Energy

Medical cooling concession

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To receive a concession on electricity bills related to medically-required cooling, your medical condition must be confirmed by your doctor.

What does this concession apply to?

Mains domestic electricity usage and service costs between 1 November and 30 April.

Who can apply for the concession?

An electricity account holder who holds an eligible concession card (Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Veterans' Affairs Gold Card) and:

  • Has a medical condition that affects their body's ability to self-regulate temperature or
  • Has a household member with such a medical condition.

What medical conditions are eligible for the concession?

Pre-approved conditions are:

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Lymphoedema
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Post-polio Syndrome/Poliomyelitis
  • Motor Neurone Disease.

Applications for other conditions must be approved by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

How much is the concession?

17.5% of electricity usage and service costs between 1 November and 30 April.

During this period the Medical cooling concession is given in addition to the Annual electricity concession.

How do I apply for the concession?

For an application form, phone your electricity retailer or the Concessions information line on 1800 658 521 (toll free).

The application form needs to be completed and signed by your doctor confirming your medical condition. If your condition is one of the pre-approved conditions, send the form to your retailer.

For any other condition, send your form to this department for assessment.

Your retailer will check your concession card details with Centrelink and apply the concession to your bill.

More information

Phone your electricity retailer or the Concessions information line on 1800 658 521.

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  • How is the concession calculated?

    The concession is calculated as follows:

    A = 17.5% x B

    Where:

    • A is the amount of the concession

      • B is the electricity charge.

    Retailer discounts are not factored into the calculation of this concession.

    The concession only applies to electricity charges from 1 November to 30 April. For bills that fall partly in this period, the concession only applies to the days within those dates.

    Calculation example

    Example bill (during concession period):

    Electricity charge (B) $465.00

    B ($465.00) x 17.5% = A ($81.38)

    Concession amount is $81.38.

  • My medical condition is not listed – can I apply for the concession?

    Yes.

    If your medical condition causes an inability to self-regulate body temperature, you can submit an application to the department.

    Ask your doctor to complete the form and provide details about:

    • How your condition affects you

    • Any other relevant details, such as the severity of your condition, whether this is a side-effect of treatment, or if you have multiple conditions.

  • I do not have a concession card but my medical condition is listed – can I apply for the concession?

    No.

    The concession is only available for concession households.

  • Is there a concession for winter heating costs due to medical conditions?

    No.

    People who need extra heat in winter to manage a medical condition can also apply for the Medical Cooling Concession. The discount will be applied to your electricity costs between 1 November to 30 April.

  • Can the concession be backdated?

    Yes, it can be backdated for up to 12 months (or from your concession card start date, if that is more recent).

    Your doctor does not need to specify a diagnosis date.

  • Are there any other payments that can assist me?

    Yes. The Essential Medical Equipment Payment is an annual payment provided by Centrelink for Australians with higher than average energy costs because they rely on essential medical equipment in their home.

    This additional support is available to concession card holders (and their carers) who use essential medical equipment or who medically require heating/cooling at home to manage a disability or medical condition.

    For more information and to apply, see the Essential Medical Equipment Payment page of the Federal Government's Department of Human Services website

Contacts
Concessions information line
1800 658 521
concessions@dffh.vic.gov.au

Phone your electricity retailer, or the Victorian Concessions Information Line.