Mr Walsh said the extension to June 30 meant thousands more households in regional and rural Victoria would have an opportunity to apply for the one-off payment, helping to offset the cost of rising electricity bills.
He said the Power Savings Bonus program had been great for regional and rural Victorians doing it tough, especially during the past two years.
“Of course the lack of mainstream promotion for the bonus, which was designed to help pensioners and people on concession cards, really was a joke initially, as it was done almost exclusively on digital platforms,” Mr Walsh said.
“When I realised how so many people were being short-changed I wrote to more than 11,000 households across my seat of Murray Plains to ensure people knew how to apply.
“Since then, my office, Neighbourhood Houses, post offices and libraries have helped thousands, who might otherwise have struggled to apply because they didn’t have a computer or access to the internet.
“This one-off payment of $250 can make a world of difference for households struggling to make ends meet.”
Mr Walsh said the Nationals had previously called on the Victorian Government to also open the program to casual workers to help ease the burden of two years of lockdowns.
The $250 one-off rebate is accessible for Victorian electricity account holders who hold a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or receive payments under one of the following concession programs:
• Centrelink Pensioner Concession
• JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy
• Department of Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession
Eligible concession card holders who haven’t already made a claim are able apply for the one-off $250 Power Savings Bonus at https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au/ until June 30.
“Anyone requiring assistance to complete an application is welcome to call my office on 5482 2039 or drop in there at 496 High St, Echuca, from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.30pm,” Mr Walsh said.
