Victorian Government Cuts Power Bill Concession Schemes
The Victorian government has decided to cut millions of dollars from power bill concession schemes, which will have a negative impact on more than 300,000 households. The decision to axe three hand-outs, including the service to property charge concession, the controlled load electricity concession, and the electricity transfer fee waiver, has been met with criticism from welfare groups. The service to property charge concession, which helped over 217,000 struggling households, cost $11 million last year. The controlled load electricity concession was worth $3.87 million for nearly 100,000 Victorians, and the electricity transfer fee waiver cost $128,000 to help 20,000 concession card holders.
Premier Daniel Andrews has blamed the low take-up rate for the decision to cut these concessions. However, Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Emma King has criticized the move, stating that concessions that impact the most vulnerable people should not be touched. She also expressed concern about the decision to cut $15 million from these schemes.
The Essential Services Commission is expected to decide by the end of May whether to increase power prices by 30 per cent. Welfare groups have called for more support for vulnerable households instead of cuts to essential concessions.
Conclusion
The decision by the Victorian government to cut millions of dollars from power bill concession schemes will have a negative impact on more than 300,000 households. Welfare groups have criticized the move and called for more support for vulnerable households instead of cuts to essential concessions. The Essential Services Commission is expected to decide on increasing power prices by 30 per cent by the end of May. It is important for governments to prioritize support for those who need it most, especially during difficult times.
Source: 9news.com.au
