Who can apply for the concession? An electricity or account holder who: holds an eligible concession card (Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card) and uses an eligible life support machine or has a household member who uses an eligible life support machine. What machines are eligible for the concession? Approved machines are those that use at least 1,880 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Machines already approved are: intermittent peritoneal dialysis machines (electricity) oxygen concentrators (electricity) haemodialysis machines (electricity and water). Applications for other machines must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. Most continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machines do not meet the 1,880 kilowatt hour threshold. How much is the concession? The electricity discount is the cost of 1,880 kilowatt (470 kilowatt hours per quarter) of electricity each year, calculated using the general domestic tariff of your retailer. The water discount for haemodialysis users is the cost of 168 kilolitres (42 kilolitres per quarter) of water each year. How do I for the concession? For an application form phone: your electricity retailer or water corporation or the hospital supplying the life support machine or the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 (toll free). The application form needs to be completed and signed by your doctor, nurse or hospital social worker confirming your use of a life support machine. Once completed, send the form to your electricity retailer and/or water corporation. Your electricity retailer and/or water corporation will check your concession card details with Centrelink and apply the concession to your bill. More information Phone your electricity retailer or the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521. A factsheet about this concession is available on the website <http://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/concessions-and-benefits> See also referred to in this document. Medical cooling concession What does this concession apply to? Mains domestic electricity usage and service costs between 1 November and 30 April.
Contacts Victorian Government Service Website Phone number Concessions Information Line <services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/concessions-and-benefits > 1800 658 521 Department of Health and Services <www.dhhs.vic.gov.au> 1300 650 172 TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 1300 650 172 and listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 1300 650 172 Housing <www.housing.vic.gov.au> 1300 650 172 TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 1300 650 172 Speak and listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 1300 650 172 Victorian Carer Card <www.carercard.vic.gov.au> 1800 901 958 Victorian Seniors Card <www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au> 1300 797 210 Commonwealth Government Centrelink Website: Service Phone number ABSTUDY 1800 132 317 Complaints and feedback 1800 132 468
Transport Service Phone number Public Transport Victoria 1800 800 007 V/Line Information (Viclink) 1800 800 007 VicRoads 13 11 71 Energy retailers Company Phone number 1st Energy 1300 426 594 AGL 13 12 45 Alinta Energy 13 37 02 Energy 1800 775 929 CovaU 1300 689 866 Diamond Energy 1300 838 009 Dodo Power and Gas 13 DO DO (13 36 36) Energy Australia 13 34 66 GloBird Energy 1300 GloBird (1300 456 247) Lumo Energy 1300 926 153 Momentum Energy 1300 662 778 Next Business Energy 1300 GO NEXT (1300 466 398) Online Power and Gas (03) 8354 6800 Origin Energy 13 24 61