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

Updated April 2026 · General information only

Victoria offers one of Australia's most comprehensive energy concession frameworks, with percentage-based discounts that scale with your usage, hardship grants for those doing it tough, and targeted support for medical needs. Whether you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or DVA Gold Card, there are multiple concessions you may be eligible for — and many are applied automatically by your retailer.

This guide covers every Victorian energy rebate and concession available in 2026, how to check your eligibility, and how to stack multiple concessions for maximum savings.

TL;DR

Victorian concession card holders may receive a 17.5% discount on electricity usage and supply charges year-round, plus a 17.5% discount on gas bills during winter (May–October). If you're experiencing temporary financial hardship, you may also be eligible for the Utility Relief Grant of up to $650 per utility type every two years. Most concessions are applied automatically once your retailer has your concession card details on file — no separate application needed.

VIC Energy Concessions at a Glance

Annual Electricity Concession

The Annual Electricity Concession is the cornerstone of Victoria's energy support framework. Unlike NSW and Queensland, which offer fixed-dollar rebates, Victoria uses a percentage-based discount of 17.5% applied to both usage charges and supply charges on your electricity bill.

What does 17.5% actually save you?

Because it's a percentage discount, the dollar value depends on your household's electricity consumption. Here's an estimated breakdown:

• Average Victorian household using approximately 4,000 kWh per year

• At an average rate of roughly 30c/kWh, that's an annual bill of around $1,200

• 17.5% of $1,200 = approximately $210 per year in estimated savings

• Note: The concession does not apply to the first $171.60 of your annual bill (calculated as a daily rate). So the effective discount is on the portion of your bill above that threshold.

If your household uses more electricity (e.g. electric heating, pool pump, home office), the dollar value of the concession increases proportionally. This is one advantage of Victoria's percentage-based system.

Who's eligible?

You may be eligible if you hold one of the following:

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

• Health Care Card (HCC) — issued by Centrelink

• DVA Gold Card — Department of Veterans' Affairs

The concession applies to the account holder's primary residence. Only one concession per household.

How it's applied

The electricity concession is applied automatically by your energy retailer. You need to:

1. Ensure your retailer has your concession card number on file

2. Confirm the account is in the name of the card holder

3. Check your bill to verify the discount is appearing as a line item

If the concession isn't showing on your bill, contact your retailer directly. You may be entitled to backpay for the period you were eligible but not receiving the discount.

Winter Gas Concession

Victorian concession card holders may also receive a 17.5% discount on gas bills during the winter months (1 May to 31 October). Unlike the electricity concession, which applies year-round, the gas concession is seasonal — reflecting higher gas usage during cooler months for heating and hot water.

Eligibility

The same concession cards apply:

• Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)

• Health Care Card (HCC)

• DVA Gold Card

How it works

Like the electricity concession, the gas discount is applied automatically by your gas retailer once your concession card details are registered. The percentage-based structure means households with higher gas usage during winter — for heating, hot water, and cooking — receive a larger dollar benefit during those months.

For a household with a winter gas bill of approximately $600 (May–October), the 17.5% concession would be worth an estimated $105 for the winter period. Because the concession only applies during winter, the full-year saving is lower than for electricity.

Controlled Load Electricity Concession — No Longer Available

The Controlled Load Electricity Concession (formerly a 13% discount on controlled load tariffs for hot water and slab heating) ended on 1 December 2023 and is no longer available. If you previously received this concession, it has been removed from your bill. The standard 17.5% Annual Electricity Concession still applies to your main electricity usage.

Victorian Energy Compare

Before looking at concessions alone, it's worth checking whether you're on a competitive energy plan in the first place. The Victorian Government operates Victorian Energy Compare (formerly known as the Victorian Energy Compare website), a free government comparison tool available at
.

According to the ACCC, approximately 73% of energy customers are not on the most competitive plan available to them (source: ACCC Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry). The AER estimates that around 2.5 million customers across Australia are paying the default offer price or higher.

You can also
, which covers over 10,000 active energy plans across 34 retailers with zero commission. Combining a competitive plan with your concession card discount may result in significantly greater savings than either alone.

Utility Relief Grant (URGS)

The Utility Relief Grant is a one-off payment for Victorians who are unable to pay their energy or water bills due to a temporary financial crisis. Unlike the ongoing concessions above, URGS is a hardship grant — you don't need a concession card to apply.

Key details

• Amount: Up to $650 per utility type (electricity, gas, and water are each treated separately), or up to $1,300 if you rely on a single energy source (e.g., all-electric home)

• Frequency: You may access the grant once every two years per utility type

• Eligibility: Available to any Victorian household experiencing temporary financial hardship — including those caused by job loss, illness, family violence, natural disaster, or other unexpected events

How to apply

1. Contact your energy retailer and explain that you're experiencing financial difficulty

2. Your retailer will assess your situation and, if appropriate, help you apply for URGS

3. You'll need to provide supporting documentation about your circumstances

4. If approved, the grant is paid directly to your retailer and credited to your account

Important notes

• URGS is not income-tested in the traditional sense — it's based on your capacity to pay at the time of application

• You can receive URGS for electricity and gas and water simultaneously if you're struggling with all three

• Your retailer cannot disconnect you while a URGS application is being processed

• If you're on a concession and still struggling, URGS can be used on top of your existing concession discount

Medical Cooling Concession

Victoria's Medical Cooling Concession provides an additional 17.5% discount on electricity usage and supply charges during summer (1 November to 30 April) for people with a medical condition that affects the body's ability to regulate temperature.

This is applied on top of the standard Annual Electricity Concession — effectively giving eligible households a combined 35% discount on electricity during the cooling season.

Eligibility

You may be eligible if:

• A member of your household has a medical condition that affects the body's ability to regulate temperature (e.g. multiple sclerosis, certain cardiovascular conditions, thermoregulatory dysfunction)

• A registered medical practitioner provides a certificate confirming the need for cooling

• The electricity account holder holds a concession card (PCC, HCC, or DVA Gold Card)

How to apply

Contact your electricity retailer and provide the completed Medical Cooling Concession application form with your doctor's certification. The concession is applied to your account for the cooling season (1 November to 30 April).

Life Support Concession

Households with a member who requires life support equipment at home may be eligible for a concession equivalent to the cost of 1,880 kWh of electricity per year (470 kWh per quarter), calculated at the general domestic tariff rate. At average VIC rates (~30c/kWh), this is worth an estimated $564 per year.

What qualifies as life support equipment?

Common examples include:

• Oxygen concentrators

• Kidney dialysis machines

• Ventilators and respirators

• Feeding pumps

How it works

If someone in your household uses life support equipment, you should:

1. Register with both your retailer and your electricity distributor — this is essential, as it also protects you from planned outages and prioritises your connection during emergencies

2. Your retailer will apply the relevant concession to your account

3. Your distributor will flag your address in their systems for priority restoration during outages

Stacking Concessions: What a VIC Concession Card Holder Could Receive

One of the strengths of Victoria's system is that multiple concessions can apply simultaneously. Here's an example of what a Pensioner Concession Card holder might receive:

These are estimates based on average household consumption figures. Your actual savings will depend on your usage, your plan's rates, and your specific circumstances.

Beyond energy, Victorian concession card holders may also be eligible for:

• Free ambulance services — available to all Victorians regardless of concession status

• 50% off vehicle registration — for eligible concession card holders

• Council rates concession — varies by local council

• Water concession — approximately 50% off water and sewerage bills for eligible concession card holders

How to Apply for Victorian Energy Concessions

For ongoing concessions (electricity, gas)

These are applied automatically by your retailer. You just need to:

1. Call your energy retailer or log into your online account

2. Provide your concession card number and confirm the type of card

3. Ensure the account is in the card holder's name — the concession applies to the account holder only

4. Check your next bill to confirm the concession is appearing

If you've recently received a concession card and haven't notified your retailer, do it as soon as possible. You may be able to claim a backdated concession for the period you were eligible.

For URGS

Contact your retailer directly and ask about the Utility Relief Grant. They are required to inform you about hardship support options.

For Medical Cooling or Life Support

Contact your retailer with the relevant medical documentation or life support registration.

Tips to Maximise Your Energy Savings in Victoria

1. Combine concessions with a competitive plan. Your 17.5% discount applies to whatever plan you're on — so if you switch from an expensive default offer to a competitive market offer, the concession saves you money on top of an already lower bill.
to check what's available in your area.

2. Check your bill every quarter. Make sure your concession is being applied correctly. Errors do happen, and you may be entitled to a refund if the discount was missed.

3. Know your rights during hardship. Victorian energy retailers must offer hardship programs and payment plans if you're struggling. The Essential Services Commission oversees retailer obligations, and you can contact them if you feel your retailer isn't meeting their responsibilities.

Related Guides and Resources

•
— QLD's rebate framework uses fixed-dollar amounts rather than percentages

•
— NSW also uses fixed-dollar rebates with different eligibility criteria

•
— see what plans are available at your address, with zero commission

•
— check if you qualify for the pension and associated concession cards

•
— for self-funded retirees who may be eligible for energy concessions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Victorian energy concession worth in 2026?

The Victorian energy concession provides a 17.5% discount on electricity usage and supply charges year-round (note: it does not apply to the first $171.60 of your annual bill). For an average household with an annual electricity bill of approximately $1,200, this is estimated at around $180–$210 per year. The actual amount depends on your energy usage and plan rates. Because Victoria uses a percentage-based system, higher-usage households receive a larger dollar benefit.

Do I need to apply for the Victorian energy concession?

No separate application is needed. The concession is applied automatically by your energy retailer once you provide your concession card details (Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or DVA Gold Card). Contact your retailer to register your card number if you haven't already.

What is the Utility Relief Grant and how do I get it?

The Utility Relief Grant (URGS) provides up to $650 per utility type (electricity, gas, water) for Victorians experiencing temporary financial hardship. You do not need a concession card to apply. Contact your energy retailer to start the application process — they are required to help you access hardship support.

Can I receive both the electricity concession and the gas concession?

Yes. If you hold an eligible concession card, you may receive the 17.5% discount on both your electricity and gas bills. Each concession is applied separately by the relevant retailer (or by the same retailer if they supply both fuels).

Compare energy plans and see available concessions at
.

General information only, not personal financial advice. Concession amounts and eligibility criteria are based on publicly available information from the Victorian Government and the Essential Services Commission as of April 2026 and are subject to change. Always confirm your eligibility with your energy retailer or the relevant government department. Prices and concession values referenced are estimates and may vary.

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

Sources: Victorian Government (vic.gov.au), Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Essential Services Commission Victoria, ACCC Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry, Australian Energy Regulator (AER).