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Seniors on a fixed pension shouldn't have to worry about the rising cost of energy prices. If you're someone with similar concerns, it's good to know there are specific energy plans and discounts designed to keep your bills at bay.
At the moment, only AGL is offering plans explicitly designed for seniors. The AGL Seniors plans are available to anyone holding a Seniors Card in NSW, VIC, QLD or WA.
For example, in NSW, the Seniors Fixed plan offers fixed rates that won't change for 12 months, no lock-in contract and up to $50 in sign-up credits. On top of that, you won't pay extra for sorting your bill out at a post office.
To see AGL's current offerings for each state, see their reviews page.
An energy rebate works by refunding a certain part of your energy bill, either a percentage of the total or a flat amount. Which rebates are available and what you'll need to qualify for them depends on your state, but you'll usually need:
For example, if you meet these conditions in NSW, you can access the Seniors Energy Rebate, which provides a flat $200 per household every year.
To find what energy rebates or other savings you might qualify for, check your state's concessions website.
When you're shopping for a plan, you should pay special attention to:
Lower rates are one thing, but the best way to save on your energy bill is to reduce your power usage. Here are a few things you can do to achieve this:
For seniors who are facing financial issues and struggling to pay their bill, there are a couple of steps to follow:
If you get an energy bill and think it isn't right, your retailer is required to review it for you. After review, you can contact the energy ombudsman in your area if you think it's still wrong. You can find the relevant ombudsman in the resource section below.
The National Relay Service (NRS) provides a phone solution for people who are deaf or have a speech impairment. Call 1800 555 660 or go to Accesshub for more information.
ACT Energy and water ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal – Call 02 6207 7740
NSW Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW – Call 1800 246 545
NT Ombudsman NT – Call 1800 806 380
QLD Energy & Water Ombudsman – Call 1800 662 837
SA Energy & Water Ombudsman SA – Call 1800 665 565
TAS Energy Ombudsman Tasmania – Call 1800 001 170
VIC Energy and Water Ombudsman – Call 1800 500 509
WA Energy and Water Ombudsman – Call 1800 754 004
Real estate ACCC – Call 1300 302 502
ACT Fair Trading ACT Government – Call 13 22 81
NSW Fair Trading NSW Government – Call 13 32 20
NT Consumer Affairs – Call 1800 019 319
QLD Consumer rights, complaints and scams Queensland Government – Call 13 74 68
SA Consumer and Business Services Government of South Australia – Call 13 18 82
TAS Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmanian Government – Call 1300 654 499
VIC Consumer Affairs Government of Victoria – Call 1300 558 181 or Koori Helpline 1300 661 511
WA Consumer Protection Government of Western Australia – Call 1300 304 054
ACT Residential tenancies ACT Government – Call 13 22 81
NSW Renting a home NSW Government – Call 13 32 20
NT Residential tenancies Northern Territory Consumer Affairs – Call 1800 019 319
QLD Renting Residential Tenancies Authority – Call 1300 366 311
SA Renting Government of South Australia – Call 13 18 82
TAS Renting Tasmanian Government – Call 1300 654 499
VIC Renting Government of Victoria – Call 1300 558 181 or Koori Helpline 1300 661 511
WA Renting a home Government of Western Australia – Call 1300 304 054
ACT Renting Advice Tenants' Union ACT Inc – Call 02 6247 2011
NSW Information, Advice and Advocacy Tenants NSW
NT Tenants' Advice Service Darwin Community Legal Service – Call 1800 812 953
QLD Information for tenants Tenants Queensland – Call 1300 744 263
SA Homelessness and Tenancy Support Services Anglicare SA – Call 08 8305 9200
TAS Tenants' Union of Tasmania – Call 1300 652 641
VIC Tenants Victoria – Call 03 9416 2577
WA Tenancy WA – Call 08 9221 0088 (metro) or 1800 621 888 (regional)
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Australian Government – Call 1800 550 552
Be Connected Australian Government (free courses on the Internet) – Call 1300 795 897
Better Health Channel State Government of Victoria – Call 1300 606 024
Energy Made Easy Australian Government – Call 1300 585 165
Home Care Packages Australian Government – Call 1800 836 799
Life stages Australian Government – Call 1800 022 222
Money Smart Australian Securities and Investment Commission – Call 1300 300 630
My Aged Care Australian Government – Call 1800 200 422
National Seniors Australia – Call 1300 765 050
No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) Good Shepherd Microfinance – Call 13 64 57
Over 55s Australian Securities & Investment Commission – Call 1300 300 630Â
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