The program provides a $250 payment transferred directly to eligible recipients.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio, said that many Victorians may not realise they are eligible for the rebate. 

"There are still many Victorian households who are eligible for help with their energy bills through this bonus and I encourage everyone who needs help to apply," Ms D'Ambrosio said.

"This one-off $250 payment provides immediate financial relief for those struggling to pay their power bills."

Who is eligible?

To get the $250 energy bill rebate, you must be a Victorian residential energy consumer (i.e. have a residential electricity account).
You must be receiving payments under one of the following concession programs:

  • Centrelink Pensioner Concession
  • JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy
  • Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession
  • Or hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card

Pension Concession Card holders who are not receiving payments, and Health Care Cards holders who are not receiving Youth Allowance, JobSeeker, Austudy or Abstudy payments, are not eligible.

Only one payment is available per eligible household.

How to receive the payment

The cash-back offer is available through the Victorian Energy Compare website.

The form must be submitted with proof of a household electricity bill. 

The Power Saving Bonus is part of the Government's $797 million household energy affordability package.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio announced today that 300,000 payments, totalling $76.6 million, had been made to Victorians since the program was established 12 months ago.

The program closes 31 January 2022.

Top 6 tips to save on your energy bill this summer

Beau Savage, Co-Founder at Smart Energy, has shared his top tips to reduce your energy bill as the weather heats up. 

1. Check up on your air-con:
"The air-conditioning unit can feel like your best friend during the hot summer months, and now is the perfect time to check up on it before those 40 degree days arrive," Mr Savage said.

"Cleaning your clogged filter can save you up to 15% in energy use, which in turn lowers your electricity bills. Regularly maintaining your air-con is integral to ensuring it lasts as long as possible, avoiding heavy replacements costs down the track."


2. Make the switch to solar:

"Families who switch to solar energy have the potential to save hundreds on the electricity bill. On average, for a five kilowatt system, Australians can save up to $1,000 over the warmer period and up to $2,000 over the course of the year with solar power," he said.

"Luckily in Australia we get sunshine all year around so you can take advantage of your solar system no matter the season."


3. Use your windows:

"The best way to regulate the temperature inside your home is to keep your windows open at night and closed during the day. That way you can let the cool night air circulate through your bedroom, and trap it in the morning," Mr Savage said.

"During the hottest parts of the day, make sure all windows are closed as well as closing any blinds or curtains to keep the sun out. This will ensure you don’t have to use your air-conditioning all day, everyday and keep those energy bills low."


4. Avoid peak usage times:

"Some appliances are needed in order to cool down the home, however if you use them in a smarter way you can save hundreds on your power bill," he said.

"One of the biggest mistakes people make is using big appliances during peak time. With many of these appliances now smart enabled, Aussies can easily set them to come on during off-peak times to avoid high usage costs."


5. Energy efficient lighting:

"Energy-efficient lightbulbs such as halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light emitting diodes (LEDs) typically use 25-80% less energy than traditional incandescents and can last 3-25 times longer. Energy efficient lighting also helps you to cool your house down," Mr Savage said.

"According to the Australian Government, by replacing your home’s five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with models that have earned the ENERGY STAR, you can save $75 each year."


6. Lock in a super saving energy plan:

"It’s easy for us all to get complacent with our electricity plan, but switching to a new, cheaper energy provider is an easy way to save some cash," he said.

"There are lots of comparison websites out there to help you choose. As a bonus, try and get an energy plan that can be entirely carbon offset at no additional cost."

Image by Sasint via Pixabay