How to upload your electricity bill
If you receive your electricity bill by email, save your bill to your computer, tablet or phone as a file ready to upload with your application.
If you have a paper copy of your electricity bill:
- take a photo of your bill with your phone, or scan it using your printer or scanner. Save the bill as one file or save each page of your bill separately
- send it to an email account you can access on your computer or tablet. If this isn’t possible, ask your energy provider to send you a copy of the bill by email.
All details should be clearly visible including your name, address and National Metering Identifier.
The National Metering Identifier is listed on the first or second page of your bill. This is different to your account number and meter number.
File name and format
The file must:
- be saved in one of the following formats: JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, TIF.
- be less than 6 MB in size
- not have any spaces or special characters in the file name.
Help with scanning
If you need help, visit a Service NSW Centre to use a self-serve kiosk to scan the bill. You can also contact your local post office, library or print shop for assistance.
Troubleshooting for iPhone or iPad photos
If you have used an Apple device (such as an iPhone or iPad) to photograph your document the file may be in HEIC format. To fix this:
- email the photo to yourself
- open the email on a computer or tablet
- open and save the image of your document as a JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG or TIF file.
Help with files and formats
The Australian Government's Be Connected program has short articles and helpful tips on managing, saving and sharing files on computers and tablets.
Proof of identity documents
If you apply for the Seniors Energy Rebate in-person at a service centre, you will need to bring documents to prove your identity.
You must have 2 separate proof of identity documents. The names must match on each document, unless you're also able to provide a marriage or change of name certificate.
Accepted proof of identity documents are listed here. You must provide 2 documents from List 1, or one document from List 1 and one document from List 2.
List 1
- NSW Driver Licence
- NSW Photo Card, physical or digital, including full name and date of birth
- NSW Firearms licence, including full name and date of birth
- Australian passport
- Foreign passport (Australian visa)
- Australian birth certificate from any state or territory. Note: birth extracts and commemorative birth certificates are not acceptable.
- Australian citizenship certificate
- Australian certificate of registration by descent
- ImmiCard
List 2
- Medicare card
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
- Health Care Card
- Veteran Gold Card
- Veteran Pensioner Concession Card
- Veteran Seniors Health Care Card
Note: If you're applying on behalf of an eligible person, you'll need to download, print and complete the Letter of Authority for Seniors Energy Rebate – PDF.
Retail and embedded network energy providers
In the online application form we ask if your electricity comes from a retailer or an embedded network. These definitions are provided to help you answer this question.
Retailer
Most customers get their electricity from a retailer. If there a National Metering Identifier on your bill, you get your electricity from a retailer.
The National Metering Identifier is listed on the first or second page of your bill. This is different to your account number and meter number.
Embedded network
If you live in an apartment building, caravan park or retirement village and get your bills from a strata manager or community/village operator, you're probably on an embedded network.
To be eligible to receive the Senior Energy Rebate, your embedded network needs to hold a valid exemption from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
To check if your energy seller has been authorised by the AER:
- go to Authorisations: Australian Energy Regulator
- use the filters to select New South Wales in the Region section
- use the search box or results list to see if your energy seller is in in the authorised list.
Updating your address
Your application address and supply address must be the same. The supply address is the address on your electricity bill. It shows the property you are being billed for.
If your application address is the correct address, you will need to contact your energy seller to have them update the supply address. Your energy seller will advise you of any documents you may need to supply if they require supporting documentation. If you need help with asking your energy seller to update your address, contact the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW.
If your supply address is the correct address, you will need to update your application address. This will require your POI document addresses to match, you may be required to update your address with Service NSW, and Services Australia.