Energy News
New Rule In Place to Help Concession Holders ‘Access’ Discounts and Benefits
With the new rule in place, the onus is now on the retailer to proactively help concession card holders.
Important Points
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A new AEMC rule will require energy retailers to help concession card holders access discounts, rebates, and concessions starting 1 July 2026.
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Retailers must ask customers if they hold eligible cards, like Pensioner Concession, Health Care, or DVA Gold, and provide details on local schemes.
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Millions of Australians have previously missed out on hundreds of dollars in savings due to lack of awareness or communication gaps.
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The change aims to make energy companies more proactive, ensuring vulnerable households get the financial relief they are entitled to.
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has announced a new rule change that requires energy retailers to help customers access rebates, discounts, and more.
What is the New Rule?
The new rule revision, introduced via an amendment to the National Energy Retail Rules, is designed to assist eligible concession holders in getting access to discounts, benefits, and more.
Starting 1 July 2026, when consumers sign up for, or switch to, a new electricity plan, retailers must:
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Ask whether the consumer is eligible for concessions (for example, those holding a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or DVA Gold Card)
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Provide jurisdiction-specific information about concession schemes or rebates available in that locality.
This new rule comes at a time when many concession card holders have missed out on hundreds of dollars in benefits simply because they didn’t know what financial assistance they were eligible for. Now, energy companies will need to take a more proactive approach.
Why Is This So Important?
AEMC Chair Anna Collyer said the final rule aims to help vulnerable consumers access support they are entitled to, but reiterated that changes still need to be made to improve the system.
“The final rule will help Australian households better understand what concessions or rebates they might be able to get on their energy bills, and remind them to apply whenever they sign up or switch energy plans,” Ms Collyer said.
For eligible households with a valid concession card, this could prove to be a massive financial benefit with potentially hundreds of dollars in savings.
The AEMC also recommended that jurisdictions and Services Australia explore longer-term enhancements, such as the following: automating concession applications, improving information delivery, and simplifying verification processes.
That said, if you believe you are entitled to said benefits, you don’t have to wait. If you think you qualify for any concession or rebate now, call your retailer to see if there are any rebates available that you have not already signed up for.
Additionally, there are many support schemes that already exist at the state level; searching through the national rebates and concessions database may help identify discounts that you haven’t claimed yet.
Final Thoughts
Energy is among the most fixed, unavoidable costs for households. By holding retailers accountable in helping households get access to benefits and rebates, this rule change becomes an ideal method to fix the underlying issues currently plaguing Australia. However, it’s not a silver bullet: it doesn’t lower energy prices or take away the fundamental cost aspect; it simply helps those who qualify so they don’t miss out on existing support.
This is why it’s important to see if you’re on the best rate. While you may not be eligible for certain discounts, you could potentially switch to a plan that saves you hundreds of dollars annually. To learn more, give us a call on 1300 232 848 today.
Author
Benjamin TomBenjamin is a utility specialist passionate about creating informative content about the energy, internet, and solar markets. With extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, Benjamin drives our unique blog posts, articles, and reviews. He is focused on breaking down the technical jargon so our readers can better understand the telco market and industry. Whether he is comparing the latest internet deals or creating unique guides, Benjamin takes great pride in creating helpful, easy-to-read content.
