1. Definitions
1.1 The following definitions apply to these Terms and Conditions:
a. Agency means Service NSW.
b. Applicant means a person who is:
i. the holder of a Services Australia issued Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or a Department of Veterans' Affairs issued Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
ii. the primary account holder named on the electricity bill for their primary place of residence in NSW.
c. Department means the Office of Energy and Climate Change, within the NSW Treasury.
d. Seniors Energy Rebate means financial assistance to eligible customers who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to help cover the cost of their electricity.
e. National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment means financial assistance to eligible households to help cover the cost of their electricity in the 2023-24 financial year.
2. Application
2.1 These Terms and Conditions:
a. apply to applicants for the Seniors Energy Rebate and the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment and
b. must be read in accordance with the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code.
2.2 You can only receive the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment once in financial year 2023-24. If your household has already received the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment, the payment may be reversed on your energy bill by your energy retailer.
2.3 You understand that it is a serious offence under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) to knowingly give false or misleading information to a public authority, including to the Agency and the Department.
2.4 By applying, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
3. Eligibility Criteria
3.1 To be eligible for the Seniors Energy Rebate in a given financial year you must:
a. be a resident in NSW
b. be:
i. the primary account holder of an electricity retailer
ii. a resident of an on-supplied retirement village, or a resident of an on-supplied strata scheme (in accordance with the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code) or
iii. an on-supply customer whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to their principal place of residence whose name appears on the electricity account for supply to their principal place of residence and
c. hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by Services Australia or the Commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs.
3.2 For eligible applicants, the Seniors Energy Rebate will be $200 per financial year unless advised otherwise in writing by the Department.
3.3 A person who is paid the Seniors Energy Rebate will be paid the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment for the 2023-2024 financial year only, except if your household has already received it for the 2023-24 financial year, and regardless of whether the payment is paid as a lump-sum or in instalments up to a maximum of $500.
a. Payment or reimbursement of monies paid will be made via EFT to the Australian bank account nominated by you.
b. The Seniors Energy Rebate and National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment are available only for electricity bills.
c. You must notify the Agency and the Department immediately if you no longer meet the eligibility criteria in clause 3 or can no longer comply with these Terms and Conditions.
d. You may be audited by the Agency to determine whether you have complied or are complying with these Terms and Conditions. You must provide any information or documentation that is reasonably required for the purpose of any such audit.
e. In accordance with clause 2.2, if an electricity retailer or the Department identifies a household has already received the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment in the financial year 2023-24, the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment may be reversed by your energy retailer.
4. Verification
4.1 The Agency and the Department have the right, at their discretion, to verify any information (included information with Services Australia and the Department of Veterans' Affairs) provided as part of your application. Verification may include, without limitation, any or all of the following:
a. Requesting the provision of additional information.
b. Confirmation that the Eligibility Criteria have been met.
5. Privacy
5.1 You understand that:
a. Services Australia will disclose your personal information to the Agency including your name/address and concession card type and status to confirm your eligibility for the Seniors Energy Rebate.
b. This consent, once signed, remains valid while you are a customer of the Agency unless you withdraw it by contacting the Agency.
c. You can get proof of your circumstances/details from Services Australia and provide it to the Agency so your eligibility for the Seniors Energy Rebate can be determined.
d. If you withdraw your consent or do not alternatively provide proof of your circumstances/details, you may not be eligible for the Seniors Energy Rebate and the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment.
6. Closure, suspension or variation
6.1 The Department reserves the right, at any time, to:
a. Vary these Terms and Conditions, the Eligibility Criteria and process for application.
b. Suspend the operation of or close down any right to make an application for the Rebate.
c. Alter the opening and closing date for applications.
d. Any changes to these Terms and Conditions or action taken to suspend or revoke either or both of the Rebate or Payment will be notified on the Agency's website.
7. General
7.1 The Agency is not responsible for decisions made by the Department.
7.2 No rights under these Terms and Conditions will be waived except by notice in writing signed by both you, the Agency and the Department.
7.3 The Seniors Energy Rebate, the National Energy Bill Relief household Payment and all related information is governed by the laws of the State of New South Wales.
7.4 Where the Agency or Department has issued a notice to the email address provided as part of the application process, the notification will be deemed to have been received by you immediately upon receipt of electronic transmission confirmation.
7.5 The Seniors Energy Rebate and National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment are not exchangeable or redeemable for cash.
7.6 Without limiting anything in these Terms and Conditions, the Department will not be responsible or liable to you as the applicant, to the maximum extent permitted by law, for any of the matters set out in clause 3 and 4.