Your Guide to the Energy Bill Relief Fund in Victoria

It’s no secret that energy costs have been rising in Victoria in recent years. Households and small businesses have been hit especially hard by the soaring prices and it has caused financial strain for millions across the state. 

Energy security is becoming more challenging for the country as a whole and the Victorian government is taking active steps towards making the state more resilient in the face of such challenges. 

As part of a broader set of measures to make energy affordable and help the transition to cleaner, greener energy sources, the Australian government introduced the Energy Bill Relief Fund. The Fund has been designed to give energy bill relief in Victoria to all residential customers with an active electricity account as well as giving a helping financial hand to businesses in the state too. 

What is the Energy Bill Relief Fund?

The government has allocated a huge $3.5bn to a special fund that has been set aside for relief payments towards electricity bills in the state. The funds can be used to give a financial boost to small businesses as well as eligible residential properties, cutting the price of electricity and allowing those savings to be spent on other more important things. 

A $75 rebate is paid against the electricity bills quarterly for households and as a one-off lump sum of $325 for small businesses in Victoria. The program will run throughout the 2024-2025 financial year and the relief will be applied to eligible households. If you already claim concessions, other types of energy rebate in Victoria or government support packages, you are still eligible to claim.

Am I eligible for the Energy Bill Relief Fund?

There are multiple criteria to meet to qualify for this specific kind of electricity rebate in Melbourne or anywhere within the state of Victoria depending on whether you’re a household or a business. 

For households in Victoria you can claim a sizable rebate of $300 which will be paid every three months in instalments of $75 each. Considering the average yearly electricity bill of a Victorian household is in the region of $1500, the $300 rebate accounts for approximately 20% of that so it’s definitely worth looking into. 

To qualify for it the household has to have an electricity account with a supplier and the electricity has to be used only for residential use. If you qualify, the rebate is paid directly to the electricity company so you don’t have to worry about anything. 

If you live in an embedded network, for example in an apartment building or caravan site, then you’ll need to apply directly on the Victorian Compare site which is available from October 2024. Homes in embedded networks will receive a single lump sum of $300 to cover electricity energy costs for the year through the Energy Bill Relief Fund. 

For small businesses of all kinds, the $325 rebate will be applied automatically if you consume less than 40 MWh per year and are metered on a tariff exclusively for businesses. If you’re operating from a commercial embedded network, for example a shopping centre, then you’ll need to put an application in using the same form on the Victorian Compare site which will be live from October 2024. 

Here at the Energy Efficient Group we process customer eligibility via our online forms for a wide range of rebates to show you what you can potentially receive whether you are a household or a business. When you get in touch with us we can run you through every kind of rebate you qualify for at the same time. 

How will I know if the relief payment has been credited?

The great thing about the energy rebate in Victoria is that you don’t have to chase the payments from the government or your electricity company. When you’ve signed up and qualify for the rebate, the funds will be automatically credited to your account. 

For both residential and commercial customers, you just need to check your online bill after the pay dates for the region and you’ll see the deduction made to your overall account balance. It will usually appear in the credits or payments section of your bill, and companies often add the payment information to the Understand Your Bill section. If you don’t believe it has been paid correctly then get in touch after the dates shown below to query the non-payment. 

For energy bill relief in Victoria the dates of payment in 2024 will be the 19th August and 1st October, and in 2025 the pay dates will take place on the 13th January, and then again on 1st April. There are always numerous schemes to take advantage of after that time too so be sure to stay informed as you could be saving thousands of dollars per year. 

Discover how to save even more on your energy bills

If you have an old and inefficient air conditioning system then you could qualify for a brand new unit that is much more energy efficient and will save on your energy bills as part of the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. Whether you want a split system, reverse cycle or another type of HVAC system, these are all eligible under the scheme and you can replace your old air conditioning system with a top brand like Fujitsu or Mitsubishi Electric. 

The exact amount of discount you receive depends on numerous factors, but households can claim a maximum of $7,700 and businesses can claim $8,400. When you fill in our enquiry form we’ll get in touch for the specific details and let you know exactly how much you’re eligible for.

Another great way to save money if you’re a business is to apply for a free heat pump upgrade. These systems can be installed free of charge under the same Victorian Energy Upgrades program so you don’t have to pay a thing and you could save up to 60% on your water heating energy usage. Again, there are lots of different requirements and conditions to qualify, but when you check your eligibility on our site we’ll walk you through everything.