2.1 Who can apply

2.1 Who can apply

To be eligible for a Home Energy Saver discount, you need to live in the property as your home, and meet an income or concession card requirement. If you apply using the income threshold rather than a concession card, you also need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

The eligibility requirements

You must:

  • own the property, or rent it and be named on the lease, and
  • hold one of these eligible concession cards: Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Gold Card, or
  • have a combined gross household income of up to $80,000 a year, counting all income both taxable and non-taxable, and be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Final eligibility is confirmed through the application process.

What each requirement means

Own or rent the property. The property is the home you live in. If you own your home, it must be your primary residence; you cannot apply as the owner of a property you rent out. If you own you will need to show your rates notice with the name of the owners. If you rent, your name needs to appear on the residential tenancy agreement, not just on the bills or the bond. If you're not sure, check the front page of your lease agreement before you apply.

Citizen or permanent resident. If you are applying through the income threshold, not an eligible concession card, you also need to be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident at the time you apply.

Income or card, not both. You only need to meet one of these two. If you hold one of the four cards listed, your income isn't the deciding factor. If you don't hold a card, your household's combined gross income needs to be up to $80,000 a year. This counts all your income, both taxable and non-taxable.

One property only

If you are a homeowner, you cannot receive a Home Energy Saver discount for more than one property. If you’re a renter, you can apply for another Home Energy Saver discount if you move to a new property with a different landlord.

Where you live

The program is intended to support eligible households statewide across all of New South Wales, in both metro and regional areas. Living outside a capital city doesn't affect your eligibility.

Frequently asked questions

Whose income counts towards the $80,000?

Gross household income is all the income, both taxable and non-taxable, of everyone in your household who is named on your council rates notice or residential tenancy agreement. It includes taxable income shown on your Notice of Assessment, plus any non-taxable income you receive. It doesn't include boarders or tenants who pay you rent. We look at a full tax year, and we check it using your ATO notice of assessment, or your receipt of non-lodgement if you don't need to lodge a return.

Does my concession card need to be current?

Yes. Your card needs to be current when we check your eligibility, which is when we verify it with Services Australia through Centrelink Confirmation eServices. If your card has expired by then, it will not pass the check.

I have a concession card that isn't on the list. Does it count?

The four cards listed are the eligible cards: Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card and Veteran Gold Card. If your card isn't one of these, you may still be eligible through the household income requirement instead.

Only one of us is named on the lease. Can our household still apply?

The applicant needs to be a person named on the lease, and only household members named on the lease are counted. If you are not on the lease yourself, someone in your household who is could apply instead.

I rent my home. Can I apply?

Yes, renters may be eligible if they are named on the lease and meet the eligibility requirements. See Eligibility for renters.

Can I apply if I already have solar?

Yes. Having an existing solar system does not affect your ability to apply for a Home Energy Saver discount. Solar is only a consideration if you're applying for a residential battery. To be eligible for a battery, you must either have an existing rooftop solar system or include rooftop solar as part of your Home Energy Saver discount application.