Cant pay your energy or water bill?

“Energy poverty” is a new word!

“Definition is …..a situation in which a household must spend more than 10% of its disposable income on energy bills.

Low income households (including pensioners) are the most vulnerable to this kind of poverty, because their energy bills take a large proportion of their disposable income.

Many disadvantaged households are experiencing discomfort and ill-health as well as other forms of material and social deprivation because of the need to choose between essential household items, and rising electricity to maintain a decent standard of living.

Energy poverty needs to be especially recognised as a distinct and growing social problem for Australia’s 2.8 million households who fall in the 2 lowest income quantities as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

We are aware of the Government concessions which include-

• Annual electricity concession
• Winter gas concession
• Water and sewerage concessions

While helpful, they in no way provide relief to thousands of Australian families.

At Make A Difference families arrive with unmanageable utility bills, and we are constantly writing cheques for these families to avoid disconnection.

And – you are wondering why we are called “Make A Difference!”