Living Smart is a not-for-profit organisation, which aims to share knowledge with individuals and communities on how to live smarter, healthier and in more sustainable ways.
Offering a seven week course that brings people together to learn from and support each other, helping to create networks for like-minded people. Topics include living simply, waste, water, gardening or biodiversity, gardening for food, energy, healthy you, healthy home, transport and community.
For more information about living smart courses, please visit their facebook events page or contact their service via phone or email.
Assists South Australians on a fixed or low income who have a clinically verified medical condition which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home to prevent the severe worsening of their condition.
The concession will be indexed each financial year and available to eligible applicants in addition to the current energy concession.
For information about eligibility visit the website below or call the Medical Heating and Cooling Line.
Energy Providers offer instalment plans and they are usually available to all customers.
Often called Bill Smoothing, it is an arrangement where you pay smaller amounts more frequently in order to avoid 'bill shock'.
Under this arrangement, your provider will average your consumption over a period of time and divide it into equal instalments. It is important to note they are not subsidised plans offering cheaper energy, they just help you to manage your budget and avoid the stress of having to cover large bills that come less frequently.
To find out more, contact your energy provider and ask to speak to someone in their Hardship Team.
This booklet helps guide you through the basics of what you can do to help reduce utilities costs and to live more sustainably. It was designed for Victoria and the Eastern states but has a lot of good information equally useful for South Australia.
Please check regarding differences regarding concessions and low income payment schemes mentioned.
If you live in a residential or caravan park you may be eligible for the Residential Park Resident Concession which is a single combined concession to help with your energy, water and sewerage bills. You may also be eligible to receive the Cost of Living Concession.
No Emergency Services Levy (fixed property) concession is payable, as this levy is not normally charged to residents of residential parks.
To be eligible you must:
- Occupy the property as your principal place of residence.
- Hold an eligible concession card or receive an eligible Centrelink Payment.
For further information and to get the application form please go to the ConcessionsSA website below or contact the ConcessionsSA Hotline.
You can get free help and advice on a range of energy topics by contacting the Government of South Australia's Energy Advisory Service. The service can help you to save energy at home, find out about renewable energy, or if you are having trouble paying your energy bills, can give you advice about services that could help you.
You can contact the service by phone, email or visit the offices to speak to a staff member in person. Level 4 ANZ Building, 11 Waymouth Street Adelaide 5000.
SA Water understand that it's difficult to meet household expenses and that sudden changes occur, which can make it difficult to pay your bill.
Contact the SA Water Customer Assist Program to find a suitable payment option to get you back on track.
For more information, contact the Customer Assist Program direct on 08 7424 1650 or 1300 729 283 for account and billing options.
Solar systems and battery storage can be a great way to lower energy bills and there are a number of subsidies and grants available to support these purchases. Eligibility differs depending on the grant.
To assist you to navigate through the information available, we have attached multiple websites to support you in making an informed decision on the following:
- Choosing a solar system or battery storage
- Solar system subsidies
- Feed-in tariffs
- SA's home battery scheme
- Virtual power plants
For more information, visit the websites below.
The Water and Sewerage Rate Concessions is available to eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes for assistance with water and sewerage rates.
To be eligible you must:
- own or rent your principal place of residence
- pay for water supply and/or all water usage
- hold an eligible card, receive an eligible Centrelink payment or meet low income provisions.
You can apply online at the sa.gov water concessions website below, or download the application form to submit by email.
If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact the ConcessionsSA Hotline.
If you have previously applied for concessions, but are not currently receiving them, please contact the ConcessionsSA Hotline.