resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au Apply for the EAPA Scheme New South Wales : Energy Accounts Payment Assistance

Organization : New South Wales Planning & Environment
Facility : Apply for the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme
State : New South Wales
Country : Australia
Website : https://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/energy-consumers/financial-assistance/energy-accounts-payment-assistance-EAPA

NSW Apply for EAPA Scheme

The Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme helps people experiencing a short term financial crisis or emergency to pay their electricity or natural gas bill.

Related : New South Wales Planning & Environment Apply for Family Energy Rebate : www.statusin.org/42754.html

The scheme helps people stay connected to essential energy services during a financial crisis. This scheme is not available on an ongoing basis.

How does Work?

EAPA vouchers are issued by participating EAPA providers such as St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Anglicare and many others. The EAPA Scheme operates through a voucher system and each voucher is worth $50.

The EAPA provider assesses the customer’s situation and determines each case based on individual circumstances. The vouchers issued to the customer will be sent to the retailer electronically by the EAPA provider and the vouchers will be paid to the customer’s account.

Note :
Before contacting an EAPA Provider to make an appointment for an EAPA assessment, please contact your electricity or gas supplier to find out what payment plans and other assistance might be available. You may be able to agree on a payment plan with your supplier to suit your financial situation.

Who is an eligible Customer?

1. Vouchers should only be issued to eligible customers. An eligible customer :
1.1. Is an energy account holder with an authorised energy retailer (i.e. the current bill1 is solely or jointly in his or her name); AND
1.2. The energy account is for NSW residential premises (i.e. the current bill charges are on a residential or rural tariff for their home electricity and/or natural gas (energy) bill); AND

1.3. The customer is currently experiencing financial hardship2 and can demonstrate they are going without basic needs in order to pay an energy bill OR do not have enough money to pay their energy bill and as a result they may face disconnection, or have been disconnected.

2. Each customer who applies for EAPA should be individually assessed according to these Guidelines. Vouchers will be issued to a customer who is eligible for EAPA using the online EAPA assessment tool.

3. If at the time of your interview with the customer you do not have access to the online EAPA assessment tool, you can complete the assessment by filling out the EAPA assessment form provided with these Guidelines.

Note, EAPA Providers may use their own EAPA assessment form but any such form must include at a minimum all the information contained in the Division’s EAPA assessment form.

Please ensure you enter the information shown on the EAPA assessment form into the online EAPA assessment tool as soon as practical after the customer assessment has been completed.

4. Customer information may be entered into the EAPA assessment tool by any person authorised to do so by the EAPA Provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I access the online EAPA assessment tool using a smart phone, tablet or a desktop computer?
Yes, from 1 July 2017 if you work or volunteer for an EAPA Provider the online EAPA assessment tool will be accessible via a secure login on a smart phone, tablet or a desktop computer.

The online EAPA assessment tool is very simple and easy to use and you do not need special IT skills or requirements. It is an internet address that you can save to your favourites or bookmarks if you like.

2. What if I have no access to the internet to access the online EAPA assessment tool?
If you cannot access the online EAPA assessment tool you can still undertake the customer’s EAPA assessment by filling out the EAPA assessment form. The form will be provided with the EAPA Guidelines. Please ensure you enter the information shown on the form into the online EAPA assessment tool as soon as practical.

3. Where can I get an EAPA assessment form?
The EAPA assessment form will be given to you by the Division of Energy, Water and Portfolio Strategy at the training sessions. You can start using the form from 1 July 2017. The form can be photocopied and new forms can be downloaded from the Department’s website.

Note :
EAPA Providers can use their own EAPA assessment form, but it must include at a minimum all the information shown on the Division of Energy, Water and Portfolio Strategy EAPA assessment form.