On 11 May 2023, the State Government announced that eligible Western Australian households will receive a payment to ease cost of living pressures. For certain households, the payment includes an amount provided by the Commonwealth Government under the National Energy Bill Relief Fund.
Apply for the credit before 30 November 2023. See information below under How do I apply?
If you are a Synergy or Horizon Power customer:
- Contact Synergy on 13 13 53 or see their website.
- Contact Horizon Power on 1800 267 926 or see their website.
Processing update
RevenueWA is currently processing applications that were lodged in mid-August.
- Applications are processed in order of date received.
- We will notify you as soon as your application has been processed.
We estimate applications will be processed within six weeks, however, this may vary depending on the volume of applications received or if we require further information from you.
Eligibility criteria
Show moreThe eligibility criteria for the 2023 Household Electricity Credit is different to previous years.
Who is eligible
You may be eligible if, at 9 May 2023:
- you were an owner-occupier or a tenant incurring electricity costs
- the property was a self-contained dwelling which can be lawfully used as a place of residence, including granny flats and dual key properties
- the property was solely or dominantly used for residential purposes and
- your electricity was supplied through an embedded network, sub-metering arrangement, or other on-supply arrangement and you are invoiced by a third party for the electricity you use. Common examples are apartment buildings, retirement villages, caravan parks and regional communities whose electricity is supplied by mining companies.
Who is not eligible
You won't be eligible if:
- you were not incurring electricity costs at 9 May 2023
- you are a Synergy or Horizon Power customer
- you are an owner leasing the property to tenants
- you are an employer providing housing to employees as part of their employment terms – if the employee is leasing the property and invoiced for their electricity charges, they are eligible for the credit
- you are a resident of Christmas or Cocos Keeling Islands or
- the property is primarily used for short stay holiday accommodation such as an Airbnb.
How much will I be paid?
Show more| Who | How much | When will it be paid |
|---|---|---|
|
Households receiving the Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES) because a resident holds one of the following concession cards at 9 May 2023:
|
$500 This amount is made up of:
This is in addition to your annual $326 ECES payment. |
from
|
|
Households in which a resident receives Family Tax Benefit A or B, or Carer’s Allowance
|
$400 This amount is made up of:
|
Applications will be processed in order of date received with payments commenting
|
|
All other households
|
$400 Funded by State Government |
The payment will be made by EFT directly into your nominated bank account. If the account is not in the name of all owners or tenants, you must provide a completed Authorisation form to allow us to pay the credit into the nominated account.
How do I apply?
Show more| Who | How to apply |
|---|---|
| Most households
This includes households not eligible for the Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES). If you are receiving or eligible for ECES, please see instructions below. |
Apply through the Online Services Portal between 12 July 2023 and 30 November 2023.
You will need to provide:
|
| Households eligible for the Energy Concession Extension Scheme (ECES) | If you were registered for ECES on or before 9 May 2023, you don't need to apply for the 2023 Household Electricity Credit. We will pay the $500 credit directly to your nominated bank account. You will also receive the annual Energy Assistance Payment. Complete this form if you need to update your nominated bank account. If you were eligible for ECES on 9 May 2023 but not registered, register for ECES and provide a copy of an invoice for your electricity costs covering 9 May 2023. You will receive the $500 credit directly to your nominated bank account. You will also receive the annual Energy Assistance Payment. If you weren't eligible for ECES on 9 May 2023 but have registered since then, you must apply separately for the $400 credit. You may also receive the annual Energy Assistance Payment. |
Synergy or Horizon Power customers
Show moreI was a Synergy or Horizon Power customer on 9 May 2023. How will I receive my credit?
Your provider will automatically apply the credit to your account over two instalments from 8 July 2023 and 2 December 2023.
If you open an account after 9 May 2023 but before 23 November 2023, you may only be eligible for the second payment.
See your electricity provider for details.
- Contact Synergy on 13 13 53 or see their website.
- Contact Horizon Power on 1800 267 926 or see their website.
We will check with electricity providers to ensure households don't receive two payments for the same property.
I closed my Synergy or Horizon Power account after 9 May 2023 and won’t be opening another one. Can I apply for a payment from RevenueWA?
Under Synergy's and Horizon Power’s terms and conditions, customers forfeit any credit not used if they close their account and don't open another eligible residential account by 31 March 2024.
If you closed your account before the first credit instalment was applied, contact RevenueWA to discuss your circumstances.
If you closed your account after the first credit instalment was applied, you forfeit the second instalment.
If you open a new Synergy or Horizon Power account before 31 March 2024, contact your provider to discuss transferring your credit.
Previous credit recipients
Show moreMy circumstances haven’t changed. Do I need to reapply?
Yes. You need to apply for this year’s credit unless you were a RevenueWA ECES customer at 9 May 2023.
My bank details have changed since the last time I received the Household Electricity Credit. How do I update them?
Provide your updated details when you apply for the credit. Apply for the credit between 12 July 2023 and 30 November 2023.
Small businesses
Show moreI am a small business that is not directly billed by Synergy or Horizon Power. How do I apply for the small business credit?
Contact the Small Business Development Corporation on 08 6552 3300 or see their website for information.
I operate a small business from my home. I am not directly billed by Synergy or Horizon Power. What electricity credit will I receive?
You should apply for the $400 Household Electricity Credit from RevenueWA.
If you generate your own power
Show moreHouseholds not connected to the main electricity network are not eligible to receive the Household Electricity Credit as they don’t incur costs associated with power supply from the network.
The Australian Government provides assistance to households that generate electricity for domestic use in the form of fuel tax credits that can be claimed through the Australian Taxation Office. See information about claiming fuel tax credits at www.ato.gov.au or call 13 28 61.
The Australian Government also provides financial incentives to assist with the cost of installing certain renewable energy systems and is available through the Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. See information about this scheme at www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au or call 1300 553 542.
Other residence types
Show moreI live in a granny flat or dual key residence. Will I receive the Household Electricity Credit?
The 2023 Household Electricity Credit has been expanded to households living in a self-contained ancillary dwelling, such as granny flats or dual key residences.
The household living in the ancillary dwelling must be separate to the household living in the main residence, and they must be invoiced for the electricity usage as part of an on-supply arrangement.
Examples
Show more| Synergy or Horizon Power customers | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Harry moved to WA in July and opened a Synergy account for his new residence. He isn't eligible for the first instalment, but Synergy will automatically apply the second instalment to his account in December because he opened a new account between 9 May 2023 and 25 November 2023. He doesn't need to apply for the credit. |
| 2 | Max received the first instalment of the credit on his Synergy account in July. In August he moved to another house and closed the old account. If Max opens a Synergy or Horizon Power account for the new address before 31 March 2024, he can contact his provider to ask about transferring the credit to his new account. |
| 3 | Dave had a Synergy account at his home on 9 May 2023. In June, Dave moved into a sub-metered apartment and permanently closed his account before Synergy applied the first credit instalment. Dave can no longer receive the credit from Synergy and should speak to RevenueWA about his circumstances. |
| 4 | Taylor had a Synergy account at her home on 9 May 2023. In July, Synergy applied the first credit instalment to her account. In September, she moved into a sub-metered apartment and permanently closed her Synergy account. Taylor isn't eligible for the second instalment payment and can't apply for a new credit, part payment or refund from RevenueWA. |
| 5 | Jade is a tenant and lives in a house that has a meter supplied by Synergy. The Synergy account connected to the property is in her landlord’s name and they pass the bill on to her. Synergy will automatically apply the credit to the electricity account. Jade's landlord should pass on the benefit of the credit to her. |
| Caravan parks | |
|---|---|
| 6 | Robert is a resident in a caravan park and is supplied with electricity through a sub-meter. The caravan park manager calculates Robert’s electricity consumption and invoices him for his usage. Robert should apply for the credit through RevenueWA before 30 November 2023. |
| 7 | Wendy was travelling in her caravan and temporarily staying at a caravan park on 9 May 2023. She is not a permanent resident of the caravan park. Wendy can't apply for a credit for her temporary site but may be eligible for a credit for her usual place of residence. |
| Subsidised electricity | |
|---|---|
| 8 | Sue leases a property from her employer and receives an electricity subsidy as part of her employment terms. Her employer doesn't invoice her for her electricity costs because the subsidy offsets her electricity costs. Sue should apply to RevenueWA and provide evidence that her subsidy covered her electricity costs for the period including 9 May 2023. If Sue didn't receive an electricity subsidy and wasn't required to contribute to her electricity costs, she wouldn't be eligible for a credit. |
| Ancillary dwellings | |
|---|---|
| 9 | Alice rents a granny flat on the land behind Paul’s house. The land is not subdivided and is serviced by a single electricity meter. For postal services, Paul’s house is described as 15A and Alice’s granny flat is described as 15B. Paul has a Synergy account and invoices Alice for 40% of the usage under the utility clause in Alice’s lease agreement. Paul receives the credit on his Synergy account. Alice can apply to RevenueWA for a separate payment for her household. |
| 10 | Isobel’s property has a main residence at the front of the lot, with a smaller self-contained dwelling behind it. Her son Teddy occupies the dwelling but continues to live as part of Isobel's household. Teddy doesn't have a separate mailing address and isn't invoiced for his electricity costs. His house isn't considered a separate household from the main residence and isn't eligible for a credit. |
| 11 | Ryan owns a dual key property and leases both units to tenants. There is a main Synergy meter connected to Unit A and a sub-meter which runs off this and supplies electricity to Unit B. The electricity account is in Ryan’s name. The property manager receives the invoice from Synergy and invoices each tenant for their usage. Synergy will automatically apply one credit to the electricity account. Unit A should receive the full credit and the tenant in Unit B should apply to RevenueWA for an equivalent payment. The credit is not intended to cover administrative account fees payable by Ryan. |
| Exceptional circumstances | |
|---|---|
| 12 | Brett was due to move into his new apartment on 7 May 2023. Due to urgent repair work required to the building, he was unable to move in until 14 May 2023. As his previous lease expired on 6 May 2023, Brett stayed in a hotel while waiting to move into his new apartment. Brett can apply to the Commissioner for payment of the credit under exceptional circumstances by uploading to his online application any documents that support his claim, including:
The Commissioner will consider exceptional circumstances applications on a case-by-case basis. Note: If Brett’s new residence is supplied by Synergy or Horizon Power, he should contact his new provider to ask about applying the credit. RevenueWA cannot consider applications from Synergy or Horizon Power customers. |
