In short

The federal Energy Bill Relief Fund ended on 31 December 2025, with no Commonwealth replacement in 2026-27. Pensioners now rely on state and territory schemes, which vary widely: Queensland pays $386.34 a year, NSW pays up to $285 or $313.50 depending on rebate, Victoria gives a 17.5% bill discount, and Tasmania a daily rate. Unlike the old federal credit, most of these require an application.

If you were counting on the federal government's automatic electricity credit to keep turning up on your bill, it has stopped. The Energy Bill Relief Fund ended on 31 December 2025, and there is no Commonwealth replacement in the 2026-27 financial year (energy.gov.au, https://www.energy.gov.au/energy-bill-relief-fund). What is left is a patchwork of state and territory schemes, and unlike the federal credit most of them are not automatic — you generally have to apply. This article sets out what changed, what each state currently offers pensioners, and how to check what you are entitled to.

What actually ended, and when

The Energy Bill Relief Fund (EBRF) ran through several phases. From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, households received up to $300, credited in quarterly instalments. From 1 July 2025 it was extended at a lower rate, $150 per household, paid as two $75 quarterly instalments, and that extension ended on 31 December 2025 (energy.gov.au, https://www.energy.gov.au/energy-bill-relief-fund). energy.gov.au's current guidance for households is explicit: "The Energy Bill Relief Fund ended on 31 December 2025", and it directs people instead to "check your eligibility for existing state and territory rebate schemes". These credits were applied automatically by electricity retailers — most customers didn't have to do anything, which is precisely why the change is easy to miss until a bill arrives without the credit on it.

What's left: state and territory schemes

energy.gov.au itself doesn't administer any rebates; it is a directory pointing to the state and territory bodies that do, and it lists well over a hundred separate programs once you include solar, hardship and business schemes as well as household energy concessions. The general eligibility pattern across the pension-relevant ones is similar: holding a Pensioner Concession Card (from Services Australia or DVA), a Health Care Card, a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, or a DVA Gold Card typically qualifies you for something, but the amount, the mechanism and whether you need to apply differ by state. Four examples below show how differently the schemes are built.

Queensland pays eligible pensioners, veterans and seniors an Electricity Rebate of $386.34 a year and a Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate of $92.12 a year (energy.gov.au, https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates/electricity-and-gas-rebates).

New South Wales runs two separate schemes, and you can only get one of them. The Low Income Household Rebate, for Pensioner Concession Card and equivalent holders, is worth up to $285 a year for retail customers or $313.50 a year for embedded network customers (NSW Climate and Energy Action, https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/grants-rebates/low-income-household-rebate). The separate Seniors Energy Rebate is for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders — that is, self-funded retirees who don't qualify for the Age Pension — and pays $200 a year; the page states plainly that if you received the Low Income Household Rebate you cannot also receive the Seniors Energy Rebate (NSW Climate and Energy Action, https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/grants-rebates/seniors-energy-rebate). NSW's Seniors Energy Rebate applications for 2026-27 close 30 June 2027, with current processing times of 6 to 8 weeks.

Victoria doesn't pay a flat dollar amount at all: eligible card holders get a 17.5% concession on domestic mains electricity usage and service costs, calculated after any retailer discounts and solar credits are already deducted (energy.gov.au, https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates/annual-electricity-concession-eligible-card-holders-0). Because it's a percentage, the dollar value depends on your actual usage and plan.

Tasmania takes a third approach again — a daily cents-per-day discount applied to the bill of an eligible concession card holder, rather than an annual lump sum or a percentage (energy.gov.au, https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates/annual-electricity-concession).

Other states run their own versions. South Australia's Cost of Living Concession is worth noting because it isn't tied to your electricity account at all: it's a yearly cash payment by electronic funds transfer to help with general living expenses — council rates, energy and medical bills — assessed against your circumstances on 1 July each year, and you generally don't need to reapply once you're registered with ConcessionsSA (SA.gov.au, https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/concessions/household-concessions/cost-of-living-concessions). We could not confirm the current 2026-27 dollar amount from that page; check ConcessionsSA directly. Western Australia runs an Energy Assistance Payment as part of its Energy Concession Extension Scheme, paid by RevenueWA to households holding a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or DVA Gold Card — note that a WA Seniors Card alone does not qualify (WA.gov.au, https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/apply-the-energy-concession-extension-scheme). We could not confirm WA's current dollar amount from the page fetched; check the linked fact sheet or ask RevenueWA.

Why this is easy to miss

The federal credit's whole design was that you didn't have to do anything — it landed automatically because Services Australia and the energy retailers already knew who held an eligible concession card. Most of the state schemes above are not like that: NSW's rebates, Queensland's rebate, and WA's Energy Assistance Payment are generally applied for, not applied automatically, and in some cases (NSW's Seniors Energy Rebate, WA's scheme) you need to reapply or your application can lapse if your card or account details change. If you were receiving the federal credit without ever applying for anything, you may now be entitled to a state rebate you have never actually registered for.

What to actually do

  • Check energy.gov.au's rebate finder first. It is the Commonwealth's directory of every state and territory program and links straight to where you apply (https://www.energy.gov.au/rebates).
  • Check which card unlocks which scheme. A Pensioner Concession Card and a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card open different doors in some states — NSW is the clearest example, where the two schemes are mutually exclusive and pay different amounts. See our concession card comparison for how the cards themselves differ.
  • Apply — don't assume it's automatic. Most of what's left requires an application, sometimes annually.
  • If you get even a part Age Pension, you likely hold a Pensioner Concession Card already — see our article on why a small part pension is still worth claiming for the card benefits beyond energy.
  • Self-funded retirees on the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card should check their own state's version of NSW's Seniors Energy Rebate — see our Commonwealth Seniors Health Card article for eligibility.
  • Don't stop at energy. Our article on pensioner concessions you must claim covers the other concessions that go with these cards.

Sources

Key takeaways

  • The federal Energy Bill Relief Fund ended on 31 December 2025 and there is no Commonwealth replacement for 2026-27; energy.gov.au now directs households to state and territory schemes instead.
  • Unlike the old federal credit, which was applied automatically to bills, most state and territory schemes require you to apply, and some need reapplying periodically.
  • Amounts and mechanisms vary widely by state: Queensland pays a flat $386.34 electricity rebate a year, NSW pays up to $285 (or $313.50 for embedded network customers), Victoria gives a 17.5% discount on usage and service costs, and Tasmania applies a daily cents-per-day rate.
  • In NSW, the Pensioner Concession Card unlocks the Low Income Household Rebate while the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card unlocks the separate Seniors Energy Rebate, and you can only receive one of the two.
  • energy.gov.au is the Commonwealth's directory of every state and territory energy rebate and the starting point for checking what you're entitled to, even though it doesn't administer any of them itself.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still a federal energy rebate for pensioners in 2026-27?

No. The Energy Bill Relief Fund, which paid automatic credits to household electricity bills, ended on 31 December 2025 after a reduced $150 extension in the second half of 2025. energy.gov.au confirms there is no Commonwealth replacement and directs households to check state and territory schemes instead.

What energy rebate can I get as a pensioner in NSW?

Pensioner Concession Card holders can apply for the Low Income Household Rebate, worth up to $285 a year for retail customers or $313.50 for embedded network customers. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders (typically self-funded retirees) can instead apply for the separate Seniors Energy Rebate, worth $200 a year — but you can only receive one of the two, not both.

How much is the Queensland pensioner electricity rebate?

Eligible Queensland pensioners, veterans and seniors can receive the Electricity Rebate of $386.34 a year and the Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate of $92.12 a year.

Do I need to apply for these energy rebates, or are they automatic?

Unlike the old federal Energy Bill Relief Fund, which was credited automatically, most current state and territory schemes require an application, and some — such as NSW's Seniors Energy Rebate — need periodic reapplication. Check your own state government's energy or concessions website.

Where can I find every state's current energy rebate?

energy.gov.au maintains a national directory of state and territory rebate and assistance schemes, including energy concessions, even though the Commonwealth doesn't administer them itself.

A note on advice. This article is general information only and doesn't account for your personal circumstances. Everyone's situation is different — before acting, it's worth talking it through with a licensed adviser who knows your full picture.