Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Power saving bonus

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (17:33): (123) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources, the Honourable Lily D’Ambrosio. The action I seek is for the minister to please provide me an update on how the most vulnerable residents in my area of Northern Metropolitan will be supported in taking up the next round of the $250 power saving bonus opening this Friday. That is right, the power saving bonus is back. From Friday of this week every Victorian household will be able to access a new round of the $250 power saving bonus, which has helped 1.8 million Victorian households find a better energy deal in previous rounds.

The Andrews Labor government knows that the pressures on our family budgets are tough right now. With winter around the corner and the dreaded energy bills that come with it, there has never been a better time to secure the best deal for your power bill. The power saving bonus does just that by asking users if they are getting the best deal or if their years of loyalty to some big privately owned power companies have been costing them in the hip pocket, because every cent and every dollar matter right now. Some consumers have discovered that they have been dropped off from discounts available to our elderly, our sick and our low-income earners. The power saving bonus helps our families right when they need it most, and for some of the most vulnerable in the community it means the difference between the heater being on or off this winter.

This round, like the previous round, is open to all eligible Victorian households, even if they have received payments in the last round. Now, many people got online and did the whole thing themselves, but some folks from the Northern Metropolitan community experienced certain technological and technical challenges with navigating the internet to lodge their applications. In the last round it was incredible to see that Victoria’s most vulnerable were able to access support in applying for the power saving bonus through the community outreach program. Over 50,000 applications were assisted with by the wonderful staff at Anglicare Victoria, Bendigo Community Health Services, Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Consumer Action Law Centre, Good Shepherd, Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, Community Information & Support Victoria, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and State Trustees. The government is about action, and with this round of the power saving bonus we are helping to drive down the pressure for Victorian families and help with the cost of living.