What to know
The Veteran Gold Card qualifies for the main electricity concession in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA and Tasmania. South Australia and the ACT only accept certain Gold Cards, such as those issued for Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) or War Widow status.
DVA clients receiving the service pension or similar payments also get the Energy Supplement with their payment. Check your card type before you apply.
Energy programs open to Veteran Gold Card holders
| Program | Where | Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Low Income Household Rebate | NSW | Up to $285 a year ($313.50 in embedded networks) |
| Medical Energy Rebate | NSW | Up to $285 a year ($313.50 in embedded networks) |
| NSW Gas Rebate | NSW | Up to $110 a year ($121 in embedded networks) |
| Home Energy Saver | NSW | Discount up to $4,000 or zero-interest loan up to $15,000 |
| Annual Electricity Concession | VIC | 17.5% off electricity usage and supply costs |
| Winter Gas Concession | VIC | 17.5% off gas usage and supply costs from 1 May to 31 October |
| Excess Electricity Concession | VIC | 17.5% on costs above $4,038.82 a year |
| Medical Cooling Concession | VIC | Extra 17.5% off from November to April |
| Life Support Concession | VIC | The cost of 1,880 kWh of electricity a year |
| Non-mains Energy Concession | VIC | $58 to $666 a year per energy type |
| Utility Relief Grant Scheme | VIC | Up to $650 per utility every two years |
| Queensland Electricity Rebate | QLD | $399.47 a year |
| Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate | QLD | $96.45 a year |
| Energy Bill Concession | SA | Up to $291.27 a year |
| SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer | SA | 20% off Origin's standard electricity charges |
| Medical Heating and Cooling Concession | SA | $291.27 a year |
| Cost of Living Concession | SA | $270.60 for 2026-27 |
| Energy Assistance Payment | WA | $377.14 a year |
| Air Conditioning Rebate | WA | $78.98 a year |
| Annual Electricity Concession | TAS | 184.347 cents a day, about $673 a year |
| Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate | ACT | $800 a year |
| Home Energy Support Program | ACT | Up to $5,000: 50% of costs, up to $2,500 per upgrade |
| NT Electricity Concession | NT | Up to $1,200 a year |
| NT Concession Scheme membership | NT | Membership opens the electricity concession and others |
Rebates by state: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT, federal.
What each program requires
Low Income Household Rebate (NSW)
- You are named on the electricity account for your home.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card.
Paid: As a credit on your electricity bills for retail customers, or into your bank account for embedded network customers. Full details.
Medical Energy Rebate (NSW)
- You, or someone living with you, cannot regulate body temperature when exposed to extreme heat or cold because of a medical condition.
- The person meets at least one primary and one secondary qualifying condition, assessed by a registered medical practitioner who has treated them for at least 3 months.
- The account holder or the person with the condition holds a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card.
Paid: As a credit on your electricity bill, or into your bank account for embedded network customers. Full details.
NSW Gas Rebate (NSW)
- You are named on the gas account and bill, with a natural gas account for your home, or you use more than 45 kg (88 litres) of bottled LPG a year for basic household needs.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or Veteran Gold Card.
Paid: As a credit on your gas bill, or into your bank account for LPG and embedded network customers. Full details.
Home Energy Saver (NSW)
- Loans: you own the property, are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and your combined taxable household income is up to $210,000.
- Discounts: you own the property or are a tenant named on the lease, and either hold an eligible concession card or have a combined household income up to $80,000.
Paid: As an upfront discount or a zero-interest loan for approved energy upgrades. Full details.
Annual Electricity Concession (VIC)
- You are the electricity account holder.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.
Paid: As a discount on every electricity bill. Full details.
Winter Gas Concession (VIC)
- You are the mains gas account holder.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.
Paid: As a discount on gas bills covering 1 May to 31 October. Full details.
Excess Electricity Concession (VIC)
- Your annual electricity costs are above $4,038.82, for the year starting 1 December 2025.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.
- The electricity is for domestic use, with no business run from the address.
Paid: As a discount on your electricity bill, backdated once approved. Full details.
Medical Cooling Concession (VIC)
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card and are the account holder.
- You, or someone in your household, has a medical condition that affects the body's ability to regulate temperature, confirmed by a doctor.
- Pre-approved conditions are multiple sclerosis, lymphoedema, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia, post-polio syndrome and motor neurone disease. Other conditions are assessed by the department.
Paid: As a discount on electricity bills between 1 November and 30 April, on top of the Annual Electricity Concession. Full details.
Life Support Concession (VIC)
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card and are the electricity account holder.
- You, or someone in your household, uses an eligible machine: an intermittent peritoneal dialysis machine, an oxygen concentrator or a haemodialysis machine.
Paid: As a discount on your electricity bill. Full details.
Non-mains Energy Concession (VIC)
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card.
- You pay for non-mains energy: LPG, firewood, heating oil, generator fuel, or electricity through an embedded network.
- Firewood must be your only fixed heating. Generator fuel claims need the home to be off the mains grid.
Paid: As a yearly payment based on what you spent on each energy type. 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.
Queensland Electricity Rebate (QLD)
- You are the electricity account holder and the supply address is your principal place of residence.
- You hold a Queensland Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card (including Low Income and Ex-Carer Allowance (Child) cards) or Veteran Gold Card, or are an asylum seeker with an ImmiCard.
- Foster Child Health Care Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders are not eligible.
Paid: Deducted from your electricity bills. Full details.
Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate (QLD)
- You have a reticulated natural gas account for your principal place of residence.
- You hold a Queensland Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Gold Card. Health Care Cards qualify for the Electricity Rebate only.
Paid: Deducted from your gas bills. Full details.
Energy Bill Concession (SA)
- You live at the property.
- The energy account is in your name and you are listed first on the bill.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or an eligible Veteran Gold Card, or receive an eligible Centrelink payment such as JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Austudy or ABSTUDY.
Paid: As a credit on your electricity bill for owners and private tenants. Residential park residents and people without a retailer bill get quarterly bank payments. Full details.
SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer (SA)
- You already receive the South Australian Energy Bill Concession.
- You are willing to take up an electricity, gas or LPG offer with Origin Energy.
Paid: As discounts on your Origin bills. Full details.
Medical Heating and Cooling Concession (SA)
- You live at the address on the application.
- You, or a child you are parent or guardian of, have a medical condition that is severely worsened by hot or cold weather, certified by a specialist or GP.
- You use an air conditioner at that address for the medical heating or cooling.
Paid: As a yearly concession, in addition to the energy concession. Full details.
Cost of Living Concession (SA)
- You live at the property, assessed on your circumstances on 1 July.
- You hold an eligible card, receive an eligible Centrelink payment, or meet the low-income test.
- Tenants must have a written rental agreement.
Paid: By bank transfer, between August and December each year. Full details.
Energy Assistance Payment (WA)
- You or someone in your household holds a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or DVA Gold Card. A WA Seniors Card on its own does not qualify.
- You are charged for your own electricity use, based on actual or estimated usage.
- Tenants must have lived at the address, or have a lease, for at least three months.
Paid: As a credit on Synergy or Horizon Power bills, or by bank transfer from RevenueWA. Full details.
Air Conditioning Rebate (WA)
- You are eligible for the Energy Assistance Payment.
- You meet the additional conditions for the air conditioning rebate under the Energy Concession Extension Scheme, which are set out by your retailer or RevenueWA.
Paid: With the Energy Assistance Payment, as one amount. Full details.
Annual Electricity Concession (TAS)
- You hold an eligible concession card, or a Bridging Visa E ImmiCard.
- You are the electricity account holder.
Paid: As a daily discount on your electricity bills. Full details.
Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate (ACT)
- You are the primary holder of a Pensioner Concession Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Health Care Card, eligible Veteran Gold Card (Prisoner of War, War Widow or TPI) or ACT Services Access Card.
- The electricity account is in your name at your principal place of residence. One rebate per household.
- The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is not eligible.
Paid: As a daily credit on your electricity bill, higher in winter. Embedded network residents are paid directly. Full details.
Home Energy Support Program (ACT)
- You live in the ACT and own and live in the home where the upgrade will be installed.
- You hold a Pensioner Concession Card, DVA Gold Card or Health Care Card.
- You have attended a free online Everyday Climate Choices workshop.
Paid: As a rebate of 50% of the supply and installation cost. Full details.
NT Electricity Concession (NT)
- You are a member of the NT Concession Scheme.
- You are the primary account holder and financially responsible for the electricity account at your main residence.
- Only one member per household can claim. Homes used for business are excluded.
Paid: As a discount on each bill until the yearly cap is reached, or as prepaid credit of $600 in January and July. Full details.
NT Concession Scheme membership (NT)
- You have lived in the NT for at least 183 days of the financial year and are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- You receive the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment or single Parenting Payment, or hold an eligible Department of Veterans' Affairs card.
Paid: Members claim concessions on electricity, water and sewerage, council rates, vehicle registration and spectacles. Full details.
Common questions
Yes, in every state, although SA and the ACT only accept some Gold Card types, such as TPI and War Widow cards.
DVA clients on eligible payments, such as the service pension, can receive the Energy Supplement with their payment.
The ACT Revenue Office lists Veteran Gold Cards embossed Prisoner of War, War Widow or TPI.
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.
- NSW Climate and Energy Action, Low Income Household Rebate
- NSW Climate and Energy Action, Medical Energy Rebate
- NSW Climate and Energy Action, NSW Gas Rebate
- NSW Climate and Energy Action, Home Energy Saver
- Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Annual electricity concession
- Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Winter gas concession
- Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Excess electricity concession
- Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Medical cooling concession