Stay ahead of energy prices this summer

$100 Power Saving Bonus now open for eligible concession card households

Do you hold a Pensioner Concession Card? You may be eligible for the Victorian Government’s $100 Power Saving Bonus to help with the cost of energy bills. Eligible households can now claim the $100 payment at the Victorian Energy Compare website, or get help to apply over-the-phone or in-person.

One payment is available per household and to be eligible, you will need to:

• Have a recent residential electricity bill
• Hold one of the following concession cards:
  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • Health Care Card
  • Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
  • Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.

Victorian Seniors Card members who do not hold one of the above Commonwealth Government concession cards are not eligible to apply for this round of the Power Saving Bonus.

You can check if your household is eligible for the $100 payment and get help to apply by:

• calling the VEC helpline on 1800 000 832, or
• visiting one of 250 participating Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria. To find your closest participating Neighbourhood House, visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au or call 1800 000 832.

Victorian Energy Compare is a free and independent government-run website that makes it easy to compare electricity, gas and solar offers. On average, people who used the website across 2024 saved $240 by switching to the best priced energy offers.

Visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au.

More ways to save on your next energy bill

• Make sure you are on your best energy offer at Victorian Energy Compare. The website is the only free and independent online energy price comparison service for Victorians. Eligible households can also apply for their $100 Power Saving Bonus at the website to help with the cost of energy bills
• Use an in-home display, which allows you to check your household energy use by showing the data from your smart meter. Find out more about smart meters on energy.vic.gov.au
• Use energy savings tips for your home. When using your air conditioner this summer, only cool the rooms that you need and close doors and curtains to keep the cool air in. By setting your air conditioner between 23 to 26 degrees you can keep your home cool and costs down. Discover more tips at energy.vic.gov.au.

Lock in long-term energy savings

There are a range of programs to help you lock in longer-term savings on your energy bills.

The Victorian Energy Upgrades program provides access to discounted energy-efficient products. These include heating, water heating, lighting and draught sealing products. Each year, an average household could save up to:

• $370 a year when you replace a gas heater with a reverse cycle air-conditioner
• $1,010 when you replace a gas ducted heater with a reverse cycle air-conditioner
• $330 by upgrading your gas hot water system with a quality heat pump hot water system.

Solar Victoria’s Solar Homes Program helps Victorians switch to solar. The program offers eligible households a rebate of up to $1,400 to install rooftop solar (PV), plus the option of an interest free loan to reduce up-front installation costs. Or, if you are living in an apartment, unit or townhouse, solar panel (PV) rebates of up to $2,800 per household (up to $140,000 per property) are available until 30 April 2026.

Rebates of up to $1,400 are also available to upgrade to a locally made efficient hot water system or up to $1,000 for other eligible systems. With solar, householders can save over $1,000 a year on their energy bills by using their solar power to run appliances during the day - avoiding paying retail electricity prices.

The Residential Efficiency Scorecard is an energy rating program for existing homes. The Residential Efficiency Scorecard rates your home's energy use and comfort and provides tailored recommendations for improvements. Scorecard assessments are delivered by government-accredited assessors who are experts in home energy efficiency. An assessment can provide targeted information to ensure any money you spend on upgrades leads to a cosier, cheaper-to-run home.

Get support if you need it

Are you having trouble paying your energy bill?

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is a free phone service designed to support Victorians who are having trouble paying their energy bills.

The program can support you:

• with one-on-one help to navigate the energy market
• to manage the rising cost of living by saving money on energy bills
• understand energy affordability supports available and to take part in the energy market more often
• to apply for your $100 Power Saving Bonus if you are eligible.

If you need assistance with your energy bills, you can book an appointment with an EAP energy advocate on 1800 161 215, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (except public holidays). More information is available on the Energy Assistance Program website.

The rules under Victoria’s Payment Difficulty Framework mean your energy company must let you know what help is available. Contact your energy company first and ask to speak to their Hardship Team to discuss your options. This includes paying smaller amounts more often or delaying payment of a bill.

If you’re an eligible concession card holder, you can apply for a range of concessions to help reduce your bills.

Learn more about saving energy and money at the Households webpage at energy.vic.gov.au.