Older Tasmanians can expect to see $125 cheques coming through the mail before Christmas, designed to take the heat off some large winter power bills.
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Energy Minister Guy Barnett on Friday announced $10 million would be spent on the energy bonus program which is expected to be delivered to 80,000 households.
The bonus is applicable for age-pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders.
Mr Barnett used Hydro Tasmania’s $20.1 million profit for 2016-17 and Aurora Energy’s $19 million profit to justify the program’s expense.
Council on the Ageing Tasmania chief executive Sue Leitch said power bills were a major cost of living component for older Tasmanians and that the bonus would provide welcome relief.
She said some older people chose to stay in bed longer, heat only one room, and cut their food bills in order to pay their power bills.
Aurora customers with a Pensioner Concession Card will have the bonus applied to their quarterly power bills, in addition to concessions already offered to them.
Seniors Health Card holders will receive applications in the mail in the next few weeks.