What to know
Emergency schemes are for a short-term crisis, such as losing your job, a medical emergency or family violence, rather than ongoing difficulty. They pay part of an overdue bill, from $50 vouchers in NSW to up to $1,300 for a single-fuel home in Victoria.
Call your retailer first. Every retailer must offer a hardship program with payment plans, and in NSW and Victoria starting an emergency application also stops disconnection while it is assessed. See our guides to hardship and disconnection.
Emergency energy bill assistance by state
| Program | Where | Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) | NSW | $50 vouchers towards an unpaid bill |
| Utility Relief Grant Scheme | VIC | Up to $650 per utility every two years |
| Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme | QLD | Up to $720 once every 2 years |
| Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme | SA | One-off payment towards an electricity debt |
| Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) | WA | 85% of the debt, up to $640, or $1,060 north of the 26th parallel |
Rebates by state: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT, federal.
What each program requires
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) (NSW)
- You live in NSW and have an electricity or natural gas account for your home in your name.
- You have not paid your most recent bill and the account is still open.
- You are in short-term financial hardship, a crisis or an emergency, such as losing income, unexpected medical costs, a natural disaster or a disconnection notice.
Paid: As vouchers applied directly to your energy account by your provider. Full details.
Utility Relief Grant Scheme (VIC)
- You have an overdue mains electricity, gas or water bill because of a temporary financial crisis.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card, or are part of a low-income household.
- You cannot pay without help and are at risk of disconnection, and you have experienced family violence, a drop in income, high unexpected costs for essentials, or housing costs above 30% of your income.
Paid: To your retailer, which credits it against the amount you owe. Full details.
Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme (QLD)
- You are responsible for paying an overdue electricity or reticulated gas bill.
- You hold a current concession card, have income at or below the maximum part-age pension rate, or are on your retailer's hardship program or a payment plan.
- In the past 12 months you have had a substantial drop in household income, such as losing work or a family separation, or high unexpected costs for essential items.
Paid: As a one-off payment made to your electricity or gas provider for your account. Full details.
Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme (SA)
- You are an electricity customer in financial hardship with an electricity debt.
- You are at risk of disconnection, or have already been disconnected.
Paid: Towards your electricity account. Full details.
Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) (WA)
- You are in financial hardship and cannot pay your utility bill.
- You have set up a payment arrangement of at least 90 days with your provider and kept to it, and other hardship options have been exhausted.
Paid: To your utility account, covering up to 85% of the amount owed. Full details.
Common questions
Contact your retailer about its hardship program first. Each state also has emergency help: EAPA in NSW, the Utility Relief Grant in Victoria, HEEAS in Queensland, the Emergency Electricity Payment in SA and HUGS in WA.
In NSW, your provider cannot disconnect you if it knows you have an EAPA assessment booked. In Victoria, requesting a Utility Relief Grant puts a hold on disconnection.
Not always. NSW EAPA has no card requirement, and Queensland and Victoria also accept low-income households in some cases.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.