We know that the cost of living is high right now and energy can be expensive - so we’re here to provide you with resources and information to support you with your energy use in the ACT.

We’ve sent this to the ACT Energy Consumer Policy Consortium and our members, but feel free to pass it along to anyone you might know who needs help with their energy costs.

Having trouble paying your bills?

You are not alone. There are lots of people and organisations who can support you.

Firstly, contact your energy provider. They are legally required to assist you. They can give you more time to pay, help you set up a payment plan that works for you and put you in touch with a financial councilor, among other things. Some links and phone numbers are below:

• ActewAGL Financial hardship programs | 1300 138 574 | [email protected]
  
• OriginEnergy Financial assistance options | 13 24 61 | [email protected]
  
• Red Energy – Payment Difficulty, We want to help you!
  

If you don’t want to contact your retailer, or you have already contacted them, there are other organisations that can help.

Care – Financial Counselling Services

Care is a community sector financial counselling service. They can help with reviewing your energy bills, including:

• a $100 voucher off energy bills for ActewAGL customers (eligibility applies)
• making sure you are receiving your utility concession
• updating your budget if requested
• setting up a payment plan that suits you
• making a plan with your energy provider to help reduce any money you owe
• referrals to other programs within Care
• making goals around your energy requirements/usage
• navigating ACT Government energy programs

Call Care on 1800 007 007 or email [email protected].

Vinnies – Home Energy Efficiency Program

Using less energy and making your home more energy efficient will help make your bills cheaper.

As part of the Home Energy Tune-Up, Vinnies can help you improve the energy efficiency of your home. An assessor can come to your home and help you with a review, conduct draught sealing and provide cooling towels and heated blankets. To find out more or book an assessment, email [email protected] or call the Vinnies team on 02 6234 7408

If you’re still confused, or you’ve tried everything, there are government and community organisations who can help.

The ACT Government has a free Renters’ Home Energy Program where you can get advice on how to make your rental home more comfortable and reduce your energy use and costs. You can call the ACT Sustainable Home Advice Line on 1300 141 777 or email [email protected]

Got energy debt?

Care can also help you if you have debt related to your energy bills: 1800 007 007

There is also a free legal advice service about money matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Contact Mob Strong Debt Help on 1800 808 488.

There is also a helpline for small businesses. Call the Small Business Debt Helpline on 1800 413 828.

If your debt is making you distressed, you are not alone. Please speak to someone. Organisations like Care and the National Debt Helpline can help you tackle your debt. You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

The ACT is electrifying!

As part of their Climate Change Strategy the ACT Government has committed to completely phase out fossil fuel gas by 2045. They are currently running a consultation on what a regulation to prevent new gas connections might look like. You can have your say and take the survey. ACTCOSS has already written a report calling on the ACT Government to ensure A Just Gas Transition in the ACT.

If you want to make the switch off gas before then, check out the resources from the Conservation Council at Make the Switch. Watch this space – they’ll have more information dedicated to renters coming soon.

Energy efficiency for rentals

The ACT Government has recently introduced a minimum energy efficiency standard for rental homes. This means that all rentals with no ceiling insulation or insulation with an R-value below 2 must have install or upgrade  to a minimum R-value of R5 (where the R-value is a measure of how well the insulation performs and R5 is what is typically installed in new builds). Better ceiling insulation can:

• make your home easier to heat and cool so the temperature is more comfortable
• reduce your energy bills
• improve your health and wellbeing
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions

From 1 April 2023, if you sign a new lease your landlord has nine months to install the insulation to meet the standard. If you already have a lease and it doesn’t get renewed, your landlord has until 30 November 2026 to meet the standard. Renters can apply for a rent reduction if their landlord is not compliant with the new legislation.

Check out this factsheet from the ACT government [pdf] for the information that renters need to know.

If there is anything else you would like us to share in future newsletters feel free to contact Lyndsay on [email protected] or (02) 6202 7227.

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