If you’re a NSW parent getting the Family Tax Benefit, there’s a rebate on your electricity bill you might be missing out on. The NSW Family Energy Rebate gives eligible households a credit of up to $180 a year, and it stacks with most other energy support.
Here’s what it covers, who qualifies and how to make sure you’re ready when applications open.
What Is the NSW Family Energy Rebate?
The Family Energy Rebate is a NSW Government payment for households with dependent children who receive the Family Tax Benefit. It’s applied as a one-off credit on your electricity bill, once per household per financial year.
It’s separate from any federal energy bill relief you might already be getting automatically. You can receive both.
How Much Is the Rebate Worth?
The amount depends on how your household gets its electricity:
- Retail customers (billed directly by a provider like AGL, Origin or EnergyAustralia): up to $180
- On-supply customers (billed through a strata manager, retirement village or residential park operator): up to $198
If you already receive the Low Income Household Rebate through a concession card, the Family Energy Rebate is capped at a smaller top-up rather than the full amount, so your combined support still lands over $300.
Who’s Eligible?
To qualify, you generally need to:
Be a NSW resident with an electricity account in your name for your principal home. Have received the Family Tax Benefit (Part A or B) during the previous financial year. Have lodged your tax return with the ATO and had that entitlement finalised by Services Australia. If you weren’t required to lodge a tax return, you’ll still need to notify Services Australia so your FTB status can be finalised before you apply.
Only one rebate is paid per household, per financial year, regardless of how many children you have.
When Do Applications Open?
This is the part that trips people up. Applications don’t run year-round. For the 2026-27 financial year, applications open 10 August 2026 through Service NSW. If you’re reading this outside that window, the fastest thing to do is set a reminder for early August so you’re not scrambling when your bill arrives.
What You’ll Need to Apply
Have these ready before you start, so you’re not hunting for paperwork halfway through:
Your Customer Reference Number (CRN) from Services Australia, found on your Family Tax Benefit correspondence. A recent electricity bill with your National Meter Identifier (NMI) visible. Confirmation from Services Australia that your FTB entitlement has been finalised.
Retail customers apply online through Service NSW in a few minutes. On-supply customers (residential parks, retirement villages, strata) need to download and post a paper form with a copy of their bill.
Tip: Save Your Confirmation Email
Once you apply, you’ll get a confirmation email. Keep it. Next financial year, you can pull your CRN and other details straight from that email instead of digging through Centrelink correspondence again.
No. They’re separate schemes and most eligible households can get both.
Processing times vary depending on application volume, so it pays to apply as early as possible in the window rather than leaving it until your bill is due.
Yes, but you’ll apply as an on-supply customer through a slightly different process than retail customers.
You still need to notify Services Australia so they can finalise your Family Tax Benefit status before your application can be approved.
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