WA budget: How to get your $400 electricity credit
Western Australia's budget surplus means it can help households struggling with cost of living pressures.
The Western Australian government's newly unveiled 2022/2023 budget brings a slight relief to households struggling with the rising cost of living.
Eligible homes will be given a $400 electricity credit to their account, similar to the one-off $600 energy bill relief given by the state in its previous year's budget.
"Strong budget management has its rewards, with the surplus allowing us to provide cost of living relief with the $400 Household Electricity Credit to every WA household," premier and treasurer, Mark McGowan, said in a media release.
Who is eligible for the $400 payment?
Just who it will and won't cover isn't immediately clear, with the webpage set up for the credit stating "eligibility criteria and guidelines, as well as instructions on how to apply, will be published on this page in the near future".
It appears those with Synergy or Horizon Power electricity accounts will have the payments applied automatically from July 2022.
Households who receive electricity from another supplier will be able to apply through RevenueWA soon.
We'll update this article with further details as soon as they're made available.
Easing cost of living pressures: McGowan
Wholesale electricity prices are on the rise due to recent global events, reaching 67% higher this quarter than the last.
When wholesale prices rise you can expect retailers to pass on the cost to their customers during the July price change, if not before.
While any support to households for their energy bills is welcome, the credit will only really offset the rising costs temporarily.
"There is no doubt that the pandemic and recent world events are currently having an impact on prices locally and that's why my Government is going above and beyond its election commitments to ease cost of living pressures in WA," McGowan said.
What else can you do to save money on your electricity bill?
You can make some simple changes to save on your power usage around the home.
Turning off your standby appliances can save you up to $100. Raising your aircon thermostat by 2 degrees can save you $50.
You can read more on energy-saving tips here. It's the small lifestyle changes that can benefit you in the long run.
Want to compare energy plans? Use Energy Finder™ to find the best price for your household.
