The Hardship Utilities Scheme (HUGS) is designed to assist those who are not able to pay their electricity bill.

Under this scheme, a grant of up to 85% of the amount that a household owes to a utility can be provided. The grant will go directly to the utility to pay off the household’s debt.

Effectively, the grant pays a contribution towards the utility bill. This grant can only be paid to those assessed as being in financial hardship by an accredited financial counselor following a referral from a utility, and is only available once every 12 months.

You do not need a particular concession card to qualify for the grant. The only criterion to receiving the grant is that you are assessed as being in financial hardship by an accredited financial counselor.