Struggling households in three states are being denied relief on their energy bills because of a bureaucratic delay.
Customers in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia who were expecting a $75 credit on their electricity bills, which the Federal Government said would begin on July 1, were dismayed to find it was non-existent and flooded complaint hotlines.
Energy giant Origin Energy has been forced to clarify on its website that there was a “delay in refund payments to customers in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia”.
He Herald of the Sun The three states have reportedly been slow to sign a legal document authorizing retailers to provide the refund.
The Australian Energy Council told the newspaper that “retailers are ready to deliver bill relief payments as soon as possible.”
“While the payments come from the federal government, they are administered by the states and territories,” a council spokesperson said.
‘Retailers are awaiting approval of final agreements that will allow them to make payments on customers’ bills.
‘Retailers are committed to ensuring that customers receive all of their entitlements in a timely manner and understand that some customers are frustrated or confused about when their first payment will be delivered.’
Origin Energy also confirmed that they were “working with the government to get energy bill relief payments to our customers as soon as possible.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the energy rebate in May for July 1, but it has yet to begin in three states.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the $300 energy rebate in the May Budget.
He said that starting in July of this year, “more than 10 million households will receive a full refund of $300.”
Under this plan, energy companies are applying $75 credits to each quarterly electricity bill.
Retailers have assured their customers that they will make the full payment of $300 during the financial year.
Victorian opposition energy spokesman David Davis urged state Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to “process the necessary paperwork and ensure the money flows this week”.
“Households are being overwhelmed by rising energy costs and deserve immediate access to the promised relief, even though it will be nothing short of insignificant,” Davis said.
An Allan government spokesman said all households with an electricity account will automatically receive the full $300 bill refund “credited in instalments over the 2024-25 financial year”.
Social services groups are also calling on state governments to act urgently as disadvantaged households struggle with mounting bills.
Households in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia expecting a $75 discount on this month’s energy bill have been sorely disappointed
Gavin Dufty, of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, called for a cut in “the red tape that prevents people from getting help with living costs in a cost of living crisis”.
Queenslanders have already seen credits applied to their bills, along with an extra $1000 from the Miles government as it seeks re-election in October.
Announcing the plan, Dr Chalmers said it would reduce inflation, which currently stands at 3.8 per cent.
“Treasury estimates that this will directly reduce headline inflation by around half a percentage point in 2024-25 and is not expected to add to broader inflationary pressures,” it said.
