ENERGY BILL RELIEF FOR STRATA RESIDENTS AND COMMITTEES IN 2025–26

What Queensland strata owners and schemes with embedded electricity networks need to know about the Energy Bill Relief.

Electricity prices continue to place pressure on household budgets across Queensland. For those living in strata communities—especially in buildings with shared energy infrastructure—the question often asked is: “Am I eligible for energy bill relief?”

Thanks to the ongoing Energy Bill Relief Fund, there is good news for both individual lot owners and small businesses, but it’s essential to understand how the scheme works—particularly if your scheme operates an embedded electricity network.

What’s on Offer for the 2025–26 Energy Bill Relief?

The Australian Government’s Energy Bill Relief Fund, delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government, is continuing for the 2025–26 financial year, providing targeted energy bill relief to eligible households and small businesses.

Energy Bill Relief Rebate Amounts:

• $150 for all Queensland households.
• Up to $386 total for eligible concession holders (e.g., pensioners, veterans, healthcare cardholders).
• $150 for eligible small businesses.

Rebates will be automatically applied in quarterly instalments from 1 July 2025, but how this happens depends on how your electricity is billed.

Direct Retail Customers vs Embedded Network Residents Energy Bill Relief

If you live in a strata property with a standard electricity account (e.g., with AGL, Origin, Energy Australia), you don’t need to do anything—the rebate will appear on your electricity bill automatically.

However, if your building operates an embedded electricity network—a common setup in apartment complexes where a third-party provider supplies and bills for electricity—the process is different:

• You are not automatically included.
• Your energy provider is considered an exempt seller, and they must apply to receive the rebate on your behalf.
• The rebate will be provided to you directly by your embedded network operator, typically as a one-off lump sum credit on your electricity bill in the second half of 2025. Energy bill relief for small businesses | Business Queensland

What Committees Need to Do

Body corporate committees and strata managers play a vital role in ensuring lot owners are aware of their rebate entitlements and how to access them.

Key Steps for Committees:

1. Confirm if your scheme uses an embedded network
   This information is usually available through your utility arrangements or the strata manager.
2. Distribute accurate information to residents
   Many owners and tenants may not realise their building is part of an embedded network—or that their provider is responsible for applying for the rebate on their behalf.
3. Encourage prompt action
   Embedded network operators should lodge a claim with their retailer as soon as possible after 1 July 2025, using the relevant form for 2025–26.
4. Support small businesses
   If your building has retail or home-based businesses, help ensure they are aware of the $150 small business rebate available under the scheme.

How to Apply (for Embedded Network Operators)

Embedded network operators should notify their retailer of how many eligible residential or small business customers they had in their network on 1 July 2025 as soon as possible after that date, using the relevant form for 2025–26. Embedded electricity networks | Business Queensland

When processed, the retailer will apply a bulk credit to the operator’s account, which should then be passed on to eligible customers as a lump-sum credit on their electricity bills.

Common Questions

Who receives the rebate—owner or tenant?
The rebate goes to the electricity account holder. In embedded networks, this may be the tenant if they receive the bill directly.

Is the body corporate eligible for rebates on shared electricity meters?
No—the rebates are for residential households and small businesses, not for common property electricity accounts.

What about future years?
Government support may vary annually. Stay informed by checking announcements ahead of each new financial year.

Final Takeaway

Energy rebates can make a real difference to household budgets—but strata arrangements, especially in embedded networks, can complicate access. Body corporate committees and managers can make a big impact by sharing timely, accurate information and encouraging residents to take the right steps.

Don’t let anyone miss out—ensure your community gets the relief it’s entitled to in 2025–26.

For more details and to start an application if you are part of an embedded network, visit: www.energy.gov.au/energy-bill-relief-fund

This article is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For assistance with your specific circumstances, please contact your energy provider or body corporate manager.

Article Contributed by Smart Strata