1. Definitions
1.1 The following definitions apply to these Terms and Conditions:
- Agency means Service NSW.
- Department means the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
- Seniors Energy Rebate means financial assistance of up to $250 to eligible customers who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to help cover the cost of their electricity.
2. Application
2.1 To make an application for the Seniors Energy Rebate in a given financial year you must:
- provide your most recent electricity bill issued on or after 1 July in the current financial year
- provide acceptable proof of identity documents as listed on the Seniors Energy Rebate: Common questions webpage. The names must match on each proof of identity document, unless you provide an acceptable marriage or change of name certificate.
demonstrate to the Agency that you hold an eligible Commonwealth Seniors Health Card by:
(i) providing consent for the Agency to use Centrelink Confirmation eServices to check Centrelink customer details to enable the Agency to determine if the applicant is in receipt of the relevant benefit; or
(ii) attending a Service NSW Service Centre and providing an income statement to be sighted by a Service NSW Customer Service Representative.
2.2 These Terms and Conditions have been developed in accordance with the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code.
2.3 All information provided by you in connection with your application must be true and correct. Giving false or misleading information is an offence under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
2.4 By applying for the Seniors Energy Rebate, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
3. Eligibility Criteria
3.1 To be eligible for the Seniors Energy Rebate in a given financial year you must:
- be a resident in NSW; and
- be the named person on the electricity account for supply to their principal place of residence; and
- hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by Services Australia or the Commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs; and
- not be a recipient of the Low Income Household Rebate
3.2 Eligibility must be met at the time of application within the given financial year.
3.3 The Seniors Energy Rebate is available only for electricity bills.
3.4 You must notify the Agency and the Department immediately if you no longer meet the eligibility criteria in clause 3 or can no longer comply with these Terms and Conditions during the assessment of the application.
3.5 You may be audited by the Agency to determine whether you have complied or are complying with these Terms and Conditions. You must provide any information or documentation that is reasonably required for the purpose of any such audit.
4. Verification
4.1 The Agency and the Department have the right, at their discretion, to verify any information (including information with Services Australia and the Department of Veterans' Affairs) provided as part of your application. Verification may include, without limitation, any or all of the following:
- Requesting the provision of additional information.
- Confirmation that the Eligibility Criteria have been met.
5. Privacy
5.1 The Agency is collecting personal information to determine eligibility for the Seniors Energy Rebate and to process applications for the Seniors Energy Rebate. The Agency is obliged to protect the privacy of your personal information. The Agency does this by handling personal information in a responsible manner and in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Please read the Privacy Collection Notice for more information about how your personal information will be handled by the Agency.
6. Closure, suspension or variation
6.1 Notwithstanding any other provision in these Terms and Conditions, the Agency may, in its absolute discretion at any time and without notice:
- Vary these Terms and Conditions, the Eligibility Criteria and process for application.
- Suspend the operation of or close down any right to make an application for the Seniors Energy Rebate.
- Alter the opening and closing date for applications.
- Any variation to these Terms and Conditions or action taken to suspend or revoke the Seniors Energy Rebate will be notified on the Agency's website.
- Any variation to these Terms and Conditions will only apply to subsequent claims for the Seniors Energy Rebate and will not apply retrospectively to earlier claims for the Seniors Energy Rebate.
7. General
7.1 The Agency is not responsible for decisions made by the Department.
7.2 No rights under these Terms and Conditions will be waived except by notice in writing signed by both you, the Agency and the Department.
7.3 The Seniors Energy Rebate these Terms and Conditions, and all related information is governed by the laws of the State of New South Wales. A reference to any legislation includes all delegated legislation made under it, including regulations and rules and amendments, consolidations or replacements of any of them.
7.4 Where the Agency or Department has issued a notice to the email address provided as part of the application process, the notification will be deemed to have been received by you immediately upon receipt of electronic transmission confirmation.
7.6 Without limiting anything in these Terms and Conditions, the Agency will not be responsible or liable to you as the applicant, to the maximum extent permitted by law, for any of the matters set out in these Terms and Conditions.
7.7 The Seniors Energy Rebate is stated in Australian dollars. You authorise the Agency to pay the Seniors Energy Rebate by electronic fund transfer into the Australian bank account nominated by you in your application. You acknowledge and agree that:
- Payment is made by the Agency when money is paid to your nominated bank account.
- The Agency is not responsible for any delays in payment or errors due to factors outside its reasonable control, including delays or errors in the financial system or errors in the supplied bank account details.
- The Agency is under no obligation to remedy any mistakes made by the applicant in nominating a bank account to receive the Seniors Energy Rebate. The Agency retains full discretion when deciding if and in what circumstances it will remedy a mistake made by the applicant.