Power bonus in demand

WENDOUREE has topped the state as the regional electorate with the most power saving bonus applications.

The $250 bonus is available to anyone who is an electricity account holder and is designed by the State Government to help ease the cost of living.

“The best way to lower energy bills is to look for a better offer, that’s why we’re encouraging Victorians to take advantage of another round of the Power Saving Bonus to make sure they are on the best deal ahead of winter,” said Premier Daniel Andrews.

So far more than 260,000 requests have been made for the bonus with more then 13,000 of these in Wendouree.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, and her office have been helping locals with their applications.

“We are assisting everyone who would like some support on this,” Ms Addison said. “Not only are we doing it within the office, we are also doing outreach.

“We’ve been to the Wendouree senior citizens, we’ve been to the Sebastopol senior citizens. We are here and we are on the road.

“I have put out a postcard to every household in the electorate so I think the fact we’ve been able to put something in over 28,000 houses directly in their letterboxes has probably been very good,”

Ms Addison said she is committed to ensuring no one misses out on the $250.

“We know that the cost of living pressures are really biting on households,” she said.

“What we want to do is ensure the commitments that the Premier made that we would support households with power saving bonus four.

“Because we’ve made the commitment, I want to make sure everyone in Victoria, and particularly my electorate of Wendouree, can access the power saving bonus.”

She urged anyone who hasn’t already applied to do so.

“What I want to say to the community is that we are here to help,” she said.

“We know that particularly older members of the community may not have access to the internet or feel comfortable applying, that support is there for them.

“Please get in touch because we would hate for anyone to miss out because it is online.”

To fill out an application, visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au, call 1800 000 832 or get in contact with your local MP.