For Victorian pensioners navigating the complexities of energy bills, understanding available concessions and rebates is crucial for managing household budgets. As of 2025-2026, the Victorian Government offers a comprehensive suite of energy concessions designed to ease cost-of-living pressures for eligible concession cardholders. These state-specific programs provide direct financial relief on electricity and gas bills, complementing broader energy efficiency initiatives.
Who is Eligible for Victorian Energy Concessions?
To be eligible for most Victorian energy concessions, you must hold one of the following valid concession cards:
- Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) issued by Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card (for all conditions).
- Health Care Card (HCC) issued by Services Australia.
In addition, the energy account (electricity and/or gas) must be in the name of the concession cardholder, the supply address must be your principal place of residence, and the account must be billed on a residential tariff.
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has indicated that network charges, a component of your bill, are estimated to see an average annual decrease of $6-$38 for Victorian residential electricity customers across the 2026-31 regulatory period, effective from 1 July 2026.
Key Victorian Energy Concessions for 2025-2026
Victoria provides several concessions, applied directly to your energy bills by your retailer. It is essential to ensure your retailer has your current concession card details. If you’ve recently moved, changed energy providers, or received a new card, you’ll need to re-register your details. You can also request concessions be backdated for up to 12 months.
Here’s a breakdown of the primary concessions:
1. Annual Electricity Concession
This is a year-round discount providing 17.5% off your household electricity usage and service costs. The concession is calculated after any retailer discounts and solar credits have been applied. Importantly, it does not apply to the first $171.60 of your annual electricity bill.
2. Winter Gas Concession
During the colder months, the Winter Gas Concession offers a 17.5% discount off your household gas usage and supply charges. This applies specifically from 1 May to 31 October each year. Similar to the electricity concession, it is calculated after retailer discounts and does not apply to the first $62.40 of the six-month winter period bills.
3. Excess Electricity Concession
For households with exceptionally high electricity usage, this concession continues the 17.5% discount once your annual electricity costs exceed $4,038.82 for the period starting 1 December 2025. This concession is not automatic; your electricity retailer will typically send you an application form once your usage approaches this threshold. If you receive the Life Support Concession or Medical Cooling Concession, you are automatically eligible for the Excess Electricity Concession without a separate application.
4. Excess Gas Concession
Similarly, if your winter gas bill (1 May to 31 October 2026) exceeds $2,598.58, you may qualify for the Excess Gas Concession, providing a 17.5% discount on the amount above this limit. You will need to apply for this through your gas retailer.
5. Life Support Concession
This concession provides a discount on electricity bills for households where a member uses an eligible life support machine. The discount is equivalent to the cost of 1,880 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (470 kWh per quarter). This is available year-round.
6. Medical Cooling Concession
Available from 1 November to 30 April, this concession offers a 17.5% discount off electricity usage and service costs for concession cardholders with specific medical conditions that affect their body’s ability to regulate temperature. Pre-approved conditions include multiple sclerosis, lymphoedema, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, Post-polio Syndrome/Poliomyelitis, or motor neurone disease. Other conditions require Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) approval.
7. Non-Mains Energy Concession
If you rely on non-mains energy sources for heating, cooking, or hot water (e.g., LPG, firewood, heating oil, generator fuel, or metered electricity from an embedded network), you might be eligible for a concession. The amount is based on your usage, capped at $650 or six months’ worth of use.
8. Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS)
For Victorians experiencing temporary financial hardship and unable to pay overdue electricity, gas, or water bills, the URGS provides a grant of up to $650 per utility every two years, or up to $1,300 for single-source households (electricity only). Your energy retailer is obligated to assist you in applying for this grant.
| Concession Type | Discount / Value | Eligibility Thresholds (2025-26) | Application Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Electricity | 17.5% (after discounts) | Excludes first $171.60/year | Automatic (provide card to retailer) |
| Winter Gas (May-Oct) | 17.5% (after discounts) | Excludes first $62.40/winter period | Automatic (provide card to retailer) |
| Excess Electricity | 17.5% (after discounts) | Annual electricity costs > $4,038.82 (from Dec 2025) | Retailer sends form (or automatic for Life Support/Medical Cooling) |
| Excess Gas (May-Oct) | 17.5% (after discounts) | Winter gas costs > $2,598.58 (from May 2026) | Retailer sends form |
| Life Support | Cost of 1,880 kWh/year | Use of eligible life support machine | Provide medical details to retailer |
| Medical Cooling (Nov-Apr) | 17.5% (after discounts) | Eligible medical condition | Provide medical details to retailer |
| Non-Mains Energy | Up to $650 / 6 months | Use of non-mains energy sources | Apply via DFFH |
| Utility Relief Grant Scheme | Up to $650 per utility | Financial hardship, overdue bills | Apply via energy retailer |
Federal Energy Bill Relief (2025-2026 Context)
The Australian Government’s broad-based Energy Bill Relief Fund provided households with up to $150 in energy bill rebates in the first half of the 2025-26 financial year, delivered in two $75 instalments (1 July 2025 and 1 October 2025). However, this universal federal relief for households largely concluded on 31 December 2025. As of May 2026, there is no new universal federal energy rebate confirmed for the 2026 calendar year for standard households. Pensioners, however, may still access specific state-based concessions as outlined above, and additional federal support may be available through Centrelink payments. For more information on broader federal support, you can read our guide: Centrelink Energy Rebates Australia 2026: Your Guide to Expanded Eligibility & Automatic Bill Relief.
Victorian Energy Efficiency Programs & Rebates
Beyond direct concessions, the Victorian Government promotes energy efficiency through several programs that can further reduce energy costs, often stackable with federal incentives.
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Program
The VEU program offers discounts and rebates on a wide range of energy-efficient products and services for Victorian households and businesses. This includes:
- LED lighting replacements: Often available at very low or no upfront cost.
- Efficient heating and cooling systems: Significant discounts on reverse-cycle air conditioners, which are highly efficient for both heating and cooling.
- Heat pump hot water systems: Rebates can cover a substantial portion of the cost. For more details, see our guide: Best Heat Pump Hot Water Systems in Australia 2026: Costs, Rebates & Buyer’s Guide.
- Insulation and draught sealing: From 1 October 2026, insulation upgrades under VEU will expand to all eligible Victorian homes with no or low ceiling insulation, offering an average discount of around $1,482 (30-50% of total cost).
Crucially, the VEU program has no income limits and is open to most Victorian residents, including pensioners, homeowners, and tenants (with landlord approval). Discounts are typically applied upfront by accredited providers.
Solar Homes Program
Solar Victoria’s Solar Homes Program provides rebates for eligible owner-occupiers to install solar panels, solar hot water, and solar batteries. For pensioners meeting the eligibility criteria (owner-occupier, property value under $3 million, combined taxable income under $210,000):
- Solar Panel Rebate: Up to A$1,400 for solar panel (PV) installation.
- Solar Hot Water / Heat Pump Rebate: Up to $1,400 for eligible heat pump or solar hot water systems (standard rebate is $1,000, increasing for Australian-made products).
- Solar Battery Rebate: Primarily accessed through the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program via Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). In 2026, this offers a discount of approximately $336 per kWh of usable battery capacity, up to 50 kWh. For a deeper dive, read: Australian Home Battery Rebates Before May 1st 2026: Your State-by-State Eligibility & Value Guide.
Power Saving Bonus (Status Update)
The Victorian Government previously offered the Power Saving Bonus, a one-off payment to encourage households to compare energy plans. While a new $100 round was announced in the 2025-26 Budget for concession card households, the program for new applications closed on 31 March 2026. Therefore, this specific bonus is no longer available for new claims.
Victorian Default Offer (VDO)
All Victorian electricity customers have access to the Victorian Default Offer (VDO), a fair electricity price set annually by the Essential Services Commission (ESC). This acts as a safety net, ensuring a reasonable price for those who don’t actively shop around.
How to Access Your Concessions
- Contact Your Retailer: The most direct way to ensure you are receiving all eligible concessions is to contact your electricity and/or gas retailer. Provide them with your concession card details.
- Check Your Bills: Regularly review your energy bills to confirm that concessions are being applied. They typically appear as a separate line item.
- Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH): The DFFH website is the central hub for detailed information on all Victorian concessions and eligibility criteria.
- Energy Assistance Program: If you need free, tailored, one-on-one help navigating the energy market, understanding your bills, or ensuring your concessions are applied, contact the Victorian Government’s Energy Assistance Program on 1800 161 215.
Bottom Line
Victorian pensioners have access to a robust framework of energy concessions and efficiency programs for 2025-2026. While the universal federal energy bill relief has concluded for the 2026 calendar year, state-specific discounts like the Annual Electricity Concession (17.5% off after the first $171.60/year) and Winter Gas Concession (17.5% off after the first $62.40/winter period) remain vital. Additionally, programs like Victorian Energy Upgrades offer substantial savings on energy-efficient upgrades, including insulation, heat pumps, and LED lighting, often without income limitations. Proactive engagement with your energy retailer and utilising government resources like the Energy Assistance Program are key steps to maximising your savings and mitigating rising energy costs.