Help to pay energy bills.

As a government we faced a difficult choice:  Continue subsidising the cost of electricity as the Labor government had done or increase the price of electricity to reflect what it actually costs.  The previous Labor government did not increase the price of electricity for 8 years, while the cost of producing it kept going up.   This meant that hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers money had to be paid to Verve to keep the price of electricity artificially low.     Even with the increase in price, the Government is still providing a subsidy of $164.5 million to fund the difference between the cost of electricity and the price paid by consumers.

I am sure that you would agree that there is no need for the government to subsidise the electricity bill of a person who earns $100,000 a year, and has a big house with an electricity bill of say $400.    For low income earners and pensioners, there is certainly a good case to provide a subsidy. 

So what the Barnett government has done is to increase electricity prices to reflect the real cost. This will encourage people to use less electricity, which is good for the environment.  We realise that this will result in pensioners and low income earners finding it harder to pay their bills.  

For those struggling to pay their electricity bills, the government has provided an additional $18.8 million for assistance measures, including rebates and grants to help customers experiencing financial hardship.

I have listed the various forms of assistance currently available.

General rebates

Centrelink Health card holders, Pensioner Concession card holders and Veteran Affairs Gold card holders are eligible for:

-          Reduced meter testing fees,

-          Supply charge rebate

-          Account establishment fee rebate

WA Senior card holders are entitled to a rebate on the standard residential supply charge of 38.23 cents a day ($11.46 per 30 day month).

Fridge replacement rebate

Consumers who are cannot be pay their electricity bills; are under threat of disconnection, have been declared in hardship by a financial counsellor referred to by Synergy and who rent their home from a private landlord  are eligible to receive a new fridge up to the value of $1000 to replace a fridge that is more than 7 years old. 

Life support equipment electricity subsidy

This applies to patients who use heart pumps, high capacity oxygen concentrators or peritoneal dialysis machines at home.

Thermoregulatory dysfunction energy subsidy

 This applies to you or your dependents if you are financially disadvantaged and have medical advice for heating and/or cooling to control the temperature of your home

More information is available from:

http://www.energy.wa.gov.au/3/3269/64/hardship_effici.pm

Office of Energy:  08 9420 5600

HUGS

The Hardship Utilities Scheme (HUGS)  is available to those at risk of disconnection or who are already disconnected.   HUGS pay 85%of the bill. You pay the other 15%.  Maximum paid by HUGS is generally $408. 

For further information:

http://www.community.wa.gov.au/DCP/Resources/Hardship_Utility_Grant-Scheme.htm

Department of Child Protection

Phone: 08 9222 2739

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For further information:

http://www.synergy.net.au/at_home/concessions_and_rebates.xhtml

http://www.energy.wa.gov.au/2/3205/64/rebates_and_sub.pm

Telephone:         Synergy:   13 13 53

                        Office of Energy:  08 9420 5600 

Or you can contact my office on 9256 4900

Public Housing Energy Efficiency Program

The program involves the implementation of energy efficiency measures to public housing residences, including the installation of insulation, weather-sealing, compact fluorescent lights and low flow hot water taps and shower heads.