National Energy Bill Relief

On 9 May 2023, the Federal and WA State Governments jointly announced a number of energy bill relief offsets.

On 11 May 2023, the WA State Government announced additional support payments to complement the national scheme.

Residential customers currently in receipt of an Energy Assistance Payment (EAP) - will receive a total payment of $500.

• $350 offset by the Federal Government and $150 funded by the State Government
• Payable over two installments of $250 on 8 July 2023 and 2 December 2023.

Residential customers currently in receipt of a Carers or Family Tax Benefit A & B - will receive a total payment of $400:

• $350 offset by the Federal Government and $50 funded by the State Government
• Payable over two installments of $200 on 8 July 2023 and 2 December 2023.

All other residential customers - will receive a total payment of $400:

• This payment is fully funded by the State Government
• Payable over two installments of $200 on 8 July 2023 and 2 December 2023.

The National Energy Bill Relief Offset will be applied as an offset to eligible residential customer accounts that were supplied electricity by Horizon Power under an eligible residential product as of 9 May 2023.

Customers will NOT need to apply as they will be automatically identified by Horizon Power.

Eligible residential products include:

• The A2 Residential tariff.
• All non-standard residential electricity supply products including My Power.
• Pre-payment meter accounts on one of the above residential tariffs.

Customers on business tariffs (including K2) will not be eligible for the residential offset. 

Eligile business products include:

• K2 Combined Use tariff
• C2 Community Service tariff
• D2 Charitable Accommodation tariff
• L2 Small Business tariff.

No. Eligible customer accounts are only entitled to one National Energy Bill Relief Offset per household.

To be eligible for the 1st payment, both residential and small business customers must have an eligible account as at the announcement date of 9 May 2023.

Customers who open an account after this date and before 23 November 2023 - will only be eligible for the 2nd payment on the 2 December 2023.

No - any offset payments cannot be transferred to a bank account.  If you’re transferring your customer account to a different address, then your credit may be carried forward and applied to future bills at the new address.

Both the Federal and State Government based payments are non-refundable - and can only be used as an offset against costs associated with the supply of electricity to your property.

If you close your account before the payment has been fully applied, any remaining balance will be returned to the State Government. 

You need to have an active eligible account on the qualifying dates to receive both payments.  This means you must have had an active account before the announcement on 9 May 2023 and to have the active account still open through to 23 November 2023.  This entitles you to receive both payments, the first 50% applied to your first energy bill from 8 July and the final 50% applied to your next energy bill from 2 December 2023.

If you opened an eligible account AFTER 9 May 2023 but before 23 November 2023, you will be eligible for only the second 50% payment applied to your next energy bill from 2 December 2023.

If you have already closed your account and are looking to re-open it, we encourage you to contact us as we can assess your individual circumstances to see what assistance we can provide.

The National Small Business Energy Bill Relief Offset will provide $650 of energy bill relief to eligible small businesses.

Co-funded by the WA State and Federal governements,  2 payments of $325 will be automatically applied to the accounts of eligible business customers on 8 July 2023 and 2 December 2023.

Eligible small businesses and charities must have one of the following electricity products:

• K2 Combined Use tariff
• C2 Community Service tariff
• D2 Charitable Accommodation tariff
• L2 Small Business tariff
• MyPower Business up to MyPower Business 15

However, electricity accounts held by the following organisations are not eligible to receive payments:

1. Local government authorities, councils or entities created pursuant to the Local Government Act 1995 (WA); or
2. Local, State or Federal Government statutory authorities, trading enterprises, departments, or agencies; or
3. Telecommunication companies part of the corporate group of, Telstra, Vodafone, Optus or the National Broadband Network; or
4. Organisations part of the corporate group of, Westpac, Australian and New Zealand Banking Group, Commonwealth Bank or National Australia Bank; or
5. Major mining or resources operators e.g. part of the corporate group of, BHP, Rio Tinto, FMG, Chevron and Woodside; or
6. Accounts established for temporary electricity supply for the purposes of construction.

To be eligible for the payment, small businesses must have an eligible account as at the announcement date of 9 May 2023.

Businesses who open an account after this date will not be eligible for either payment.

No. You're unable to apply any unused offset amounts against a different Horizon Power account unless you're moving business premises.

If you’re transferring your business account to a different address, then your credit may be carried forward and applied to future bills at the new address.

We know this is a challenging time for regional WA businesses. If your business is not eligible for the National Small Business Energy Bill Relief Offset - please call us on 1800 267 926 or message us to discuss your options.

We'll then assess your circumstances to see what assistance we can provide. 

You cannot seek a 'refund' of the surplus amount relating to the National Small Business Energy Bill Relief Offset if your account is in credit.  

If you’re transferring your business account to a different address, then your credit may be carried forward and applied to future bills at the new address.

Both the Federal and State Government based payments are non-refundable - and can only be used as an offset against costs associated with the supply of electricity to your business.

If you close your account before the payment has been fully applied, any remaining balance will be returned to the State Government.

Unfortunately no. If you are don't have a direct billing relationship with us - then your business isn't eligible for bill relief payments. 

It is noted that some small businesses (e.g. shopping centers, tenants) who are part of an embedded network may not benefit from this relief measure.

Yes - if you have have one of the following electricity products:

• K2 Combined Use tariff
• C2 Community Service tariff
• D2 Charitable Accommodation tariff
• L2 Small Business tariff.L2

No - if you're on the A2 Residential tariff. But you may be eligible for one of the energy bill relief payments for residential households.