Bendigonians struggling to pay their power bills are being advised to seek assistance from the government, energy providers and support organisations this winter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
SalvoCare Bendigo case manager Karen Livingstone said the colder months were a difficult time for some residents, with as many as eight more people seeking her organisation’s help every week once winter gas and electricity bills were received.
She said calls for help had already increased noticeably in the past 18 months, and rises in the cost of living were affecting all types of people.
“It can be a single person who is just renting on their own, it can be an older person,” she said.
“They will try very hard to reduce their costs by not putting heaters on and rugging up, but they're still having to choose between paying the bills or paying for food.”
But Ms Livingstone said gas, water and electricity providers were becoming more accommodating of people’s financial difficulties.
“They have specialist hardship teams set up and they're actually trained to try and help clients and workers apply for grants or work out payment schemes,” Ms Livingstone said.
She also urged concession card holders in need of assistance to apply for a utility relief grant from the state government, a process SalvoCare could help them complete.
Those eligible will receive up to $500 for six months’ worth of utility bills.
The same struggle to make ends meet is playing out all across Victoria, according to a new survey from Galaxy and market comparison site iSelect.
Almost half of Victorian households – about one million homes – said their energy bills had increased in the past 12 months, while four out of five people surveyed described the cost of energy as expensive.
An iSelect spokesperson said June 1 should be a reminder for Bendigo residents to review their current energy plan.
“In winter around 40 per cent of your energy can be used up simply keeping your home warm, so it’s not surprising energy bills are often highest [at this time],” the spokesperson said.