Cost of Living Rebate for Households

2024–25 Cost of Living Rebate

Queensland households will get $1,000 off their electricity bills in 2024–25. The rebate will be automatically credited to eligible residential customer bills from 1 July 2024—there is no need to apply. Exact timing will depend on individual billing cycles.

Look for the ‘Queensland Government Cost of Living Rebate’ on your bill.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the rebate, residential customers must:

• have an electricity account with their electricity retailer or embedded network operator on 1 July 2024
• be separately metered and charged for their own electricity consumption.

The rebate is only available to:

• grid-connected customers
• customers in isolated communities where the electricity retailer is Ergon Energy.

Customers whose premises are not separately metered or who don't receive a separate electricity bill (e.g. where electricity is included as part of their rent) will not be eligible to receive the rebate payment.

Vulnerable households

Seniors, pensioners and concession card holders could get even more through the Queensland Electricity Rebate. If you don't already receive the $372 Queensland Electricity Rebate which is applied to bills on a quarterly basis, find out the requirements and if you are eligible.

Arrangements for households in embedded networks

Some households receive their electricity bills through authorised on-suppliers (embedded network operators), which include:

• landlords
• property managers
• caravan park owners
• body corporates.

These households are also eligible for the $1000 rebate, provided they meet the requirements.

Embedded network customers do not need to apply for the rebate. Your embedded network operator will lodge a claim with their retailer on your behalf using Form 541 from the Queensland Government concessions page.

Most embedded network customers should receive the rebate as a one-off lump sum credit on their electricity bill in the second half of 2024. However, it could take several months for the rebate to be applied and appear on your bill.

If you haven’t received the rebate by 31 December 2024, contact your embedded network operator directly.

If an eligible residential customer has an account with an embedded network operator on 1 July 2024, then moves out of that embedded network, they should still receive the rebate from that operator. The operator will use their best endeavours to ensure customers receive any outstanding credits when they close their account.

Energy Bill Relief Fund extension

Households will also get an additional $300 off their electricity bills from the Australian Government under the Energy Bill Relief Fund extension.

From 1 July 2024, the rebate will be automatically credited by retailers to most eligible residential customer bills in quarterly instalments ($75 per quarter) throughout 2024–25.

Eligible embedded network customers will receive the $300 rebate as a lump sum credit. Customers don't need to apply. Your embedded network operator will lodge a claim with their retailer on your behalf using Form 538 from the Queensland Government concessions page.

Look for the 'Australian Government Energy Price Relief Plan Rebate' on your bill.

More information is available on the Australian Government web page.

Card-operated meters

Households using card-operated electricity meters are also eligible for the rebate, which will be automatically transferred to their orange power cards (linked card).

2023–24 Cost of Living Rebate

The following information applies to the 2023–24 Cost of Living Rebate only.

Eligible households are receiving one of the following in 2023–24:

• $700 Cost of Living Rebate on electricity bills for eligible vulnerable households, plus a further $372 for those receiving the Queensland Electricity Rebate, bringing total rebates for Queenslanders doing it toughest to $1,072
• $550 Cost of Living Rebate on electricity bills for all other Queensland households.

For most households, the rebate will be credited to electricity bills on a quarterly basis commencing from 1 July 2023. Exact timing depends on retailers’ system requirements and individual billing cycles.

The Cost of Living Rebate is thanks mainly to Queensland’s shareholding stake in the state’s energy assets.

For some households, (e.g. those receiving the 2023–24 $700 rebate) the rebate will be partly funded by the Australian Government through the Energy Bill Relief Fund.

Eligibility for vulnerable households

If you already receive the $372 Queensland Electricity Rebate, you will automatically receive the $700 Cost of Living Rebate. You do not need to apply for the additional rebate as it will automatically be applied to your electricity bill over the 2023–24 financial year. The rebate will appear as a $175 credit on your electricity bill each quarter.

If you don't receive the $372 Queensland Electricity Rebate, you can find out if you are eligible. To receive this rebate, you must satisfy the eligibility requirements which includes having any of the below:

• Queensland Seniors Card
• Services Australia or Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
• Services Australia Health Care Card
• Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Card (and receive the War Widow/er Pension or special rate TPI Pension)
• Asylum seeker status—residents will need to provide their ImmiCard details.

This includes holders of a Low Income Health Care Card and Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) Health Care Card.

You can find out more about the Queensland Electricity Rebate eligibility criteria or contact your electricity provider to see if you are eligible to apply.

For most households, if you apply for the Queensland Electricity Rebate during the 2023–24 financial year, you will be eligible to receive a bill credit of $175 for all remaining quarters.

Eligibility for all other households

If you do not receive the Queensland Electricity Rebate, you will generally be eligible to automatically receive the 2023–24 $550 Cost of Living Rebate. You do not need to apply for the rebate as it will automatically be applied to your electricity bill over the 2023–24 financial year. The rebate will appear as a $137.50 credit on your electricity bill each quarter.

To be eligible for the $700 or $550 rebate, residential customers must have an electricity account with their energy provider and be separately metered and charged for their own electricity consumption.

Customers whose premises is not separately metered or who don't receive a separate electricity bill, e.g. where electricity is included as part of their rent, will not be eligible to receive the rebate payment.

The Cost of Living Rebate is only available to grid-connected customers (with some exceptions including where the electricity retailer is Ergon Energy).

Separate arrangements have been put in place for grid-connected customers with electricity on-supply arrangements and customers using card-operated meters to also receive the rebate. See below for details.

Arrangements for households in embedded networks

Some households receive their electricity bills through authorised on-suppliers, which include:

• landlords
• property managers
• caravan park owners
• body corporates.

These households are also eligible for the Cost of Living Rebate, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and will generally have the rebate credited to their electricity bills by their on-supplier in the second half of 2023.

To be eligible, households in embedded networks must have an electricity account with their energy provider on 1 July 2023 and be separately metered and charged for their own electricity consumption.

The rebate will be credited to eligible customers’ electricity accounts in a lump sum payment. It may take several months for the rebate to appear on customers’ bills.

On-suppliers are required to apply for the 2023-24 rebate on behalf of their residents by completing the Application for cost of living rebate 2023-24 form.

Card-operated meters

Households using card-operated electricity meters are also eligible for the rebate, which will be automatically transferred to their orange power cards (linked card).