New South Wales
NSW energy rebates
There are two completely different things called a NSW energy rebate. One is a credit on your electricity bill for households holding an eligible concession card or receiving Family Tax Benefit. The other is a discount on an upgrade such as hot water, lighting or a pool pump, delivered through the state energy schemes. This page covers both, because most people searching for one do not know the other exists.
1. Rebates that come off your electricity bill
These are NSW Government concessions for households. They are not connected to any upgrade, product or installer — they are a credit applied to your energy account, or a payment made to you, if you meet the criteria. Most are not automatic, and the most common reason people miss out is simply never asking.
| Rebate | Amount per year | Who it is for | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Income Household Rebate | Up to $285 (retail) $313.50 embedded network | Holders of a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or DVA Gold Card | Ask your electricity retailer to apply it, with your concession card details |
| Family Energy Rebate | Up to $180 (retail) $198 embedded network | Households that received Family Tax Benefit in the previous financial year and have lodged their tax return | Apply through Service NSW each financial year |
| Seniors Energy Rebate | $200 | Self-funded retirees holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card | Apply through Service NSW each financial year |
| Medical Energy Rebate | Up to $285 | Eligible concession card holders with a medical need for extra heating or cooling | Apply with a medical practitioner’s certificate |
| NSW Gas Rebate | Up to $110 $121 embedded network | Concession card holders with a natural gas or LPG account | Contact your gas retailer, or Service NSW for LPG and embedded networks |
| Life Support Rebate | Varies by equipment | Households running approved life support equipment at home | Apply with medical certification through your retailer |
| EAPA vouchers | $50 per voucher | Anyone facing a short-term crisis and unable to pay a current bill | Apply through Service NSW or an EAPA provider |
Amounts shown are the NSW Government figures published for 2026 and are indexed periodically. Confirm current amounts and eligibility with Service NSW on 13 77 88 or at https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/ before relying on them.
The rules people get wrong
- You cannot hold both the Low Income Household Rebate and the Seniors Energy Rebate. It is one or the other, so it is worth checking which one you are actually better off on.
- The Family Energy Rebate drops sharply if you also receive the Low Income Household Rebate. The partial rate is around $20 rather than the full $180.
- Embedded network customers apply differently. If you pay your strata, retirement village, caravan park or building manager for electricity instead of a retailer, you are an on-supply customer. Your amounts are higher and the application goes through Service NSW rather than a retailer. This group is the most likely to miss out entirely.
- Most of these are not automatic. Holding the card does not apply the rebate. Someone has to ask.
- The federal credit is separate. The Australian Government’s energy bill relief credits are applied to electricity accounts directly and sit on top of the NSW rebates above.
They are NSW Government concessions. Apply through Service NSW on 13 77 88, at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/, or by contacting your energy retailer directly. This page is here so you know what exists.
2. Rebates that come off the price of an upgrade
The second kind is entirely different. Instead of crediting your bill, NSW runs schemes that subsidise replacing inefficient equipment with efficient equipment — hot water systems, lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration and pool pumps. The discount is applied to the job by an accredited provider, so you see it as a lower price rather than a payment.
There is no concession card requirement for most of these. Eligibility depends on your postcode, the equipment you are replacing and current scheme rules. That is the part this site checks.
Programs
Upgrade schemes that may apply
NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS)
Discounts on energy-saving upgrades such as hot water, lighting and appliances for homes and businesses, delivered through accredited certificate providers.
NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS)
Incentives that reduce peak demand, including a connection incentive for batteries joined to an approved Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Runs 2022 to 2050. See the NSW solar battery rebate page for the 2026 amounts.
Federal solar incentive (STCs)
Upfront discount on eligible rooftop solar, available to NSW homes and businesses.
Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Around 30% off an eligible battery, which can be combined with the NSW VPP incentive.
Programs and amounts change regularly and depend on your circumstances. Details are indicative and should be verified against current scheme rules.
Upgrades
Upgrades commonly supported in NSW
Not every upgrade is supported in every area. The checker shows what may apply at your postcode.
For business
Business energy upgrades in NSW
NSW businesses upgrade through the Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) — with a few 2026 changes worth knowing.
Commercial LED lighting
Office and retail fluorescent lighting is upgraded to LED through the small-business HEER route ($33 co-payment). The large-scale ESS Commercial Lighting method closed to new work on 31 March 2026.
Commercial lighting →Commercial refrigeration
ESS certificate support now focuses on remote refrigerated cabinets with a customer co-payment (not free); plug-in display fridges sit largely outside the scheme.
Commercial refrigeration →Commercial hot water
The ESS supports commercial heat-pump hot water for business sites, delivered as an upfront discount on the install.
Commercial hot water →What affects eligibility
- Your location and postcode
- Property type (residential or commercial)
- Your existing equipment and what you are replacing
- Current scheme rules, targets and funding
- Installer and provider availability in your area
- Final assessment by an approved provider or scheme participant
FAQ
Questions
It depends which rebate. The Low Income Household Rebate is for holders of a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card or DVA Gold Card. The Family Energy Rebate is for households that received Family Tax Benefit in the previous financial year. The Seniors Energy Rebate is for self-funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. Separately, the NSW upgrade schemes have no concession card requirement and depend instead on your postcode and the equipment being replaced.
For 2026 the NSW Government figures are up to $285 a year for the Low Income Household Rebate, up to $180 for the Family Energy Rebate, $200 for the Seniors Energy Rebate, up to $285 for the Medical Energy Rebate and up to $110 for the Gas Rebate. Embedded network customers receive slightly higher amounts. Confirm current figures with Service NSW.
The Low Income Household Rebate, Medical Energy Rebate and Gas Rebate are usually applied by contacting your energy retailer with your concession card details. The Family Energy Rebate and Seniors Energy Rebate are applied for through Service NSW each financial year. Embedded network customers apply through Service NSW rather than a retailer.
Most NSW energy rebates are not automatic. Holding an eligible concession card does not apply the rebate to your account by itself, and the Family and Seniors rebates must be reapplied for each financial year. The federal energy bill relief credit is the exception and is applied to electricity accounts directly.
Pensioner Concession Card holders are generally eligible for the Low Income Household Rebate, and may also be eligible for the Gas Rebate and the Medical Energy Rebate. Pensioner Concession Card holders are not eligible for the Seniors Energy Rebate, which is aimed at self-funded retirees holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
Some can be combined and some cannot. A household cannot hold both the Low Income Household Rebate and the Seniors Energy Rebate. The Family Energy Rebate can be combined with the Low Income Household Rebate, but only at a reduced partial rate. The Gas Rebate applies to a separate gas account and can generally be held alongside an electricity rebate.
The previous upfront battery installation rebate ended. The current NSW incentive is a one-off payment for connecting an eligible battery to an approved Virtual Power Plant, which can be combined with the federal battery discount. Amounts and rules should be confirmed.
The ESS is a NSW government scheme that creates incentives (Energy Savings Certificates) for cutting electricity use. Accredited providers pass on discounts for eligible upgrades to homes and businesses.
Eligibility depends on your property, existing equipment and current scheme rules. Enter your NSW postcode in the checker and submit an enquiry for a review.
See what's available where you are
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