Low Income Energy Rebates 2026: State by State Comparison

Updated April 2026 · General information only

If you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or another eligible concession card, you are likely entitled to an energy rebate from your state or territory government. But the value of that rebate depends entirely on where you live — and the gap between the most and least generous jurisdictions can exceed $500 per year.

This guide compares low-income energy rebates across all eight Australian states and territories, covering electricity rebates, gas rebates, hardship assistance schemes, and the Federal Energy Bill Relief that applies nationwide. Whether you have just moved interstate, want to check you are receiving everything available, or simply want to understand what your state offers compared to others, this is the reference you need.

TL;DR

• The ACT is the most generous jurisdiction for low-income energy rebates, offering up to $800 per year across all utilities (electricity, gas, and water combined).

• Tasmania follows at $645.56, then Queensland at $478.46 (electricity + gas combined).

• South Australia offers the least at approximately $281.78 (bundled electricity and gas).

• Every Australian household also receives $150 per year from the Federal Energy Bill Relief Fund, applied automatically to electricity bills.

• The difference between the most and least generous state rebate is over $500 per year — yet many eligible households do not claim everything available to them.

• Beyond ongoing rebates, every state has some form of hardship or emergency assistance scheme for households in energy crisis.

Master Comparison Table: All States and Territories

Sources: State government concession portals (Service NSW, QLD.gov.au, Energy.vic.gov.au, SA.gov.au, WA.gov.au, TAS.gov.au, ACT Revenue Office, NT.gov.au), as of April 2026. Amounts are indicative and subject to change. Federal Energy Bill Relief confirmed for 2025-26; continuation beyond June 2026 subject to Commonwealth budget.

Ranking: Most to Least Generous (State Rebate Only, Excluding Federal)

Understanding where your state sits helps you gauge how much support is available and whether it meaningfully offsets your energy costs.

1. Northern Territory — Up to $1,200/yr

The NT Concession Scheme provides an electricity concession of up to $1,200 per year (capped at 8,000 kWh), calculated at $1.274/day fixed + $0.091/kWh (GST-inclusive). This makes NT the most generous state for electricity-only concessions. The NT has no reticulated gas network for most residential customers. An additional medical support allowance of $154/yr is available for members whose medical condition causes excess electricity consumption. Eligibility requires receiving a qualifying Centrelink or DVA payment and being an NT resident for 183+ days/year.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

2. ACT — $800/yr

The Australian Capital Territory provides the most generous bundled concession in the country. The Utilities Concession covers electricity, gas, and water in a single annual payment of $800. It is available to Pensioner Concession Card and certain other concession card holders. The rebate is applied directly to your electricity account.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

3. Tasmania — $645.56/yr

Tasmania's Annual Electricity Concession provides $645.56 per year to eligible concession card holders. Because Tasmania has no reticulated natural gas network, there is no separate gas rebate — but the electricity concession is among the highest in the country. Given that Tasmania also has some of the coldest winters on the mainland, the higher rebate reflects elevated heating costs.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

4. Queensland — $478.46/yr

Queensland provides a $386.34 Electricity Rebate plus a $92.12 Gas Rebate for those with reticulated (piped) natural gas. The electricity rebate is applied quarterly ($96.59/quarter). Queensland also extends eligibility to Queensland Seniors Card holders, which is broader than some other states.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

For full details, see our
.

5. WA — $326.33/yr

Western Australia's Energy Assistance Payment (EAP) provides $326.33 per year, covering both electricity and gas in a single payment. WA's energy market is quite different from eastern states — Synergy is the dominant retailer in the SWIS (South West Interconnected System), and the EAP is applied as an annual credit.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

6. Victoria — ~$260–$315/yr (variable)

Victoria takes a unique approach: instead of a fixed dollar amount, the Annual Electricity Concession provides a 17.5% discount on your electricity bill year-round, and a 17.5% discount on gas bills during winter (1 May – 31 October). This means your actual rebate value depends on your usage and plan rates.

For a typical household, this works out to approximately $180–$210 for electricity and $80–$105 for gas, totalling roughly $260–$315 per year. High-usage households may receive more; low-usage households may receive less.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

For full details, see our
.

7. NSW — $285/yr (electricity only) + $110 gas

New South Wales provides the Low Income Household Rebate (LIHR) of $285 per year for electricity, plus a separate Gas Rebate of $110 per year for households with reticulated gas. Combined, that is $395 per year — though if you do not have piped gas, you receive only the $285 electricity rebate.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

For full details, see our
.

8. South Australia — $281.78/yr (bundled)

South Australia's Energy Bill Concession provides $281.78 per year, covering both electricity and gas in a single bundled amount. This is the lowest ongoing rebate of any state or territory.

Source:
, as of April 2026.

For full details, see our
.

Key Differences Explained

Not all rebates work the same way. Understanding the structural differences helps you estimate what you will actually receive.

Fixed Dollar vs Percentage-Based

Most states offer a fixed dollar rebate — you receive the same amount regardless of how much energy you use. Victoria is the exception, offering a 17.5% percentage discount on your bills.

For a household with below-average energy usage, Victoria's percentage-based rebate may deliver less value than a fixed rebate in another state. Conversely, a high-usage household in Victoria may receive more than the fixed amount offered in NSW or SA.

Bundled vs Separate Electricity and Gas

Some states bundle electricity and gas into one rebate; others provide separate rebates:

• Bundled (single payment): SA ($281.78), WA ($326.33), ACT ($800)

• Separate electricity and gas rebates: NSW ($285 + $110), QLD ($386.34 + $92.12), VIC (17.5% each)

• Electricity only (no gas network): NT (up to $1,200), TAS ($645.56)

If your state provides separate rebates, make sure you have registered your concession card with both your electricity and gas retailers.

Automatic vs Apply

In most states, once you register your concession card details with your energy retailer, the rebate is applied automatically each billing cycle. You do not need to reapply each year.

However, some schemes — particularly hardship and emergency assistance — require a separate application, often through a community organisation or government agency. The key distinction:

• Automatic (register once): All primary electricity and gas rebates in every state

• Separate application required: Hardship schemes (EAPA, HEEAS, URGS, EEPS, HUGS), medical energy rebates, life support concessions

Eligibility by Card Type

Different concession cards unlock different rebates. Here is a general eligibility matrix — note that each state may have minor variations.

Eligibility Matrix

Sources: Individual state concession portals, as of April 2026. Always confirm with your state government, as eligibility criteria can change.

Key observations:

• PCC and HCC holders qualify for the primary energy rebate in every state and territory.

• CSHC holders qualify in most states, but in NSW they receive the Seniors Energy Rebate ($200/yr) rather than the higher LIHR ($285/yr).

• Queensland is the most generous with card acceptance — even a state Seniors Card (without a Commonwealth card) qualifies for the electricity rebate.

• DVA cardholders are eligible across the board, reflecting the national commitment to veteran support.

For a full breakdown of Centrelink card types and what they unlock beyond energy, see our
and
.

Hardship and Emergency Assistance Compared

Beyond ongoing rebates, every state has some form of emergency or hardship assistance for households that are struggling to pay their energy bills. These are separate from the regular concession — they provide one-off or limited payments for people in financial difficulty.

Sources: State government hardship and concession portals, as of April 2026.

Key differences in hardship schemes:

• NSW's EAPA is the most accessible: it provides vouchers through community organisations (such as Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Anglicare) and can be accessed multiple times per year up to the $800 cap.

• WA's HUGS is the most generous on a per-incident basis: it can cover up to 85% of an outstanding bill, which may be worth more than a fixed cap for households with very large arrears.

• VIC's URGS covers each utility separately — meaning you could receive up to $650 for electricity *and* $650 for gas in the same two-year period.

• SA's EEPS has the longest waiting period between claims: once every three years.

• Hardship scheme details for TAS, NT, and ACT require verification with the respective governments.

Federal Energy Bill Relief: $150 for Everyone

Regardless of which state you live in and whether you hold a concession card, the Federal Energy Bill Relief Fund currently provides $150 per year to all Australian households. This is applied automatically to your electricity bill — you do not need to apply.

Key details:

• Amount: $150 per year (applied in quarterly instalments of $37.50)

• Eligibility: All Australian households

• How it works: Credited directly to your electricity account by your retailer

• Duration: Confirmed for the 2025-26 financial year. Continuation beyond 30 June 2026 is subject to the Commonwealth budget.

Source: Australian Government —
, as of April 2026.

This means a concession card holder in any state receives their state rebate plus $150 federal relief. For example, a PCC holder in Queensland receives $386.34 (state) + $92.12 (gas) + $150 (federal) = approximately $628 per year in total energy bill credits.

How to Check You Are Getting Everything: A Checklist

Many eligible Australians miss out on rebates simply because they have not registered their card with their retailer, or they are unaware of additional schemes. Use this checklist to verify your situation:

• [ ] Check your latest electricity bill — look for a line item showing your concession or rebate credit. If you do not see it, your card may not be registered.

• [ ] Register your concession card with your electricity retailer — call them or check your online account. You will need your card number and the name on the account.

• [ ] If you have reticulated gas, register with your gas retailer too — in states with separate gas rebates (NSW, QLD, VIC), this is a separate registration.

• [ ] Check whether you qualify for additional rebates — medical energy rebates, life support concessions, and family rebates exist in several states. Ask your retailer or check your state's concession portal.

• [ ] Check the Federal Energy Bill Relief — this should be applied automatically, but verify you see the credit on your bill.

• [ ] If you are in financial hardship, ask about emergency assistance — your retailer is required to offer a hardship program, and your state likely has a separate emergency scheme (EAPA, URGS, HEEAS, etc.).

• [ ] If you have recently moved interstate, re-register — your concession card registration does not transfer between retailers or states.

• [ ] Review annually — rebate amounts and eligibility criteria can change each financial year.

Three Tips to Maximise Your Energy Support

1. Stack your rebates, do not assume one covers everything.

In many states, the primary electricity rebate and the gas rebate are separate. Medical energy rebates and life support concessions sit on top of the standard concession. In NSW, an eligible household could receive the LIHR ($285), Gas Rebate ($110), and Federal relief ($150) — totalling $545 per year — before even considering EAPA hardship assistance. Check that you have claimed every layer.

2. Compare plans even with a rebate — the rebate does not make a bad plan good.

A concession rebate is applied on top of whatever plan you are on. If you are on a high-cost default offer, you are still paying more than you need to. Switching to a lower-cost market offer and then receiving your rebate on top of that could save significantly more than the rebate alone.
to see what is available in your area.

3. Update your card details whenever they change.

If your concession card is renewed, reissued, or your card type changes (for example, from HCC to PCC), update your retailer. A lapsed registration can mean your rebate stops being applied — and you may not notice until your next bill arrives higher than expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apply for the energy rebate every year?

No. In all states, once you register your concession card with your energy retailer, the rebate is applied automatically to each bill. You do not need to reapply annually. However, if you change retailers, move address, or your card details change, you will need to re-register with your new retailer.

Can I receive both a state energy rebate and the Federal Energy Bill Relief?

Yes. The Federal Energy Bill Relief ($150/yr) is applied to all Australian households regardless of whether you also receive a state concession. They stack — a concession card holder receives both.

I have moved interstate. Does my rebate transfer automatically?

No. Energy rebates are administered by your electricity retailer in your state. If you move to a different state, you will need to register your concession card with your new retailer in the new state. Your previous state's rebate stops when you close that account.

Which concession card do I need to qualify?

In every state, a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) or Health Care Card (HCC) issued by Centrelink will qualify you for the primary energy rebate. DVA Gold Card holders also qualify. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) holders qualify in most states, but in NSW they receive a different (lower) rebate. See the eligibility matrix above for full details.

What if I cannot afford my energy bill even with the rebate?

Every state has a hardship or emergency assistance scheme beyond the regular concession. In addition, your energy retailer is legally required to offer you a hardship program if you are experiencing difficulty paying your bills — this may include payment plans, bill smoothing, or debt relief. Contact your retailer first, then check your state's emergency scheme (EAPA in NSW, URGS in VIC, HEEAS in QLD, EEPS in SA, HUGS in WA).

Compare Energy Plans at Your New (Lower) Starting Point

A rebate reduces your bill — but it does not guarantee you are on the most competitive plan available. According to the ACCC, approximately 73% of energy customers are not on the lowest-cost plan for their usage profile (Source: ACCC Electricity Market Monitoring Report). That means many concession card holders are receiving their rebate on top of a plan that already costs more than it needs to.

— zero commission, no sign-up required. See estimated annual costs based on your actual usage and distribution zone, then apply your rebate on top for the full picture.

General information only, not personal financial advice. Rebate amounts are based on publicly available state and Commonwealth government data as of April 2026 and are subject to change. Always confirm current rates and eligibility with your state government or energy retailer. Items marked [VERIFY] require confirmation with the relevant government authority.

Internal links:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|