Do you need help paying your energy bills?

Good news – the Queensland government offers a range of energy rebates to help people pay their bills. Also known as concessions, these rebates offer financial assistance for low-income earners, concession card holders and people with certain medical conditions. To see if you might be eligible, check the details below.

QLD energy rebates and concessions

Electricity and Natural Gas Rebates

Rebate value:

• Electricity: $309.86 excluding GST or $340.85 including GST per year (alternatively, it can be calculated at a rate of 84.89c excluding GST per day (i.e. 93.38c including GST).
• Natural gas: $66.90 excluding GST or $73.60 including GST per year (alternatively, it can be calculated at a rate of 18.33c excluding GST per day (i.e. 20.16c including GST).

Eligibility:

Concession card holders.

How to apply:

Register for the rebates with your retailer.

To find out more, visit the Qld energy rebates website.

Electricity Only Rebate

Rebate value:

• $309.86 excluding GST or $340.85 including GST per year (alternatively, it can be calculated at a rate of 84.89c excluding GST per day (i.e. 93.38c including GST).

Eligibility:

Concession card holders.

How to apply:

Contact your retailer.

To find out more, visit the Qld energy rebates website.

Home Emergency Assistance Scheme

Rebate value:

Every 2 years, you can receive $720 to use towards your electricity or natural gas accounts.

Eligibility:

Households on a low income who face a short-term financial crisis or an unforeseen emergency.

How to apply:

Contact your energy retailer.

To find out more, visit the Home Emergency Assistance Scheme web page.

Household Utility Assistance Package

Rebate value:

$200 will be automatically applied to your electricity bill.

Eligibility:

All Queensland households.

How to apply:

The rebate will automatically be applied to your account.

Power Bill Relief Package for small and medium businesses

Rebate value:

$500 will be automatically applied to upcoming electricity bill.

Eligibility:

Small businesses with total consumption less than 100,000 kilowatt hours (kWh).

How to apply:

The rebate will automatically be applied to your electricity account.

Electricity Life Support

Rebate value:

• For each oxygen concentrator: $694.18 per year, or $57.85 per month ($173.55 per quarter).
• For each kidney dialysis machine: $464.88 per year, or $38.74 per month ($116.22 per quarter).

Eligibility:

Seriously ill people who need to use a home-based oxygen concentrator or kidney dialysis machine.

How to apply:

This will vary depending on the equipment used.

To find out more, visit the Qld Electricity Life Support web page.

Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme

Rebate value:

$340.85 including GST per year.

Eligibility:

People who have a qualifying medical condition requiring cooling or heating to prevent severe worsening of their condition.

How to apply:

Download an application form from the Qld Government website or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) if you need assistance.

Find more savings on your energy bills

Have you been on the same plan for some time now? By comparing energy plans and retailers, you might be able to find some significant savings.

See how much you could save. Compare electricity retailers QLD.

Queensland’s ‘Solar for rentals trial’

Good news if you have a rental property in the areas of Gladstone, Bundaberg and Townsville. The Queensland government is currently trialling a program that offers landlords in the areas of Gladstone, Bundaberg and Townsville up to $3,500 towards installing a solar system. There are 1,000 rebates available in total – but you’ll need to quick. Applications for this trial need to be submitted by 30 June 2020. You can find a summary of the trial’s details below.

The state government had also implemented a program of interest-free loans to help residents purchase a solar system and battery storage. Unfortunately, applications have now closed for this program. If you were fortunate enough to apply before the cut-off date, we’ve included the loan terms below for your reference.

Solar for rentals trial

Rebate value:

• 1,000 rebates of up to $3,500.
• The rebate is paid based on the size of the system installed:
  • $2,500 for systems 3 kilowatts to less than 4 kilowatts
  • $3,000 for systems 4 kilowatts to less than 5 kilowatts
  • $3,500 for systems 5 kilowatts or greater.

Eligibility:

• The rental property must be:
  • Located in the Gladstone, Bundaberg or Townsville local government areas.
  • Detached or semi-detached with its own roof space and electricity meter.
  • Currently tenanted with a rent (before solar) of no more than $350 per week.
• Lease requirements:
  • Participating landlords and tenants must renew or enter into a new rental lease showing:
    • A fixed term of at least 12 months,
    • A fair rent increase.

 How to apply:

Applications are to be submitted by 30 June 2020.
To find out more, visit the Queensland Government’s website.

Interest-free loans for solar systems (now closed)

Value:

• Loans of up to $4,500 to purchase a solar system.
• The loan must be repaid within 7 years.

Find out more:

Visit the Queensland Government’s website.

Loans and grants for battery systems (now closed)

Value:

• Grants of $3,000.
• Interest-free loans of up to $6,000, repayable within 10 years.

Find out more:

Visit the Queensland Government’s website.

Loans and grants for combined solar and battery systems (now closed)

Value:

• Grants of $3,000.
• Interest-free loans of up to $10,000, repayable within 10 years.

Find out more:

Visit the Queensland Government’s website.

How to benefit from solar feed-in tariffs

If you’re thinking about going solar, don’t forget to factor feed-in tariffs into the equation. Also known as ‘buy back rates’ or ‘solar tariffs’, feed-in tariffs give you money back on any electricity you export to the electricity grid.

If you’re a homeowner and want to take advantage of feed-in tariffs, your solar system will need to be connected to the grid. You may also be able to benefit from feed-in tariff credits if you are renting. However, you’ll need to discuss this with the owner of your home or unit.

How much can you earn with feed-in tariffs?

In 2010, you might have been able to earn 60 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). However, as the uptake of solar systems has increased, feed-in tariffs have reduced in value. These days you are more likely to receive between 10 cents per kWh and 18 cents per kWh.

Tip: If you’re considering a plan with high feed-in tariff, compare it against the usage and supply rates as well. And don’t forget to factor in any discounts, as these may only apply for a short period of time.

To learn more, see Using solar feed-in tariffs to save.

For more information on going solar, see A little guide to solar.