The Medical Energy Rebate is for eligible NSW customers who are medically diagnosed with thermoregulatory dysfunction. This means they have a significant loss of capacity to control their body temperature when exposed to extremes (hot or cold) of environmental temperatures. It is associated with certain medical conditions such as Parkinsons and Multiple Sclerosis.

What is Thermoregulatory Dysfunction?

Thermoregulatory Dysfunction is generally recognised as a significant loss of capacity to control body temperature.
People with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries can develop Thermoregulatory Dysfunction.

Thermoregulatory Dysfunction causes debilitating health impacts during extreme temperatures. The use of air conditioning and heating appliances can assist to prevent adverse health impacts during particularly hot or cold weather.

Who will qualify for the Medical Energy Rebate?

To be eligible for the rebate:

• Either the account holder or anyone residing at the residence must be diagnosed with Thermoregulatory Dysfunction. This requires a signed form by a medical practitioner; AND
• The account holder must have one of the following concession cards:

- Pensioner Concession Card;
- Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
- Health Care Card.

Your treating doctor must certify the Thermoregulatory Dysfunction and complete an application form. Your doctor must confirm at least one of the Primary Qualifying Conditions and one of the Secondary Qualifying Conditions are met in order to be eligible for the rebate.

What are the Primary Qualifying Conditions?

An applicant (either the account holder or anyone residing at the residence) must meet at least one of the Primary Qualifying Conditions as well as one of the Secondary Qualifying Conditions. The Primary Qualifying Conditions are:

• Autonomic system dysfunction: Medical conditions in which the autonomic system has been damaged, for example severe spinal cord injury, stroke, brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Loss of skin integrity or loss of sweating capacity: for example people with significant burns greater than 20 per cent, severe inflammatory skin conditions and some rare forms of disordered sweating.
• Objective reduction of physiological functioning at extremes of environmental temperatures: for example people with advanced Multiple Sclerosis.
• Hypersensitivity to extremes of environmental temperature leading to increased pain or other discomfort or an increased risk of complications; for example, people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or Advanced Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Secondary Qualifying criteria

An applicant (either the account holder or anyone residing at the residence) must meet at least one of the Primary Qualifying Conditions as well as one of the Secondary Qualifying Conditions. The Secondary Qualifying Conditions are:

• Severe mobility: for example conditions such as Quadriplegia or the loss of three limbs.
• Demonstrated significant loss of autonomic regulation of sweating, heart rate or blood pressure.
• Demonstrated loss of physiological function or significant aggravation of clinical condition at extremes of environmental temperature.

How can I apply for the Medical Energy Rebate?

If you think you are eligible for the rebate or would like to ask some more questions, contact your electricity supplier. Contact phone numbers can be found on your electricity bill.

You will need to complete a Medical Energy Rebate Application Form available from your electricity supplier and have it signed by your doctor. Return completed forms to your electricity supplier. The Application Form will be available from your retailer in the near future.

How much is the Medical Energy Rebate?

A flat rebate amount of $130 per year will be paid to all eligible customers from 1 January 2010.
The Rebate is indexed to inflation (CPI) and will increase annually starting on 1 July 2010.

How is the Medical Energy Rebate paid?

Payments will be made as instalments on each electricity bill.
The exact amount of the rebate paid on each bill will depend on the number of days in each billing period. The total rebate amount will be paid over the full year by applying the rebate at the rate of $130/365 per day.

Can I apply for the Medical Energy Rebate if I currently receive another electricity rebate from the NSW Government?

Yes. The Medical Energy Rebate can be received in addition to other assistance such as the Energy Rebate, the Life Support Rebate and the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) scheme.

Will my eligibility for a valid concession card be regularly verified with Centrelink and/or the Department of Veterans Affairs?

Yes. Your electricity supplier will electronically verify your concession card eligibility after you provide written consent. Your consent is provided as part of the Application Form.

If I change my electricity supplier, will I continue to receive my Medical Energy Rebate?

Yes, the Rebate will continue to be paid by your electricity supplier, whether this is your existing supplier, or a new supplier. This is because all electricity suppliers are required to deliver the NSW Government Medical Energy Rebate to eligible customers.

However, you will need to provide details to the new retailer regarding your entitlement to the NSW Medical Energy Rebate when you agree to a new contract with them. You may need to resubmit an application from.

Is the Medical Energy Rebate available to long-term residents of caravan parks?

Yes. The Medical Energy Rebate will be made available to long-term residents of caravan parks.