This page is for people who have been contacted about the NSW Energy Debt Relief Trial (the Trial). This closed trial helps selected households reduce or eliminate their long term energy debt.
Beware of scams
You will only be contacted by your energy retailer, the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) and the NSW Government about the Energy Debt Relief Trial.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected].
The NSW Government is trialing ways it can support households experiencing long term energy bill debt.
We are partnering with 5 energy retailers to help up to 5,000 households in long term energy debt by giving them a fresh start.
Customers will receive invites to the Trial between 16 December 2024 and 30 June 2025.
Benefits
By participating in the Trial, you will receive up to $2,000 to help reduce or eliminate your long term energy debt.
Some energy retailers may offer additional supports to help you better understand and manage your energy usage and costs, and prevent future debt build up.
Who is eligible?
The Trial is a referral program and is only open to customers of these partner energy retailers:
- AGL
- EnergyAustralia
- ENGIE
- Origin Energy
- Red Energy.
You are eligible to participate if you have:
- been referred by a partner retailer, EWON or us
- an active electricity or gas retail account
- energy debt that is between $800 and $4,000
- unpaid bills of 180 days or more
- indicated you are experiencing financial hardship
- been approved following assessment by us.
You do not need to be on an active payment plan or enrolled in a hardship program with your energy retailer to participate.
How to participate in the Trial
Participation in the trial is by invitation only. You cannot apply for the Trial.
If you have been identified as eligible, you will be contacted by us, your energy retailer or EWON and invited to participate in the Trial.
To accept the invitation, you must reply and give your consent to share your information with us for the purposes of the Trial.
We will contact you to complete an assessment and let you know if you are approved or not to participate in the Trial.
If you are approved, you will be enrolled in the Trial. The Trial will last up to 2 years, with your energy retailer sharing Trial outcome data with us until 31 July 2027.
What the Trial involves
If you are approved, your energy retailer will apply a NSW Government payment of up to $2,000 to your energy account. The amount will be assessed based on your long term, eligible energy debt.
Your energy retailer may also provide you with additional supports such as:
- an energy assessment
- debt waiver
- financial advice
- payment matching
- smart meter installation and guidance.
To participate in the Trial, you will be required to complete the following activities for up to 18 months:
- complete surveys at the start, 6 and 12 months into the Trial, and you may be asked to complete a survey at the conclusion of the Trial
- stay in contact with your energy retailer to receive additional support with managing energy use and costs
- give your energy retailer permission to provide your data to us to help monitor and report on outcomes of the Trial.
We will use findings from the Trial to inform policy developments and programs to better support people with long term energy debt.
Contact
If you would like to be considered for the Trial, please respond to the invitation from either your energy retailer, EWON or the NSW Government.
If you have any questions about the Trial, please email us at [email protected].