July 31, 2017
Less than 10 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have so far applied for a $340 electricity rebate on offer from the State Government.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt said on Monday an additional $170 million was allocated in April to make Health Care Card Holders and asylum seekers eligible for the current rebate, as well as Queensland pensioners, seniors and DVA Gold Card holders.
“Of the estimated 157,000 people who are eligible, fewer than 10 per cent have so far taken up the rebate,” Mr Pitt said.
“That means not enough people know the rebate exists to help them, so we will be ramping up our push to ensure eligible Queenslanders know about the entitlement and encourage them to apply.
“This is one of the few times as Treasurer that I want to see money getting out the door, so I encourage seniors, health care card holders and asylum seekers to contact their electricity retailers and apply for this concession.
“This reform to the Electricity Rebate provides $340.85 assistance in 2017-18 for low-income households, and any Health Care Card holder or asylum seeker who applies before the December 31 will get this assistance back-dated to January 1, 2017.
“Also, Queensland Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card and Department of Veterans Affairs (Gold Card) holders will continue to be eligible for the rebate.”
Mr Pitt said the State Government understood the pressure electricity prices have put on Queenslanders.
“That is why we’ve invested $1.16 billion through our Powering Queensland Plan to put downward pressure on electricity costs for consumers,” he said.
“This includes $770 million to slash the expected price increase for Queenslanders by more than half.
“It means we have the lowest retail price increase of all mainland States, 3.3 per cent compared to around 10-20 per cent in other states, and also means over the term of our government average prices for households have increased an average of just 1.9 per cent per year.”
Mr Pitt said the government had also improved protections for vulnerable customers.
“Early this year we streamlined the application process for the Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme, allowing more customers experiencing financial hardship to access emergency assistance and avoid potential disconnection.
“This scheme provides low-income households experiencing an emergency or crisis up to $720 once every two years towards their energy debt.”
Details about electricity rebates and eligibility criteria are available online.
