finance.wa.gov.au : Energy Concession Extension Scheme ECES Western Australia

Name of the Organization:Western Australia Department of Finance
Type of Facility : Energy Concession Extension Scheme ECES
Country : Australia

Website : http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/ECES/Energy_Concession_Extension.aspx

Energy Concession Extension Scheme :

** Cost of Living Assistance Payment
** Dependant Child Rebate
** Air Conditioning Rebate

Related : Department of Finance Land Tax Payment Western Australia : www.statusin.org/7041.html

On 15 May 2013 the Western Australian Government announced the extension of the existing Cost of Living Assistance payment to eligible households that receive electricity charges through on-selling arrangements.

This will include people living in retirement villages or apartment buildings where the electricity costs are recouped from the tenants by the owner (e.g. strata entity or retirement village management) because the owner is billed directly by Synergy or Horizon Power on behalf of the residential complex.

The concessions will also apply to households that receive electricity charges direct from a retailer other than Synergy or Horizon Power (e.g. from retailers such as Perth Energy or Alinta Sales).

The extended concessions will include:
** the Cost of Living Assistance Payment (CoLA)
** the Dependent Child Rebate (DCR)
** the Air Conditioning Rebate (ACR)

Energy Concession Extension Scheme Eligibility Criteria:
Eligibility for the Cost of Living Assistance payment (CoLA):
The CoLA payment is currently an annual payment to assist eligible recipients to meet their electricity consumption costs.

To be eligible, applicants must reside in the home during the claim year, cannot be billed directly by Synergy or Horizon Power and must hold one of the following concession cards:
** Pensioner Concession Card
** Health Care Card
** Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
** Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (TPI, War Widow and Dependent Child) or
** WA Seniors Card.

Eligibility for the Dependent Child Rebate (DCR):
The Dependent Child Rebate provides further financial assistance to recipients of the CoLA payment who have dependent children listed on one of the following eligible concession cards:
** Pensioner Concession Card
** Health Care Card or
** Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (TPI, War Widow and Dependent Child).

The DCR is an annual payment calculated according to the number of dependents listed on your eligible concession card.

Eligibility for the Air Conditioning Rebate (ACR)
The Air Conditioning Rebate is an annual payment to subsidise the cost of operating an air conditioner for eligible households living in areas of high heat discomfort. Areas of high heat discomfort have been identified as locations north of the 26th Parallel of South Latitude and/or north of the 50-day Relative Strain Index line.

The total value of the rebate varies depending on the residential location of eligible applicants, and will be calculated at the time of application.

To be eligible for the ACR applicants must either:
1. Be eligible for the Dependent Child Rebate, holding one of the following concession cards:
** Pensioner Concession Card
** Health Care Card or
** Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (TPI, War Widow and Dependent Child).
** or

2. Hold a WA Seniors Card plus one of the following concession cards:
** Pensioner Concession Card or
** Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

How to apply for the Energy Concession Extension Scheme:
Applications for the Energy Concession Extension Scheme must be made electronically through the Department of Finance website electronic application. If you qualify for the CoLA payment, you may also qualify for the Dependant Child Rebate and/or the Air Conditioning Rebate. The electronic application covers all three concession types.

Applicants who are billed directly by Synergy or Horizon Power must contact their energy provider direct to discuss their eligibility for the cost of living assistance payment.

Apply Here : http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/ECES/How_to_Apply.aspx