Apply for an energy concession

You may be eligible for a concession if

• you receive electricity charges direct from a retailer other than Synergy or Horizon Power (e.g. from retailers such as Perth Energy or Alinta Sales) or
• you live in a retirement village, apartment building, caravan park (as a long-stay resident) or another type of accommodation where the electricity costs are recouped from the tenants by the owner (for example, strata entity, retirement village management or caravan park management) who is billed directly by Synergy or Horizon Power on behalf of the residential complex.

If you are directly billed by Synergy or Horizon Power, please contact that retailer to discuss your eligibility.

Energy Assistance Payment (EAP)

The EAP is an annual payment to assist with meeting energy consumption costs.

To be eligible, you must reside in the home, cannot be directly billed by Synergy or Horizon Power, and must hold one of the following concession cards:

• Pensioner Concession Card
• Health Care Card
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (TPI, War Widow and Dependent Child).

You are not eligible for the EAP if you hold only a WA Seniors Card.

You are not eligible for the EAP if you receive an energy concession/rebate directly or indirectly from Synergy or Horizon Power, or through an arrangement with a third party.

Dependent Child Rebate (DCR)

The DCR provides further financial assistance to recipients of the EAP who have dependent children listed on one of the following concession cards:

• Pensioner Concession Card
• Health Care Card or
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (TPI, War Widow and Dependent Child).

The DCR is an annual payment calculated according to the number of dependents listed on your concession card.

Air Conditioning Rebate (ACR)

The ACR is an annual payment to subsidise the cost of operating an air conditioner in areas of high heat discomfort. This applies to eligible households located north of the 26th parallel of south latitude and/or north of the 50-day Relative Strain Index line.

The total value of the payment varies depending on the location, and will be calculated at the time of application. The payment is multiplied by the number of eligible months for that location (see the list of eligible towns).

To receive the ACR, you must either:

• be eligible for the DCR or
• hold a WA Seniors Card and either a Pensioner Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (issued by either Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs).

If you are eligible to receive the EAP, DCR or ACR, payment will be made directly into your nominated account within 6 weeks of lodgment of the application. If you are eligible to receive more than one concession, payment will be made as a single amount.

Energy assistance payment

Payment is made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly into the bank account nominated on the application form. This must be an Australian cheque or savings account.

The payment amount for 2019/20 is $305.

Dependent child rebate

Payment is calculated according to the number of dependent children listed on your eligible concession card.

The payment amount for 2019/20 is $320 for one child and $84 for each additional child.

Air conditioning rebate

The payment is to subsidise the cost of operating an air conditioner for eligible households located in areas of high heat discomfort. This is identified as locations north of the 26th Parallel of South Latitude and/or north of the 50-day Relative Strain Index line.

The total value of the rebate varies depending on the residential location of eligible households, and will be calculated at the time of application. The rebate amount is multiplied by the number of eligible months for that residential location.

The payment amount for 2019/20 is $59.75 per month.

Use this checklist to ensure that you have all the required information ready before applying.

Apply using our online application form.

You must authorise us to confirm the status of your concession card with Centrelink, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department for Communities. You may also need to authorise us to confirm energy usage and supply at your residential address.

We can decline an application if we believe false or misleading information has been provided or the eligibility criteria hasn't been met.

Your anniversary date is the date the application is lodged. You will receive a renewal notification each year before your anniversary date.

This notification will require you to review your details and advise us of any changes to your circumstances or details. If there have not been any changes to your details there is nothing further for you to do and your payment will be processed. It is important for you to notify us at any time if your email, postal, and/or residential address changes to ensure that you receive your renewal notification

Information regarding Pensioner Concession Cards, Veterans’ Affairs Gold Cards, Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards and Health Care Cards is available from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or your local Centrelink office.

Information regarding the WA Seniors Card is available from the Department of Communities.