ACT Energy Rebates 2026: Every Concession You May Be Eligible For

Updated April 2026 · General information only

If you live in the Australian Capital Territory and hold a concession card, the ACT Government offers one of the most generous utility concession programmes in Australia. Unlike most other states, which provide separate rebates for electricity, gas, and water, the ACT bundles all three into a single Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate worth $800 per year — covering electricity, gas, water, and sewerage in one payment.

This guide covers every ACT energy-related rebate available in 2026, who qualifies, how much each is worth, and how to ensure you are receiving everything you are entitled to.

TL;DR

The ACT offers a single, generous Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate of $800 per year that covers electricity, gas, water, and sewerage — one of the highest combined concessions in Australia. On top of this, eligible households may also access the Federal Energy Bill Relief ($150 credit applied directly to your electricity bill). Together, an eligible ACT household could potentially receive up to $950 per year in combined energy and utility rebates. Additional support may be available for life support equipment users and households experiencing hardship.

ACT Energy Rebates at a Glance

Source:
, ACT Revenue Office, ACT Government, as of April 2026. Amounts subject to change.

Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate ($800 per year)

The Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate is the ACT's primary support for concession card holders. At $800 per year, it is one of the most valuable utility concessions offered by any Australian state or territory — and it covers multiple utility types in a single payment.

Key details:

• Amount: $800 per year *(Source: ACT Government / Access Canberra, 2025-26 rates)*

• What it covers: Electricity, natural gas, water supply, and sewerage charges

• Payment method: Quarterly credits applied to your utilities accounts, or a direct rebate payment depending on your billing arrangement

• Limit: One concession per household (not per person)

Who Is Eligible?

You may be eligible for the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate if you are an ACT resident and hold one of the following:

• Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) — issued by Centrelink or DVA

• Health Care Card (HCC) — issued by Centrelink

• DVA Gold Card

• DVA Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Card

• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)

The utility account must be in your name (or your partner's name) at your principal place of residence in the ACT.

How It Works

Unlike most other jurisdictions where you register separately with each utility provider, the ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate is administered centrally. You apply once through Access Canberra and the concession is then applied across your relevant utility accounts.

The $800 covers all four utility types (electricity, gas, water, sewerage), so you do not need to apply for separate rebates for each. This bundled approach simplifies the process considerably compared to states like NSW or Victoria, where you must register with each provider individually.

Key Difference from Other States

In NSW, a concession card holder might receive $285 for electricity plus $110 for gas — a total of $395. In the ACT, the single $800 Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate covers both energy and water, providing significantly more support in one streamlined payment.

Source:
, ACT Revenue Office, as of April 2026.

Federal Energy Bill Relief ($150)

The Energy Bill Relief Fund is a Commonwealth Government initiative that provides a credit on electricity bills for all Australian households, including those in the ACT.

Key details:

• Amount: $150 per household for the 2025-26 financial year *(Source: Australian Government, 2025-26 Budget)*

• Payment method: Applied as a credit directly to your electricity bill in quarterly instalments

• Eligibility: All Australian households — no concession card or income test required

• Application: Automatic — you do not need to apply

How It Works in the ACT

The $150 credit is applied automatically to your electricity account. For most ACT households, this means it appears on your ActewAGL or other retailer bill. You do not need to take any action to receive it.

This credit is separate from and in addition to the ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate. If you hold a concession card, you receive both.

Source: Australian Government —
, as of April 2026.

Life Support Rebate

If you or a household member uses life support equipment that requires electricity, you may be eligible for a Life Support Rebate in addition to the standard Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate.

Key details:

• Amount: $150 per year (flat rate — does not vary by equipment type) *(Source: revenue.act.gov.au — Life Support Rebate)*

• Eligibility: Requires medical certification that approved life support equipment is used at the premises

• Concession card not required: Based on medical need, not income or card status

• Additional protections: Registering as a life support customer means your retailer must provide advance notice of planned outages and cannot disconnect your supply without following specific safeguards

Equipment That May Qualify

• Oxygen concentrators

• Ventilators / respirators

• Kidney dialysis machines

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines

• Other equipment as certified by a medical practitioner

How to Apply

1. Obtain certification from your registered medical practitioner confirming the life support equipment used at home

2. Contact your electricity retailer (typically ActewAGL in the ACT) — they will have a specific life support registration form

3. Complete the retailer's registration process

Even if you do not need the financial rebate, registering as a life support customer is essential for the disconnection protections it provides under the National Energy Retail Rules.

Source:
, ActewAGL, revenue.act.gov.au, as of April 2026.

Medical Heating and Cooling Concession

If you or a household member has a medical condition that requires additional heating or cooling at home, you may be eligible for an additional concession.

Key details:

• Amount: Amount not publicly listed — contact ActewAGL on 13 14 93 for current rates

• Eligibility: Concession card holders with a medical certificate confirming a condition that affects the ability to self-regulate body temperature

• Application: Through Access Canberra with supporting medical documentation

How to Apply

1. Obtain a medical certificate from your registered medical practitioner confirming your condition and the need for additional heating or cooling

2. Contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to discuss your eligibility and the application process

3. Provide the medical certificate along with your concession card details

Source: ACT Government / Access Canberra, as of April 2026.

Sustainable Household Scheme

The ACT Government's Sustainable Household Scheme offers loans to help households invest in energy-efficient upgrades. While not a rebate in the traditional sense, it can significantly reduce your ongoing energy costs.

Key details:

• Amount: Loans at 3% interest up to $15,000 (since 1 July 2025). Concession card holders may access zero-interest loans up to $10,000 through the Home Energy Support Program. *(Source: climatechoices.act.gov.au)*

• What it covers: Solar panels, battery storage, electric vehicle charging, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems (e.g., reverse-cycle air conditioning to replace gas heating), hot water heat pumps, ceiling insulation, and electric cooktops

• Repayment: Repaid fortnightly via Brighte (the loan provider), over up to 10 years *(Source: brighte.com.au)*

• Eligibility: ACT homeowners only — renters are NOT eligible. Landlords may apply for investment properties. EV loans do not require property ownership. *(Source: climatechoices.act.gov.au)*

Why It Matters for Energy Bills

The ACT Government has a stated goal of transitioning away from natural gas. The Sustainable Household Scheme supports this by making it more affordable to switch from gas to electric appliances. Combined with the territory's high renewable energy targets (100% renewable electricity since 2020), electrifying your home can lock in lower long-term energy costs.

How to Apply

1. Visit the
website

2. Check your eligibility and select approved products and installers

3. Apply online and, if approved, arrange installation through an approved provider

4. Repayments are managed fortnightly via Brighte (the loan provider)

Source: ACT Government — Climate Choices, climatechoices.act.gov.au, brighte.com.au, as of April 2026.

The ACT Energy Market: What You Need to Know

The ACT energy market is unique in Australia. Understanding its structure helps explain why the territory's approach to concessions differs from other states.

Limited Retail Competition

Unlike NSW, Victoria, or South Australia — where dozens of retailers compete for customers — the ACT has significantly less retail competition. ActewAGL is the dominant retailer, and while other retailers do operate in the ACT, the level of choice is more limited than in the larger states.

This means:

• Fewer plans to choose from, but the plans that are available tend to be more straightforward

• The ACT Government regulates standing offer prices (the default tariff), which provides a safety net for households that do not actively shop around

• The limited competition makes it even more important to ensure you are receiving all available concessions, as there is less scope to reduce bills by switching retailers

100% Renewable Electricity

Since 2020, the ACT has sourced 100% of its electricity from renewable sources through long-term contracts. While this does not directly affect individual bill amounts, it means ACT households are already using clean energy — which may be relevant if you are considering the Sustainable Household Scheme to further reduce your carbon footprint.

Gas Phase-Out

The ACT Government has signalled a long-term intention to phase out natural gas in favour of all-electric homes. New suburbs in the ACT are being built without gas connections. If you are currently on gas, the Sustainable Household Scheme's loans may help you transition to electric alternatives.

You can
to see estimated annual costs across available retailers — free and zero-commission.

Stacking Rebates: What an ACT Household Could Receive

One of the advantages of the ACT system is its simplicity — the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate covers multiple utility types in one payment. Here is how the available rebates may stack:

Example 1: Concession Card Holder (Standard)

Example 2: Concession Card Holder with Life Support Equipment

Example 3: Non-Concession Household (2025-26 Only)

Note: The Federal Energy Bill Relief is a temporary measure for the 2025-26 financial year. Check the Australian Government's website for updates on whether it will be extended beyond June 2026.

These are estimated annual totals based on published ACT Government and Commonwealth Government rates. Actual amounts may vary depending on your circumstances.

How to Apply for ACT Energy Rebates

Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate — Apply Through Access Canberra

Unlike most other states where you register with each retailer individually, the ACT centralises its concession applications:

1. Contact Access Canberra — online, by phone (13 22 81), or in person at a service centre

2. Provide your concession card details — card type, number, and the name on the card

3. Confirm your residential address — the account must be at your principal place of residence in the ACT

4. Provide your utility account details — your electricity, gas, and water account numbers

5. Access Canberra will process the concession and credits will be applied to your utility accounts

Federal Energy Bill Relief — Automatic

You do not need to apply. The $150 credit is applied automatically to your electricity bill in quarterly instalments.

Life Support and Medical Concessions — Apply with Documentation

1. Obtain a medical certificate from your registered medical practitioner

2. For life support: contact your electricity retailer (typically ActewAGL) with the medical certificate

3. For medical heating/cooling: contact Access Canberra with the medical certificate and your concession card details

Important Reminders

• If your concession card is renewed or reissued with a new number, update Access Canberra immediately to avoid your concession being suspended

• If you switch energy retailers, contact both Access Canberra and your new retailer to ensure the concession transfers correctly

• If you move address within the ACT, update Access Canberra with your new address and utility account details

• If you move interstate, you will need to apply for the relevant state's concession scheme separately — the ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate does not transfer to other jurisdictions

Tips to Maximise Your Energy Savings in the ACT

1. Confirm Your Concession Is Active on All Utility Bills

Review your electricity, gas, and water bills to check that the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate credits are appearing. Because the ACT uses a centralised application, there can occasionally be delays in the concession flowing through to all your utility accounts. If you notice a credit missing from any bill, contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81.

2. Consider Electrifying Your Home

With the ACT's 100% renewable electricity and the gas phase-out underway, switching from gas heating and cooking to electric alternatives (heat pumps, reverse-cycle air conditioning, induction cooktops) can reduce your long-term energy costs. The Sustainable Household Scheme may provide financing (at 3% interest, or zero-interest for concession card holders) to make this transition more affordable.

3. Compare Plans Even in a Limited Market

While the ACT has fewer retailers than NSW or Victoria, there are still differences between available plans. According to the ACCC, approximately 73% of energy customers nationally are not on the most competitive plan available to them (Source: ACCC Inquiry into the National Electricity Market, 2023). Even small savings on your underlying plan compound with your concession credits.

You can
to see estimated annual costs — free, with zero commission.

Related Benefits and Resources

If you are exploring ACT energy rebates, you may also find these guides useful:

•
— the pension that underlies Pensioner Concession Card eligibility

•
— concessions available for self-funded retirees, including ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate eligibility

•
— compare with NSW concessions if you live near the border

•
— see estimated costs for your area and usage, free and zero-commission

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate worth?

The ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate is worth $800 per year as of 2025-26. It covers electricity, natural gas, water supply, and sewerage charges — all in a single concession. This makes it one of the most generous utility concessions in Australia, as most other states offer separate, smaller rebates for each utility type.

Do I apply for the ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate through my energy retailer?

No. Unlike most other states, the ACT centralises its concession applications through Access Canberra. You apply once through Access Canberra (online, by phone on 13 22 81, or in person), and the concession is then applied across your electricity, gas, and water accounts. You do not need to register separately with each utility provider.

Can I receive the ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate and the Federal Energy Bill Relief at the same time?

Yes. The Federal Energy Bill Relief ($150) is a separate Commonwealth Government payment applied automatically to your electricity bill. It is available to all Australian households regardless of concession card status. If you hold a concession card, you receive both the $800 ACT Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate and the $150 Federal Energy Bill Relief, for a combined estimated total of $950 per year.

I am renting in the ACT — can I still receive the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate?

Yes, provided the utility accounts are in your name and the address is your principal place of residence in the ACT. If your utilities are included in your rent and you do not have separate accounts, contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to discuss your specific situation and options.

Is ActewAGL the only electricity retailer in the ACT?

ActewAGL is the dominant retailer in the ACT and serves the majority of households. However, other retailers do operate in the territory. The level of retail competition is more limited than in states like NSW, Victoria, or South Australia. You can
to see what options exist for your address.

Also from July: the AEMC is proposing to ban the energy loyalty tax — same plan, same price for all customers.

Compare energy plans and see available options at
— free, zero-commission energy comparison for Australian households.

Disclaimer: General information only, not personal financial advice. Rebate amounts are current as of April 2026, subject to change. Eligibility criteria and government programmes may be updated without notice. Always verify with
(13 22 81), your energy retailer, or the ACT Revenue Office for the most current information. Internest does not administer government concessions.