SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes can apply for household concessions to help with the cost of energy bills for their principal place of residence.

Eligibility

To apply you’ll need:

1. Your Centrelink customer reference number (CRN) or DVA file number
2. Information from your most recent electricity bill, including:

• Retailer name (Flow Power)
• Account number
• National Metering Identifier (NMI) number
• Billing dates
• You can also use the form to update your details – e.g. address or bank details.

Application

To apply for this concession, contact Concessions SA on 1800 307 758 or concessions@sa.gov.au to arrange an application. The application form can be downloaded here.

Concession amounts

The concession is calculated as a flat rate per day and is indexed each financial year. The amount for a year 2023-24 is capped to $263.15

How payments are made

Your concession will be sent to Flow Power from SA concession, and we apply it directly to your electricity bill

The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession assists South Australians on a fixed or low income who have a clinically verified medical condition which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home to prevent the severe worsening of their condition.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• Live at the address on the application form
• Have, or be the parent or legal guardian of, a child who has a qualifying medical condition requiring cooling or heating to prevent worsening of their condition
• Provide certification from your medical specialist or general practitioner that the medical condition is severely worsened by hot or cold weather
• Use an air conditioning unit at that address to meet your medical heating and cooling requirements
• Be financially responsible for the full or part payment of the energy bill
• Hold an eligible concession card or receive an eligible Centrelink payment. concession cards include:
  • Pensioner Concession Cards issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
  • Health Care Cards issued by Centrelink
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Repatriation Health Cards

Please note you would be eligible to receive the MHCC if you receive payments from Centrelink. The list of eligible Centrelink payments are available on SA concessions website.

Application

To apply for this concession, contact the Concessions medical cooling and heating line on 1300 735 350 or email the medical heating and cooling form to MHC@sa.gov.au. The application form can be downloaded here. Please complete it and email it to MHC@sa.gov.au.

Concession amounts

The concession is calculated as a flat rate per day and is indexed each financial year. The amount for a year 2023-24 is capped to $263.15

How payments are made

Your concession will be sent to Flow Power from SA concession, and we will apply it directly to your electricity bill.

Please note if you are eligible for both household energy concession and MHCC concession, you will receive both household energy concession and MHCC concessions on your energy bill.

You might be able to get an Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme (EEPS) payment if you’re at risk of your electricity being disconnected. EEPS is only accessible through financial counsellors (see below), who will assess your financial situation before applying. You can only receive an EEPS payment once every three years.

Financial counselling

Financial counsellors provide free, confidential financial education and support to householders experiencing financial difficulties.

• A financial counsellor can:
• Communicate with us on your behalf
• Develop strategies for helping you manage your finances and bills
• Help you set up affordable payment plans for outstanding bills
• Help you access hardship programs
• Help you apply for concessions and emergency relief.

Application

To apply for the EEPS or for information about financial counsellors, you can contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 oR call the SA Concession Department on 1800 307 758.

Concession amounts

Up to $400 (excl GST) / $440 (incl GST)

How payments are made

SA Concession Department determines the EEPS amount and notifies us. We then apply the approved amount to your energy bill.