Currently in Western Australia there are a number of utility assistance schemes for people having difficulty paying their Electricity, Water and Gas bills. These schemes can be accessed via an Welfare/ Emergency Relief Agency or a Financial Counselling service. The following provides an overview of how the schemes work and guidelines to assist with client applications. These forms are regularly updated. Please ensure you are using a current version.
Power Assist
The Power Assist Scheme is an initiative of Synergy and Horizon Power and the WACOSS Emergency Relief Agencies Forum (ER Forum). The scheme is aimed at assisting members of the community experiencing financial difficulties with the payment of their electricity accounts and in particular to prevent electricity disconnection. This scheme is available to clients through agencies that provide Emergency Relief or Financial Counselling.
The Scheme is administered by the St Vincent De Paul Society and overseen by the State Emergency Relief Committee on behalf of the ER Sector.
Allocation Dates for 2012/2013
The Synergy Power Assist Scheme is run for two days every second month throughout the financial year.
The allocation dates for 2012/2013 financial year are as follows:
17th and 18th July 2012
18th and 19th September 2012
20th and 21st November 2012
22nd and 23rd January 2013
19th and 20th March 2013
21st and 22nd May 2013
The Horizon Power Assist Scheme can be applied for at any time and applications are processed at the end of each month.
For full program guidelines please see the application forms below:
Synergy Power Assist Application Form 2012-13
Horizon Power Assist Application Form 2012-13
Power Assist Reports
WACOSS produces a report each year providing information and data on the Power Assist Scheme. Please use the links below to view the latest reports:
Horizon Power Assist Report 2011-2012
Horizon Power Assist Report 2010-2011
Horizon Power Assist Report 2009-2010
Synergy Power Assist Report 2011-2012
Synergy Power Assist Report 2010-2011
Synergy Power Assist Report 2009-2010
Synergy Reconnection Scheme
Synergy, through the proceeds of its Bill Smoothing Program, has provided a one-off grant of $33,000 to WACOSS. In consultation with the State Emergency Relief Committee (SERC), Synergy and the Saint Vincent de Paul (who administer Power Assist) WACOSS has developed a scheme to provide assistance to Synergy customers in most need i.e. those whose electricity supply has been disconnected.
The Synergy Reconnection Scheme assists those Synergy customers who have approached an emergency relief agency or financial counsellor seeking assistance with reconnecting their electricity supply. Through this Scheme the ER agency or financial counsellor are able to initiate an immediate reconnection payment to Synergy on behalf of the customer once Synergy is satisfied that there is an acceptable repayment plan in place.
For further information please follow the links below
Synergy Reconnection Scheme
Synergy Reconnection Scheme Application Form
AlintaCare Scheme
The AlintaCARE Scheme commenced in 2003 to assist members of the community experiencing financial difficulties with the payment of their gas accounts and in particular to prevent gas disconnection. The scheme does not currently cover gas bottles. (WACOSS continues to advocate for subsidies and fair pricing of gas bottle services across regional WA)
AlintaCARE Scheme is administered by Jacaranda Community Centre, Belmont WA, on behalf of the WACOSS Emergency Relief Agencies Forum. Call (08) 9477 4346 for more information.
The AlintaCARE Scheme is run over 4 days every month. The allocation days for the 2012/2013 financial year are as follows.
Monday 16th - Thursday 19th July 2012
Monday 20th - Thursday 23rd August 2012
Monday 17th - Thursday 20th September 2012
Monday 22nd - Thursday 25th October 2012
Monday 12th - Thursday 15th November 2012
Monday 3rd - Thursday 6th December 2012
Monday 21st - Thursday 24th January 2013
Monday 18th - Thursday 21st February 2013
Monday 18th - Thursday 21st March 2013
Monday 15th - Thursday 18th April 2013
Monday 13th - Thursday 16th May 2013
Monday 10th - Thursday 13th June 2013
For full program guidelines please see the application forms below:
AlintaCARE Application Form
AlintaCARE Guidelines and Dates for 2012-2013
Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS)
HUGS is a State Government Scheme which provides financial assistance to help people with financial difficulties pay their water, gas, and electricity bills so their supply is not cut off.
Further information on HUGS can be found here