Life Support Rebate

Life Support Concession

The Life Support Concession provides a quarterly discount on electricity bills where a household member uses an eligible life support machine. This concession is available to both renters and homeowners all year round.

The Life Support Concession provides:

For electricity bills, the discount is equal to the cost of 1,880 kilowatt hours of electricity used each year  (470 kilowatt per quarter).

Eligibility

You are eligible for this rebate if you hold any of the below concession cards:

• DVA Gold Card
• Health Care Card (HCC)
• Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)

The following Commonwealth and State Government issued cards are not eligible for energy concessions:

• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
  Victorian Seniors Card
  “CA” (Carer Allowance) Health Care Card
  “FO” (Foster Care) Health Care Card
  Veterans Affairs White Card for Specific Conditions
  Veterans Affairs Gold Card Dependent.

And

Qualifying machines are those that use at least 1,880 kilowatt hours per annum.

Machines already approved are:

• intermittent peritoneal dialysis machines (electricity)
• oxygen concentrators (electricity)
• haemodialysis machines (electricity and water).

Most continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machines do not meet this threshold.

For other machines, please contact the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 (toll-free) to discuss your application.

How do I apply for the Life Support Concession?

Applications are available from 1st Energy, by contacting the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 (toll-free), or can be downloaded from the link below.

Application forms need to be completed and signed by your doctor, nurse or hospital social worker confirming your use of a life support machine.  Once completed, forward the form back to 1st Energy.

1st Energy check your concession card details with Centrelink and apply the discount to your bill.

Life Support Concession – Application Form