[QLD] Queensland Households Will Get $1,000 off Their Electricity Bills in 2024–25 @ Queensland Cost of Living Rebate

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Queensland households will get $1,000 off their electricity bills in 2024–25.

$1,000 will be automatically credited to eligible residential customer bills from 1 July 2024—there is no need to apply. Exact timing will depend on individual billing cycles.

To be eligible, residential customers must have an electricity account with their electricity retailer or embedded network provider on 1 July 2024 and be separately metered and charged for their own electricity consumption.

Look for the ‘Queensland Government Cost of Living Rebate’ on your bill.

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Comments

  • Will the $1000 rebate be credited in the whole amount to the bill in the July cycle?

    • Currently paid as quarterly installments to your Qld electricity bill

  • Why does QLD have a deer on its coat of arms? That's not a native animal.

  • +1

    Hey, please correct me if I'm wrong here but I think something dodgy may be happening:
    Origin Energy have been asking for the full bill amount before applying the govt rebate.
    So you pay in full and the rebate amount sits in your account as credit until the next bill when it happens again
    (you use the previous rebate credit but overpay again by the current rebate amount)
    With about 4 million customers x $250 rebate in each account, the amount they're sitting on could be up to ~$1 billion
    Again, not sure about any of this, please be kind.

    Here's their two responses (shortened, like our attention spans) to my enquiry earlier this year.
    I had asked if I had paid correctly as I didn't want to over or under pay. Wasn't happy with first response.

    …outstanding balance of $137.50 … you had a bill of ~$300.00 but you only paid ~$160.00.

    &

    The QLD Government Cost of Living Rebate $137.50 was applied…
    This contributed to your previous bill… originally ~$330.00, but you only paid ~$190. as per the cost of living rebate.
    …one last instalment… due… April 1st, this would cover your amount currently owing. Please keep in mind, this will not contribute towards your next bill.

    • Was with Origin earlier this year, with this Rebate. But left & had remainder of rebate refunded to my bank account.

      Origin can really stuff up their billing, so email them. Calling can take far to long on hold!

  • -3

    Government, we're gonna help you by giving your taxes to energy companies.

    • +1

      You're wrong, as has already been explained.

      It's the account holders money, not the electricity retailers!
      Switch electricity retailers & you get the remaining rebate back into your bank. As I did.

      There's a $14B Qld surplus!
      The royalties to pay for this are from windfall taxes from coal mining. Thanks Putin for pushing up world coal price!

      Another Interstate person complaining without reading or understanding!
      No $1000 is available for you. So why comment in a [QLD] only Deal😜

      • -1

        You're the proxy for the money, I comment because it's an Australia wide issue that even QLD hasn't addressed properly. The royalties you're getting look good compared to other states but in reality you could add another zero onto it if you were to compare it to some other countries.

        • Now I understand why you have that Username🤣

  • Surely the main problem is: rebates can’t last forever. It’ll be a huge shock for people when the rebates stop and their bill jumps 3x

    • +1

      How many more years do you think "cost of living" is going to last?

      That's what this temporary measure is meant for.
      Paid out of this year's $14B Qld surplus. Up from expected $10.5B.

      Rebate has already been available for 2 years. Now a 3rd.

      I haven't paid for electricity due to this Rebate & other incentives for 3 years. (No solar or gas)

      • Well my thought is that nothing will get cheaper. So the cost of living will only get worse

    • +2

      It's essentially a dividend from the tax QLD has on the coal and gas industry. So as long as we keep taxing them, and they stay operating in the state, this "rebate" will continue.

      I can see the LNP removing the coal and gas tax if they get in to power (hopefully it will be a deathblow for re-election), but I can't see the mining industry leaving QLD anytime soon even though they try to kick up a bit of a stink and threaten that they will.

  • Can someone tell me please. I have solar and on feed in tariff 52cents so for long time I have not paid a cent for electricity bill. Instead I have credit every quarter. Am I still eligible for this payment? Thanks

    • Yes. Will likely have to ask for a refund from retailer.

      • -2

        You won't get a cash refund. You can only offset it against your expenditure. So if you're on the original (very generous) solar tariffs you will probably have that $1,000 sitting in your account as a credit forever.

        • +1

          that $1,000 sitting in your account as a credit forever.

          What nonsense!
          How did you they that idea??

          It's your money! Just ask for it!

          This will be the 3rd year of this scheme. So you might already have a nice credit in your electricity account - decreasing in value with inflation💰


          #1 I've received cash refunds several times under this scheme - when switching electricity retailers (for hundreds in incentives)!
          Just needed to request refund.

          (Not an option in your case.)


          #2 Depending on retailer, they may automatically refund when credit in account reaches a certain level. See previous discussion here - think it was case with AGL.


          #3 It's your money! Not the electricity retailer's! No legitimate reason for them to hold onto it.
          So not as you think!

          You need to request a refund of the effective overpayment on your account!


          Either way, the funds will be transferred to your method of bill payment.

        • +1

          You won't get a cash refund

          No! Electricity retailers need to have a method to provide refunds of your money!

          Rather than answering with incorrect information…
          a quick search would show how to get the refund of credit from your retailer!
          And the method used for cash refund.

          If your account is with Origin:
          "Open account in credit
          Self-serve the refund, using My Account.
          "

          I've done it - was easy to quickly recover $300+ of the rebate!

          • @INFIDEL: I've just tried to refund that $1000 via Origin app and they replied that this is Energy Bill Relief payment and only can be used towards electricity bill.
            WTF. I have solar and I'll never use that money…
            Funny that they dont mind to refund leftovers from the previous $300 government payments…
            I might try to close the account now.

            • @VQLD: I only got a refund after switching electricity retailer. And had to ask for it. Didn't try online.

              Switched to Origin last week. $1000 + $75 credit on account.
              Waiting on $200 credit from sign up. Will contact Origin.

              Now to request refund from previous retailer PowerShop.

    • What retailer are you with that's giving you 8c extra on top of the 44c?

      • +1

        Origin

        • you are very lucky if you are still on 52c as I was on that and later it decreased to 49c…… 44c gov FIT + 5c Origin

          but when I was on 52c FIT the general usage tariff was 35c so quite high

          when it was 49c the general usage tariff was 28.842c and I think still is

  • +1

    I like electricity

    • +2

      I like FREE electricity⚡
      (after $1k rebate)

  • +1

    I read most responses and was hoping someone would pick this up:

    1. Qld is a major contributor to Aust now exporting more natural gas than Qatar!

    2. Natural gas sets the price for our electricity as it kicks in when there is not enough baseload (ie. coal fired)

    3. QLD govt sold out to overseas gas companies when they did not create any domestic reservation of ‘our’ gas, like WA did (see comments above from WA residents laughing at their prices)

    4. This rebate is taking taxpayer money and effectively giving it to those same international gas companies in the form of higher prices, that we shouldn’t be paying in the first place for our own gas.

    5. Why is this not already in the comments above? Cause no Australian mainstream media will publish on this topic. Why?

    • +3

      Hopefully this helps answer your questions…

      • QLD Gov has introduced a tax on the mining companies. This is where this money is coming from. Think of it like a dividend.

      • Energy QLD is a government-owned company, which includes the energy destruction and generation as well as Ergon Energy, the only retailer for a large portion of the state.

      • This rebate does go back to some of the private energy retailers, yes. However, it's aim is to free up cash for the residents that would otherwise be going to pay the electricity anyway.

      • -1

        Thanks for the reply but nothing there meets my points.

        Lack of domestic reservation is causing high power prices. This is the fault of the State Govt.

        It is like they hit you with a car (for favours or money) and are then using money from your own bank account to pay your medical bills. Now they want you to thank them for helping you out?

        • +2

          Pretty sure it goes back to Tony Abbott killing mining taxes.

  • Why don't use those money to build more renewable energy insfrastructures? This is how they bribe votes.

    • +2

      Qld Govt is doing that as well with
      $14B surplus💰
      Like massive pumped hydro projects.

      • Is that you Steven Miles?

        • -1

          Is that you mr Fool?

    • -1

      Only for Queenslanders paying the electricity bill! Investors don't usually pay other's power bills.

      • -2

        Investors pay infrastructure charges and pass on usage to tenants.

        • +2

          Not it QLD at least not for power, for water yes.

  • -1

    Does this work with a VPN?

    • +1

      Needed for sign up, but you can turn it off after that. You might get some Indian advertisement as a result, but everything else should be normal.

    • -1

      You get your electricity supplied by VPN?

    • Dear Sydney resident…

      You need to live in Qld with an active Qld electricity account for the rebate to pay into…

      As I earlier replied…
      How would a VPN would solve that??

  • Where is same deal for Victorians?

    • Victorians who moved to QLD because of covid are happy right now.

    • Lol move to Queensland asap, the weather is depressing af in Melbourne

  • For gratitude sake: thank you.

  • Wow, this will cover about 4 months' of my electricity bills for the year. If only the millions of dollars that will be spent on this election bribe could be put to reducing the price of electricity for good rather than a quick rebate that will be useless long-term.

    • -6

      Electricity WAS cheap…
      Then came the climate change and net zero BS…
      NOW electricity is very expensive…

      • Nah not really. QLD gov generators and utilities haven't made big investments in ages. All coal units will reach their end of life, same with poles and wires so someone (customers) have to pay for new ones. Bills probably would be cheaper with just coal/gas but not that much cheaper.

        • -4

          They should have maintained the existing coal units and kept using the quality cheap coal available nearby and already belonging to QLD instead of replacing it with so called renewables units (solar or wind) that are purchased from overseas (needing australian resources shipped overseas to build and then shipped back as finished product), need new transmission lines and are unreliable (still need base load from coal generators) and are built with huge government funding coming from taxpayers money.

          • +1

            @Mad Max:

            They should have maintained the existing coal units

            Queensland hasn't voluntarily shut down a coal plant in many years. They're all still there doing their thing, except for the one that blew up and can't be economically repaired.

            None have been "replaced" but it's a competitive market, and many of the renewables are selling at cheaper prices and disrupting the coal plant's financial profits.

            Both Qld Labor and the LNP are sticking with the 2035 renewables target and have confirmed that all coal power stations will stay online until renewables, pumped hydro and batteries are ready to phase them out.

  • -2

    Boys, calm down, aren't we one big OzBargain team first.
    Everyone knows Labour has the best policies but as they are all ex unionist amd aren't competent to run a government in a fiscally responsible way, they just care about votes…few exceptions like Hawke a Rhodes scholar.
    Like wise Liberals are more competent but are generally our of touch and too conservative for modern society. We need these parties to change places so Labour and can make meaningful social change and liberal can work out how to pay for it.

    • +2

      The QLD LNP are fascists, choose your poison

    • We need to grab the middle elements of both parties to make one and then leave the far left and far right to fend for themselves. This is the problem with both parties Libs have far right nut cases in the party and Labor have the opposite in theirs. Even the Greens have policies that just don’t add up but use them to grab the young voter.

      The amusing thing is that the hard-core supporter of each of these parties actually care more about the party then the politicians do. To them it’s a job and they will say/do whatever it takes to stay there.

    • +1

      What about the history of Queensland LNP gives a whiff of competency?SMH

  • -5

    Some grid history.

    Anna Bligh sold the grid to private enterprise for cash as her policies where sending the state broke
    The private owners of the grid then advised that they wouldn't supply country QLD as it was not profitable.
    QLD to avoid political disaster, pay private owners of the grid to supply country QLD.
    Totally payments for supplying country QLD have far exceeded the profit from selling the grid…absolute fiscal disaster

  • On a lighter side , do you think I can declare the 1k offset as income for my next loan approval.?

    • -2

      Figured I would attract some shade from the QLD OzBargainers.
      If they weren't caught up in the $1,000 government handout ahead of the October election, they too would see it's just making the problem worse.
      Rate rises here we come, just wait!

      • You realise these "cost of living" measures are part funded by Federal Govt!

        Same as 22-23 $550 electricity rebate. This is the 3rd year of these rebates!

        Both Governments have surpluses ($14B in Qld), which means the money would likely be spent anyhow.

        So what's the difference, except Queensland's electricity bills will be much less.
        By definition - a bargain🎉

        So your argument & neg vote are pointless😜

        • -2

          Its funded by the QLD Government. Other states aren't doing it.
          But who it's funded by isn't the point, throwing extra cash into the economy will just counteract what the RBA is trying to achieve.

          • -2

            @financialminimalism: You don't know what you're talking about!

            Its funded by the QLD Government.

            And funded by Commonwealth Govt!

            Federal Treasurer announced before 22-23 budget, "cost of living" assistance would be provided to the States & Territories, for them to distribute.

            Again Federal Treasurer recently made that offer for 23-24.

            Other states aren't doing it.

            Wrong.
            [WA] Cost of Living Support (e.g. $400 Electricity Credit) @ WA State Budget)

            Its up to States & Territories to decide what form the assistance will be made

            Will be announced in their budgets.

            WA & QLD electricity assistance has been provided for years.

            Qld had "electricity dividends" applied to electricity bills for years before that.

            If you were a local (in a Qld Deal), you should know that!


            Get your basic facts correct😜

            Theoretical effect of assistance is just that - Theoretical.

            Qld Govt modelling says it's not inflationary.

            If you can't get your basic provable information right, your claims made on contested economic theory just can't be believed!

            • -1

              @INFIDEL: The QLD government would say that wouldn't they. It's a gov handout either way.

              And let's be clear who's funding it - it ain't the federal government, or state government… they are just giving us our own money back.

              • -1

                @financialminimalism: My studies & work was in research & modelling. I mainly helped researchers design their research.

                All modelling is based on assumptions. The closer the model can get to reality, the much more complex (& possibly unstable) it usually is. So all modelling comes with the set of assumptions it is based on - at that given time.

                I spent time with academics who taught your simplistic model of inflation…

                They would point out in an ever changing real world economic system, theoretical ideas like yours are useless. There are far too many variables & unknowns. Change one & everything can change!

                But for teaching purposes, a simplistic closed model is used. Where there are no other influences & only few simple variables.
                So theoretically, adding $1000 per household MIGHT have an inflammatory effect, based on that simplistic idea.

                Its like asking how long is a piece of string - it depends & is different for everyone at different times.

                The real world is different.
                As you can't get your basic facts correct, your theoretic inflationary projection is pointless hot air.

              • -2

                @financialminimalism:

                And let's be clear who's funding it…
                they are just giving us our own money back

                How much Qld State Tax do you pay?? To get anything back from Qld😜

                I pay no direct Qld State Tax to get $1000 back! A definite bargain!

                Like others complaining, seems you are confusing Federal income / business tax with State Taxes😜


                Its thanks mainly to the windfall coal royalties providing $18B surplus (up from previous $10.5B), after war etc raised the world coal price on a Qld resource👍

                Qld brought in a tiered system of coal royalties based on price sold for. A more equitable system than previous c/tonne. Why shouldn't we get more back if sold for more.

                Other States didn't increase royalties to cover dramatic increases in price paid, giving all the windfall profit to the mining companies, not the owners of the resources🤔

                And what did others States do with the money they got from selling Govt owned electricity assets - they spend it! Wouldn't you say that was inflationary😉

                QLD retained our money making assets! Returning a dividend for so many years to Queenslanders🌞

                Again you don't seem to understand, just complain😜

                financialminimalism…
                Your opinionated views & narrow mindedness cloud any objectivity😜


                I'll take my $1000 cut of the windfall, thanks👍

                It's from sale of Qld owned resources, so I'm getting my own resources payment💰

                • @INFIDEL: Thought you said the fed gov paid it? In which case, you’re welcome.

                  • -2

                    @financialminimalism: "mainly … windfall coal royalties"

                    Feds contributed some this year, & promised in next budget.
                    As they do for all States & Territories.

                    Did your State give you yours??

                    Don't think they release the figures, as it creates interstate rivalry the Commonwealth would rather avoid!

                    Retired in my 30's to travel, so barely pay any tax, excise, or Govt fees. Mainly the unavoidable GST😉

  • -3

    Subsidies to reduce high energy prices caused by renewables that themselves only survive because of subsidies is economic vandalism.

  • -1

    Or, to put that differently, the Queensland electricity subsidy announced last week delays the first rate cut for those on a mortgage here in Oz by around ten weeks

    https://twitter.com/ChrisEconomist/status/178696091177494536…

    • A Boomer economist using their fear mongering BS theory to attract attention on X😜 Really legitimate!

      How else will he sell himself for hire (speaking engagements & more)??

      First endorsement on his site is from… Scott Morrison!

      The AFR (in 2022), accused him of holding completely contrary views, at the same time.
      I assume, to sell his advice to different audiences!
      But that's what economists do!
      "Like so many of his recorded utterances, Richardson’s latest is rather curious given he spent 2021 articulating versions of the contrary."🤣


      delays the first rate cut for those on a mortgage here in Oz by around ten weeks

      Sounds like he is gambling on rates not falling as fast as earlier expected - to prove he is right🤣

      But that's no proof! It's a safe bet!

      Before this rebate even starts, predictions of interest rates falling this year - pretty well disappeared!

      So many events (internationally, like US Treasury just deciding not to lower interest rates) have a much greater effect than what's happening in Qld!!

      This will be the 3rd year of this scheme, providing rebates on electricity bills to Queenslanders🌞

  • where is WA one?

    • -2

      $400 for WA

      These are pre budget announcements.
      So more "cost of living" measures to come on other States…
      Part funded by Commonwealth Govt.
      Not necessarily for electricity.

  • I will move to my house and have my own electricity account on July 5th. Does it mean that I am not eligible for this rebate?

    • I can't 100% say for sure but this financial year I was paid the cost of living rebate on:

      31 July
      1 Oct
      1 Jan
      1 Apr

    • It's just 5 days difference, just ask them to start earlier?

      • tenants from previous contract with the old owner stay there until July 5th, so I can't start earlier.

  • I love the hypocrisy on OzBargain.
    QLD gov puts $1000 credit on energy accounts and it gets >300 votes.
    VIC gov puts $400 credit on school accounts and it gets shafted (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/844667#comment-15252759).
    Personally I think gov policy should sit in the forums, but hey.

    • +2

      That's because most households have an electricity account while not everyone is a student so it's not applicable to them

      I'm sure if Vic did the same with an electricity rebate it'll have more upvotes than this as there are more Victorians on Ozb.

  • Received $1000 credit today

    • +1

      nice send a screenshot to celebrate

  • $1000 in my OVO account this morning.

    • Me too.

  • Happy to see that my Alinta account is actually in credit today rather than having to pay the bill I received last month.

    Now, where's the hack to actually withdraw this credit balance? $800+ 🤣

    • do you normally pay each quarter or get a refund?

      • I normally pay quarterly.
        Logged in to pay today and can't actually see the credit but it is showing that my account has received $1,075 in some form, so is $800+ in credit.

        • I hope it's simple to transfer if I have to move.

          I was going to look into switching to a cheaper plan but a bit scared now it might disappear if I do switch ???

          • +1

            @Emeister: nah they have to pay you out if you move and they can't transfer it to your new retailer either

            I ask if you have to pay each quarter because they will be reluctant to refund if they see you will get a bill…. but if you are getting refunds like heavy solar feed in then they would

            • @Poor Ass: I'm with AGL and I have the $1000 from QLD Gov, $75 Fed Gov and an AGL sign up credit so I'm sitting on $1104 credit right now. AGL have also just increased my rates to make them easily the most expensive of the rates I've compared. I really hope they pay out a refund because it's about $30/month difference from AGL to the cheapest option. I've just started a chat with them to get it going - let's see how they play it out.

              • @daanish: I recommend you ask for energy usage data from Energex ro determine the best plan … I did and worked out good

                • @Poor Ass: I check my own meter every month. I have my usage data for my apartment since I moved in 3 years ago.

                  • @daanish: Nah… They got like 5min readings sent to Energex you want 8c a kw?

                    • @Poor Ass: Sure. Do you need a smart meter though? I have an old (non networked) single rate meter.

                      • @daanish: Yes you should ask your retailer to change it

                      • @daanish: Yes you should ask your retailer to change it

                      • @daanish: Yes you should ask your retailer to change it

              • @daanish: I with AGL too, did you successfully withdraw the money out? They definitely did jacked up the rate :(

                • +1

                  @georgegates5: Live chat advised that I need to email [email protected] with my energy account number, service address details and then bank account details and proof of ownership of the bank account (i.e. a bank account statement) and request the payment of the credit to them.

                  I've sent that email but have not heard back as yet though it's only been 24 hours.

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