Victorian households bill-busting bonus expanded, $205m in additional funding
The government is throwing an extra $205m into the scheme that allows Victorian households to secure a $250 power-saving bonus — see how many people have applied in your suburb.
Victoria
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Melbourne’s CBD has been crowned the suburb most eager to pocket a $250 energy saving bonus.
Almost 12,000 claims for the one-off power saving payment have been officially lodged since the scheme went live on July 1.
Point Cook, in Melbourne’s west, recorded the second highest take up with 10,626 applications, followed by Craigieburn with 10,174 and Reservoir with 9045.
Tarneit (8952 claims), Pakenham (8322), Werribee (8247), Berwick (7383) and Glen Waverley (6686) round out the top 10.
The program has also been popular in Sunbury, Frankston, St Albans, Preston, Truganina, Richmond and Southbank.
More Victorian households are set to secure a $250 power saving bonus, with the government throwing an extra $205m into the scheme.
More than one million people have already applied for the one-off payment, which is offered to households who seek out a better energy deal on Victoria’s Energy Compare website.
Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Friday announced an additional $205m had been added to the program in a bid to meet demand.
The scheme, which will run until June 30 next year, was initially capped at $250m.
Announced in this year’s budget, the government has spruiked the program as a key way to address the worsening cost-of-living crisis.
There are no caps on the number of households that can receive the payment.
“Three weeks after launching this bill busting bonus, we are proud to have supported one million Victorian households with their energy bills while helping them find the cheapest deal available,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“We know Victorian families are doing it tough, so we’re topping up the $250 Power Saving Bonus program to make sure no one misses out.”
User data shows that over the past 12 months, seven out of every 10 users saved an average of $330 by switching energy offers.
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