Household Rebate
Helps concession card holders with their electricity costs. Currently $285 per annum for households and $313.50 per annum for on supply households.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-low-income-household-rebate-retail-customers
Seniors Energy Rebate
The NSW Seniors Energy Rebate is available for eligible self-funded retirees to help cover the cost of their electricity. Gas accounts are not included.
The rebate is $200 per household, per financial year.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-seniors-energy-rebate
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) vouchers
Helps people experiencing a short-term financial crisis or emergency with their electricity and gas bills. Currently up to $400 off Gas and $400 off electricity, which can be accessed twice per year.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/energy-accounts-payment-assistance-eapa-scheme
Life Support Energy Rebate
The rebate is for NSW customers who need, or have someone living with them who needs to use approved energy-intensive medical equipment at home. The equipment must be essential for supporting life, such as home dialysis, cpap, ventilators and oxygen concentrators.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-life-support-energy-rebate-retail-customers
Medical Energy Rebate
The rebate is for NSW customers who have an inability to self-regulate body temperature when exposed to extreme hot or cold environmental temperatures. To be eligible for the rebate, you'll need to have a diagnosis that you're unable to self-regulate your body temperature. Currently between $285-$313.50 per annum.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-medical-energy-rebate-retail-customers
Products you can install that are more energy-efficient
Heat Pump Hot Water Services
Heat pump water heaters are highly efficient and use 30% of the energy of a conventional electric hot water system. These systems use a refrigeration cycle to extract heat from the air to heat the water.
Heat pumps are expensive to purchase and install, but are cheap to run. A typical household spends 35-40% of its energy costs on heating water – accounting for around $1050 per year. A heat pump is 70% more efficient than other HWS and will therefore save an average house (with 3 occupants) around $730 per year.
What discounts are available for Heat Pumps?
- Australian Government Energy Efficiency Discount - Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) The amount of this discount depends on the type of system, the size of the system when it is installed and the geographic area it is in. The Federal Government provides a calculator at REC Registry - Solar water heater STC calculator (rec-registry.gov.au)
- NSW Government Energy Savings Scheme - provides a discount on the installation of a Heat Pump if replacing gas or electric hot water systems. The size of the discount depends on a range of factors similar to the Australian Government STC program above. Residents and Businesses can only claim the discount through approved suppliers. A Heat Pump normally costs around $3,000-$4,000, through the application of the discounts you might expect to pay around $500 as a rough guide.
- Contact approved suppliers. They will be able to check your eligibility and provide you with a quote. It’s a good idea to request quotes from more than one supplier. This will ensure you’re getting the best deal and system for your needs. Suppliers work independently and choose which areas they operate in and what products and services they can offer.
- Choose a hot water system that best suits your needs. Your supplier can help you by showing you the different options available that will work with your home set-up. Some points to consider are the compressor can be noisy, like that of an air conditioning system, so don’t place it near a bedroom or boardroom. Additionally, not all models are designed for cold locations where it regularly drops below 5°C in winter.
- Choose an approved supplier before any work begins. The supplier will provide you with the nomination form. You must sign the nomination form before your installation is complete, as you will not be reimbursed for works that are already completed.
- Your supplier will send a licensed electrician and/or plumber to install your new hot water system. They will also show you how to use it.
- Your electrician or plumber will dispose of and recycle your old hot water system, as well as any other equipment that is being replaced.
- Now you can enjoy your new hot water system! But if you have any issues or questions, contact your supplier for further assistance.
Buyer beware – if it's too good to be true, it probably is
If a Heat Pump is being offered at low cost to the consumer, it may contain a banned refrigerant or a refrigerant to be phased out. To avoid purchasing a Heat Pump with a banned or phasing out refrigerant please use an accredited supplier under the Energy Savings Scheme (see above).