Currently in Western Australia there are three main 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 2011/12
The Synergy Power Assist Scheme is run for two days every second month throughout the financial year. The allocation dates for the second half of the 2011 financial year and the first half of the 2012 financial year are listed below:
19th and 20th July 2011
20th and 21st September 2011
22nd and 23rd November 2011
24th and 25th January 2012
20th and 21st March 2012
22nd and 23rd May 2012
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 2011-12
Horizon Power Assist Application Form 2011-12
Power Assist Reports
WACSOS 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 2009-2010
Synergy Power Assist Report 2009-2010
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 5 days every month. The allocation days for the first half of the 2011 financial year are as follows.
2011
July Monday 18th until Thursday 21st
August Monday 15th until Thursday 18th
September Monday 19th until Thursday 22nd
October Monday 17th until Thursday 20th
November Monday 14th until Thursday 17th
December Monday 5th until Thursday 8th
2012
January Monday 16th until Thursday 19th
February Monday 20th until Thursday 23rd
March Monday 19th until Thursday 22nd
April Monday 16th until Thursday 19th
May Monday 21st until Thursday 24th
June Monday 18th until Thursday 21st
For full program guidelines please see the application forms below:
AlintaCARE Application Form
AlintaCARE Guidelines and Dates for 2011-2012