Pensioners & other low income households can keep the lights on

“Pensioners and other low income households in NSW will now be better able to pay their power bills over the next three years, thanks to reforms to the Energy Rebate. The NSW Government will index the rebate to energy prices rather than CPI, and expand it to Health Care Card Holders” said Charmaine Crowe, CPSA Policy Coordinator.

“NSW will see electricity prices rise between 46% and 64% over the next three years, if the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) is introduced (or between 20% and 42% without the CPRS).”

“This rebate reform, which will increase the rebate from $130 to $145 in July 2010, is very welcome and essential to ensure that pensioner and other low income households don’t fall into ‘fuel poverty’[1] as a result of massive price rises.”

“CPSA and other organisations in the community sector have been calling for this reform because of the difficulty pensioners and other low income households face in meeting the cost of electricity. This reform will better shield these households when prices go up because the Energy Rebate will reflect actual expenditure on energy.”

“CPSA also welcomes the introduction of an Energy Price Comparison website, to increase transparency and better enable customers to shop around for the best price. However, we urge the Government to also provide a telephone service that gives price comparisons for people without access to the internet.”