National Energy Bill Relief

Around 1.6 million households and 300,000 small businesses in NSW are eligible for a new targeted and temporary National Energy Bill Relief payment in financial year 2023-24. This is a joint initiative between the Australian and NSW Governments.

National Energy Bill Relief for households

Eligible low income households, pensioners, self-funded retirees, families and carers will receive a one-off bill relief payment of up to $500 towards their electricity bills. 

Most eligible households started to automatically receive quarterly instalments of $125 on their electricity bills from 31 July 2023. 

Eligibility was checked on 31 July 2023 and 31 October 2023 and will be checked again on 31 January 2024 and 30 April 2024.

The National Energy Bill Relief payment is in addition to any existing NSW energy rebates you receive.

Only one National Energy Bill Relief payment is available for each household in financial year 2023-24.

Household eligibility

National Energy Bill Relief is available to households receiving the NSW energy rebates below. 

You may be eligible for the National Energy Bill Relief payment if you don’t receive a NSW energy rebate and you:  

• hold a valid Low Income Health Care Card, or
• hold a valid Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card, or
• receive the Carer Allowance.  

Please note:

• You must be the energy account holder for your principal place of residence to receive the energy rebates and National Energy Bill Relief payment.  
• You may be eligible for multiple energy rebates however only one National Energy Bill Relief payment is available for each household in financial year 2023-24.
• Most eligible customers will receive a quarterly payment from July 2023.

How to apply

Application process if you receive or are eligible for a NSW energy rebate

If you receive a NSW energy rebate in financial year 2023-24, you will automatically receive the National Energy Bill Relief payment. You do not need to apply.  

If you are eligible for a NSW energy rebate but do not receive it, you will first need to apply for the rebate. You will then automatically receive the bill relief payment.  

Application process if you are not eligible for a NSW energy rebate 

The application process differs if you are a retail (on-market) or embedded network (on-supply) electricity customer. You are a retail (on-market) electricity customer if you receive your electricity bill from an authorised energy provider. You are an embedded network (on-supply) electricity customer if you receive your electricity bill from the owner or manager of your retirement village, strata complex or caravan park. 

If you are a retail (on-market) electricity customer and:

• you hold the Low Income Health Care Card or receive the Carer Allowance you can apply for the bill relief payment through MyGov
• you hold a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card you can apply for the bill relief payment through your energy provider. 

If you are an embedded network (on-supply) electricity customer and:

• you hold the Low Income Health Care Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Gold Card or receive the Carer Allowance, you can apply for the bill relief payment at Service NSW. Your application will be processed by the Office of Energy and Climate Change within 2-6 weeks. Applications will close on 30 June 2024.

Apply now

If you are unsure whether you are a retail (on-market) or embedded network (on-supply) customer, contact the energy provider named on your electricity bill.

National Energy Bill Relief for small businesses

Eligible small businesses will receive a one-off bill relief payment of up to $650 towards their electricity bill.

Most eligible small businesses started to receive the National Energy Bill Relief in quarterly instalments of $162.50 on their electricity bills from 31 July 2023. Eligibility was checked on 31 October 2023 and will be checked again on 31 January 2024 and 30 April 2024.

Small business eligibility

To be eligible for the bill relief payment, your small business must:

• not have already received the National Energy Bill Relief payment for small businesses
• be based in NSW
• have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be named on the electricity bill or account
• be on a separately metered business tariff
• use less than 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity per year.

Please note: If you operate your small business using electricity from your home on a residential tariff, you are not eligible. Other exclusions may apply, for example, post offices, government-owned agencies, gas and water retailers, and telecommunications companies are also not eligible.

How to apply

Application process if your small business is an on-market electricity customer

Most small businesses are on-market electricity customers and receive their energy bills from an authorised energy provider. If your small business is an on-market electricity customer, you do not need to apply.

Energy providers will apply the bill relief in quarterly instalments of $162.50 to eligible small businesses’ electricity accounts from 31 July 2023, 31 October 2023, 31 January 2024 and 30 April 2024. Please check your latest bill for this payment. If you have not received the payment, please contact the energy provider named on your electricity bill.

Application process if your small business is an embedded network (on-supply) electricity customer

Your small business is an embedded network (on-supply) electricity customer if you receive an electricity bill or invoice from, or on behalf of, the owners or management company where the business is located such as a shopping centre.

Embedded network (on-supply) customers can apply online for the bill relief payment at SmartyGrants. Your application will be processed by the Office of Energy and Climate Change within 2-6 weeks. Applications will close on 30 June 2024.

Apply now

If you are not sure whether your small business is an on-market or embedded network (on-supply) customer, please contact the energy provider named on your electricity bill.