Life Support
Life Support
At GloBird Energy, we understand that some customers have life support equipment in their homes
for specific needs.
If you or someone in your household has life support equipment, it is important to register your premise having life support equipment with us as soon as possible to inform your distributor and provide you protection.
Registering your life support equipment with GloBird Energy
- Call us on 13 3456 or email customerservice@globirdenergy.com.au so we can send you out the Medical Confirmation form related to your state or territory along with other important information.
- Complete the Medical Confirmation Form and have it signed by your registered medical practitioner or hospital.
- Return completed forms to us by the due date to customerservice@globirdenergy.com.au or return it to: PO BOX 398, Ringwood, VIC 3134
In VIC if you change address or retailers, you will need to complete and submit a new form.
In ACT, NSW, QLD and SA you may be able to re – use the medical confirmation document
if it was legible, signed and dated in the last 4 years.
Note: it is your responsibility to ensure your personal and contact information is up to date and accurate with us.
You may be eligible for Government concessions or rebates
Availability of life support concessions or rebates are dependent of your state or territory.
In Victoria the account holder needs to hold a valid concession card.
- Pensioner Concession Card (Centrelink or Veteran Affairs)
- Health Care Card(Centrelink)
- Gold Card(Veteran Affairs)
NSW customers will be required to re-apply for the rebate by submitting a new application every two years.
Some rebates in NSW relate to life support equipment that is continuously used 24 hours a day, whilst others relate to equipment using less than 24 hours per day. Please ensure your medical practitioner selects the correct equipment on the application form.
Machines that entitle you to a government concession or rebate are:
| List of Equipment | Concession available per state | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | NSW | ACT | QLD & SA | |
| Intermittent peritoneal dialysis machine | Yes | Yes | Yes | No concessions exist for SA. |
| Oxygen concentrators | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Haemodialysis machine | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) Devices | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Nebuliser | No | No | Yes | |
| Ventilators (excludes nebulisers, humidifiers and vaporizers) | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Enteral feeding pump | No | Yes | Yes | Concessions for QLD customers are managed and payed directly by the Queensland Government visit the QLD Electricity Life Support page for more details at https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions/medical-concessions/electricity-life-support |
| External heart pump | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Phototherapy equipment (Crigler Najjar syndrome) | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Power wheelchairs for quadriplegics | No | Yes | No | |
| Medical cooling | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Medical heating | No | No | Yes | |
| Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) | No | Yes | Yes | |
To be eligible for medical heating and/or cooling in ACT, you must be the concession card holder
Note: Equipment listed that are NOT eligible for concessions or rebates are still classified as life support equipment.
If your machine is not listed above, please call
VIC – The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 (toll free)
NSW – the NSW Service on 137 788
ACT – ACT Revenue Office on (02) 6207 0028
How to access life support equipment concession/rebate
If you are eligible to obtain a life support concession or rebate:
- Download the Application by clicking on this link.
- Complete the Application and have it signed by your registered medical practitioner or hospital.
Return completed forms to us by the due date to customerservice@globirdenergy.com.au or return it to: PO BOX 398, Ringwood, VIC 3134
What to do if GloBird Energy is not your gas retailer and your life support equipment is powered by gas?
In this case, you should inform your gas retailer that you use life support equipment at your premises.
What to do if GloBird Energy is not your electricity retailer and your life support equipment is powered by electricity?
In this case, you should inform your electricity retailer that you use life support equipment at your premises
Your responsibility
It is your responsibility to ensure your home’s electrical and gas installation including wiring and switchboard are adequate to power your life support machine. If you are unsure, seek advice from a qualified electrician/plumber or relevant technician.
What to do in times of a power outage?
Expected Planned Outage
A scheduled planned outage may occur because your local distributor needs to undertake some maintenance work or upgrades. A notification will be issued to you ahead of the planned outage by your distributor advising that your power supply will be interrupted on a certain date and time.
If your premises is in ACT, NSW, QLD or SA, we may arrange a retailer planned interruption after obtaining your consent.
When you receive a notification that your power supply will be interrupted, please consider your options and decide on the next course of action.
Unplanned Outage
From time to time, there may be distributor unplanned/unexpected outage in your area interrupting your power supply. These could be the cause of extreme weather, lightning striking powerlines or traffic accidents
Some practical assistance if you are totally dependent on your life support machine
- Keep a source of backup power, battery or generator ready for your life support machine
- Consider storing a backup machine.
- Know what to do if your life support machine stops working – checking the power point where the machine is plugged, trying a different power circuit or a different area in the house.
- Check if there is a blown fuse on your main switch board or your safety switch on your electricity meter has clicked to the off position.
- Check in with a neighbour.
- Keep your phone charged for communication.
- Keep a torch with working batteries always handy.
- Make prior arrangements to stay with other family or friends during that time or seek further advice from your doctor, carer or attend a nearby hospital in case of an emergency.
Emergency Numbers
Should you lose power supply, please call our 24-hour emergency number on 13 3456 otherwise, please contact your local distributor’s 24-hour emergency number.
Also, you will find your Distributor’s number on your GloBird Energy’s bill.
Distributors numbers are:
| State | Distributor Name | Emergency Phone Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | United Energy | 132 099 |
| CitiPower | 1800 066 909 / 131 280 | |
| AusNet Services Electricity | 131 799 | |
| PowerCor | 1300 364 301 / 132 412 | |
| Jemena | 131 626 | |
| Multinet | 132 691 | |
| AusNet Services Gas | 136 707 | |
| Australian Gas Networks (Vic) | 1800 427 532 | |
| New South Wales | Endeavour Energy | 131 003 |
| Essential Energy | 132 080 | |
| Ausgrid | 131 388 | |
| Australian Gas Networks (NSW) | 1800 472 532 | |
| Central Ranges Gas | 1800 472 532 | |
| Jemena Gas | 131 909 | |
| Wagga Wagga Gas | 1800 472 532 | |
| Queensland | Energex | 131 962 |
| Ergon Energy | 132 296 | |
| Australian Gas Networks (QLD & Allgas Energy | 1800 427 532 | |
| Australian Capital Territory | Evoenergy Electricity | 131 093 |
| Essential Energy | 132 080 | |
| Evoenergy Gas | 131 909 | |
| South Australia | SA Power Networks | 131 366 |
| Australian Gas Networks (SA) | 1800 4217 532 |
Your distributor will be able to provide you with information on how long you will be without electricity or gas supply and an approximate time of restoration. Should this interruption be too long resulting in life threatening situations, please call for an ambulance immediately.
What to do if you move house or no longer require life support equipment?
Should you move house or no longer require life support equipment, please let us know to de-register this site as requiring life support equipment.
What to do if you are no longer with GloBird Energy?
If you change to another retailer, you will need to inform them that you use life support equipment at your premises.
For more information about life support, please call GloBird Energy on 13 3456,
Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Saturday and Public Holidays 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time)