Struggling households in three states are being denied energy bill relief because of a bureaucratic hold-up.
Customers in NSW, Victoria and South expecting to get a $75 credit towards their power bills, which the Federal Government said would start from July 1, were dismayed to see it wasn’t there and have flooded complaint hotlines.
Power giant Origin Energy has been forced to clarify on its website there was a ‘delay in rebate payments to NSW, Victorian and South n customers’.
The Herald Sun reports that the three states have been slow top sign a legal document to authorise retailers to give the rebate.
The n Energy Council told the paper that ‘retailers stand ready to deliver the bill relief payments as soon as possible’.
‘While the payments are from the federal government they are administered by the states and territories,’ a Council spokesperson said.
‘Retailers are awaiting approval of the final arrangements to allow them to deliver the payments on customer bills.
‘Retailers are committed to ensuring customers receive their full entitlements in a timely manner and understand some customers are feeling frustrated or confused about when the first payment will be delivered.’
Origin Energy also confirmed they were ‘working with government to get the energy bill relief payments to our customers as soon as possible’.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the $300 energy rebate in May’s Budget.
He said from July this year ‘more than 10 million households will receive a total rebate of $300’.
Under the scheme energy companies are applying $75 credits to each quarterly power bill.
Retailer have assured customers they will their full payments of $300 over the financial year.
Victorian opposition energy spokesman David Davis urged the state’s Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to ‘process required paperwork and ensure money flows this week’.
‘Households are being overwhelmed by surging energy costs and they deserve immediate access to promised relief – although it will barely touch the sides,’ Mr Davis said.
An Allan government spokesperson said all households with an electricity account will automatically receive the full $300 bill rebate ‘credited in instalments over the 2024-25 financial year’.
Social services groups are also calling the state governments to act urgently as disadvantaged households struggle with ever rising bills.
St Vincent de Paul Society, Gavin Dufty called for a cut to ‘bureaucratic red tape getting in the way of people getting cost of living relief in a cost of living crisis’.
Queenslanders have already seen credits applied to their bills, along with an additional $1000 by the Miles government as it seeks re-election in October.
In announcing the scheme Dr Chalmers said it would push down inflation, currently running at 3.8 per cent
‘Treasury estimates this will directly reduce headline inflation by around half of a percentage point in 2024– 25 and is not expected to add to broader inflationary pressures,’ he said.