THE second instalment of energy bill relief has been flowing through to thousands of South Australian households and small businesses.
In June 2024, the state government committed $127.2m for the National Energy Bill Relief Plan which was matched dollar-for-dollar by the Federal Government.
The plan will provide energy bill reductions of $500 for up to 420,000 eligible households.
It will also include a rebate of up to $650 for 86,000 eligible small businesses.
Energy retailers are now applying the reductions to recipients’ bills for the second quarter with the relief automatically applied to the bills of existing state concession recipients.
It has since been expanded to include those receiving the Commonwealth Family Tax Benefits and people receiving a Carer Allowance.
Small businesses will also be eligible for the $650 reduction following concerns raised with the government from Business SA.
In addition to the energy bill relief the package also includes a reduction in the school materials and services charge by $100 per child, indexation of the existing cost of living concession by 8.64%, cheaper hospital car parking and free public transport for hospital workers and increased carer payments of an additional $50 per fortnight per child or young person for general foster or kinship carers.
Other incentives include an expanded school breakfast program, additional support for food charities and additional funding to non-government organisations.
State treasurer Stephen Mulligan said there were a lot of South Australian households and businesses under pressure.
“Our June state budget provided the largest package of cost-of-living relief measures ever deployed in South Australia – a large part of that to reduce energy bills,” Mr Mulligan said.
“As we head into Christmas, a reduction in energy bills will provide some relief at what is traditionally a very expensive time of year.”
