What is Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme?
What is Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme?
In each state, Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Schemes and government programs provide financial assistance to residents with serious medical conditions requiring electricity for cooling or heating. These programs offset increased electricity costs from necessary air conditioner use to regulate body temperature for medical reasons, not comfort.
Eligibility Rules
Eligibility Rules
To be eligible for the concession, applicants must meet criteria, which vary by state. For example, in Queensland, the following eligibility rules apply:
Be a Queensland resident.
Hold a current Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card issued by Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Have (or be a parent/guardian of a child with) a qualifying medical condition requiring cooling or heating.
Provide certification from a medical specialist or general practitioner that the condition is severely worsened by hot or cold weather.
Reside at the address on the application form.
Use an air conditioning unit at that address for medical cooling and heating requirements.
Be financially responsible for paying the energy bill.
These requirements ensure the concession reaches those who need it most due to their medical conditions and financial circumstances.
Benefits by State
Benefits by State
ACT - The annual rebate amount for 2024-2025 will increase from $128 to $150. This will be applied to the eligible applicant’s electricity bill as a daily rate of approximately 41.096 cents per day.
New South Wales - Retail customers receive the rebate as a daily credit on each electricity bill, up to a total of $350 per year. The amount is calculated from the day you call your retailer and apply.
Northern Territory - $154 allowance. This amount will be applied once the cap is exceeded.
Queensland - If your application is successful, you’ll receive $479.03 per year, with pro-rata quarterly payments into your bank account.
Tasmania - The current concession is 51.906 cents per day.
South Australia - The current concession amount is $274.85 a year.
Victoria - The Medical Cooling Concession provides a 17.5 per cent discount on summer electricity costs from 1 November to 30 April each year.
Western Australia - The subsidy of $790 is paid annually in advance directly into a nominated bank account. Up to two payments per household can be made each year if two or more eligible persons live in the same household.