GloBird Energy

Energy

Payment Difficulty Assistance

Payment Difficulty Assistance

Assistance is available in Victoria if you are having difficulty paying your bills.
If you’re having trouble paying, or think you might, you’re entitled to payment assistance.

Before you fall into arrears, you can request a payment extension, make equal payments over time, or pay in advance.

If you’re in arrears, you’re entitled to Tailored Assistance, including a payment plan covering your ongoing energy use and repayment of your arrears over up to two years. You’re also entitled to advice and practical help to lower your energy costs, and help with concessions, Utility Relief Grants and other government or community assistance.

If you can’t afford the full cost of your ongoing energy use, you’re also entitled to at least six months where repayment of your arrears is put on hold and you can pay less than the full cost of your energy use while you work with us to reduce your energy costs.

If you’re receiving Tailored Assistance, we’ll also move you to our best eligible offer if required.

More information is available in GloBird’s Hardship Policy at globirdenergy.com.au/legal, or you can ask us for a free copy.

To access any of these options, speak with us.

Concessions & other assistance

Let us know if you have a valid concession card so we can apply any eligible concession discount to your account. If your concession was valid but was not applied to your account, we may be able to apply it retrospectively. You can find out if you are eligible for concession by contacting the below agency.

VIC – The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 (toll free)

Vic – Utility Relief Grant Scheme (URGS)

The Utility Grant Scheme provides help to pay a mains electricity, gas or water bill that is overdue due to a temporary financial hardship. Assistance in accessing energy concessions and government support services (such as Utility Relief Grant and concession rebates) is available from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website https://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/concessions-and-benefits

Financial counselling and welfare agencies

Support may be available to you including access to a free accredited financial counsellor in your area, or from other welfare agencies, some are listed below:

Best plan for you:

Contact us on 133 456, we can examine the way you are using power and recommend the most cost effective plan or tariff for your unique usage profile. We can also estimate your ongoing usage for the next 12 months. There is no fee to do this.

Energy audits

If you are unable to pay for the power you are consuming, identify which appliances are essential and which appliances are not, and which appliances are costing the most to run. Look for ways to reduce your bills and make your home more efficient. Let us know if you would like us to conduct an energy audit via telephone or in your home. You can call us on 133 456. Or see the link below where you can look up some handy energy saving tips.

Payment plans:

We can assist you to set up a payment arrangement or payment plan if you agree to make certain pre-defined payments before or on certain dates:

  • of equal amounts over regular periods such as weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments
  • that incorporate the arrears owing on your account, so your debt is fully paid within 6 months
  • that provide for payments covering both usage and arrears
  • that are based on a reasonable forecast of your energy usage over the next 12 months.

If you can’t pay the full cost of your ongoing energy usage, we can put your debt on hold, so you don’t need to make any payment towards the debt for up to six months. We may also allow you to pay less than your ongoing usage while you work to reduce your energy use. After this time, we will review your progress. You must take reasonable action towards paying for your ongoing energy use or repaying the arrears you’ve accrued on your account.

Centrepay

Arrangements can also be made for Centrelink clients to pay through Centrepay. Centrepay is a bill paying service, free for Centrelink customers, to have deductions made from a customer’s payment directly to your business.
Learn more about Centrepay.

Other

Find tips about how to reduce your power use here: https://www.globirdenergy.com.au/help-support/save-energy-tips/

To read the full version of the GloBird Hardship policy go here: https://www.globirdenergy.com.au/legal/