The aim of the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program, or Actsmart program, is to assist you to reduce your energy use and make your energy bills more affordable. By participating, you can learn to:

> reduce your energy consumption

> save money

> improve the comfort of your home

> reduce your impact on the environment.

The program is funded by the ACT Government’s Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate and delivered by St Vincent de Paul.

What you need to know

If your household is eligible, an Energy Efficiency Officer will:

> visit you at home and assess your needs

> provide advice and education on how to save energy

> give you an energy savings kit with energy savings tips, a shower timer, thermometer and a heated throw rug.

> draught proof your home to assist with increased comfort and energy savings

> other assistance if required

Application

For more information, or to see if you are eligible, please contact St Vincent de Paul on 02 6234 7424 or send them an email.

The Life Support Rebate is provided to assist Members who require the use of specific life support machines in their home. The rebate provides a discount that varies depending on the type of machine required for life support purposes.

Eligibility Criteria

You can apply for the Life Support Energy Rebate if you or someone living at the address of the eligible Member:

> is an ACT resident

> is an account holder named on the bill with Powerclub

> has been assessed by a registered medical practitioner to verify that the use of the approved life support equipment is required at their principal place of residence.

Only one Life Support Rebate can be claimed per household.

Eligible Equipment

The following electrically-operated life-support equipment entitles the applicant to an electricity life-support rebate:

>dialysis machine

> oxygen concentrator

> respirator

> CPAP regulator

> long stay life support

> nebuliser

> LS reference

> TPN device

> other apparatus subject to approval.

Application

If you have any questions please contact the ACT Revenue Office on 13 22 81 or visit their website.

The Home Haemodialysis Rebate assists eligible patients accessing home haemodialysis with their water costs.

What you need to know

> Members eligible for the Home Haemodialysis rebate are automatically eligible for the Life Support Rebate.

> The rebate is up to $1,200 per annum. or $3.29 per day.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Home Haemodialysis rebate,an applicant must provide:

> Evidence that he/she is the registered owner or joint owner of the property or that the person receiving treatment resides permanently with the applicant, and

> A letter from a medical practitioner/professional confirming that:

> the applicant is receiving treatment from a home dialysis machine, or

> the applicant is the guardian/parent/carer of a person receiving treatment from a home dialysis machine.

Application

If you have any questions please contact the ACT Revenue Office on 13 22 81 or visit their website.

The Utilities Concession is also available to eligible residents of ACT caravan parks and retirement villages with embedded electricity networks. The Concession will be paid directly to eligible residents rather than as a reduction applied to utility bills.

What you need to know

> Please contact the ACT Revenue Office directly.

> The annual rebate amount has increased by $46 from 1 July 2019 to $700.00.

> The daily summer rate for the Utilities Concession is approximately 83.292 cents per day from 1 November to 31 May

> The daily winter rate is approximately 312.039 cents per day from 1 June to 31 October.

> The Utilities Concession will be applied to the applicant’s electricity account.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants must be the primary holder of one of the following concession cards:

> Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)

> Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card (HCC)

> Veteran’s Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

> Gold Card Holders - Prisoner of War, War Widow or Totally Permanently Incapacitated (TPI Embossed)

For primary card holders of a Low-Income Health Care Card, a new application needs to be made each time a new card is issued. Only the primary card holder can apply for the Utilities Concession. The primary card holder’s name and address must be the same as the name and address appearing on their Powerclub electricity account.

The concession can only be claimed from the start date of the primary card holder’s concession card. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card is not an eligible card under the scheme.

Application

If you have any questions, please contact the ACT Revenue Office on 13 22 81 or visit their website.