Introduction
The NSW Life Support Energy Rebate helps pay electricity bills for people who need, or have someone living with them who needs, to use approved energy-intensive life support equipment at home (such as home dialysis, ventilators and oxygen concentrators).
The NSW Life Support Energy Rebate is up to $1,343 per retail (on-market) household, per financial year, depending on the equipment type.
You will also automatically receive a one-off National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment of up to $500 in financial year 2023–24 if:
- you meet the eligibility criteria
- your application for the NSW Life Support Rebate is successful
- your household has not already received the National Energy Bill Relief Household Payment.
If you are a retail (on-market) customer, you need to contact your electricity retailer to apply.
If you are an embedded network (on-supply) electricity customer, you can apply for the NSW Life Support Rebate (on supply).
Note: Embedded network (‘on-supply') means your electricity is supplied by an embedded network – such as in a residential community, retirement village or strata scheme – and you receive your electricity bill or invoice from the strata manager or community/village operator. If you’re not sure whether you're an on-supply customer, contact the electricity provider named on your electricity bill.
Eligibility
You may be eligible if you live in NSW and all of the following apply:
- you have an electricity account for your home in NSW
- you're the account holder (the account and bill must be in your name)
- you or someone living with you 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.
What you need
- the completed form – 'NSW Life Support Rebate Retail Customer Application'
- your medical practitioner to complete and sign the Life Support Rebate Medical Declaration on the form.
How to apply
- Check you meet the eligibility requirements for the rebate.
- Select the 'Download PDF form' button.
- Complete the form.
- Ask your medical practitioner (GP or specialist) to complete the relevant section and sign the declaration.
- Contact your electricity retailer and provide them with a copy of your completed form.
More information
- You'll need to reapply for this rebate every 2 years.
- Some machines have a part-time and full-time (24 hour a day) rate rebate. Your doctor will need to indicate on the form the rate you use the equipment.
- You can receive more than one rebate if your doctor has prescribed more than one type of machine, such as an oxygen concentrator and a ventilator.
- If more than one person uses the approved equipment, you can receive multiple rebates, but you need to submit a separate application form for each patient.
- You'll receive the rebate as a daily credit on each quarterly electricity bill. The amount of the rebate depends on the machine and the number of days in the billing period.
- If you change energy providers, you can continue to receive the rebate by submitting a new, signed application form to your new provider.