The Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) is a Government hardship assistance program that helps customers who are unable to pay for their utilities due to financial hardship.
Under this scheme, customers can receive a grant for up to 85% of the amount that the household owes to a utility. The grant is paid directly to the utility and is credited on the customer’s account.
Eligibility
To be eligible for assistance under this scheme, a customer needs to: - contact their energy or water retailer (Synergy, Horizon Power, Alinta, Water Corporation or Busselton Water) and advise the retailer of payment difficulties;
- be referred by their retailer to an independent financial counsellor for counselling and an assessment of hardship; and
- be assessed by the independent financial counsellor as being in financial hardship.
More information about HUGS is available at the Department of Child Protection website.
In conjunction with HUGS, the State Government aims to assist customers in utility hardship to achieve ongoing energy reduction in their homes through the Hardship Efficiency Program and its subprograms.
