EWON

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA)

Department of Water and Energy
- EAPA information flier [PDF]
- EAPA distributors, May 2008 [PDF]

About the EAPA Scheme

Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) vouchers can help if you are having difficulty paying your electricity or gas bill. The $30 EAPA vouchers are distributed to electricity and gas customers by a range of community welfare organisations. The scheme is funded by the NSW Government through the Department of Water and Energy.

Before you seek assistance

If you are having trouble paying your bill, speak to your energy company first.

All energy retailers in NSW have programs to help customers in financial difficulty manage their bills more effectively. Contact your electricity or gas supplier for further information and refer to our section on tips for dealing with your supplier.

If you are unable to make arrangements with your supplier, contact a local community agency that distributes EAPA vouchers to make an appointment.

Where can you get EAPA?

Many community welfare organisations have EAPA vouchers. These include:

St Vincent de Paul Society
The Salvation Army
Anglicare
The Smith Family
Lifeline
some migrant resource centres
some community or neighbourhood centres
some indigenous community services

If you can't find an EAPA agency in your area, contact us for help. A current list of distributors is available from the Department of Water and Energy.

Who can get EAPA?

Anyone who is in financial hardship can apply for EAPA voucher assistance. This may be caused by:

a loss of income
a very high electricity / gas bill
an illness in the family
a family crisis
unexpected expenses or bills

The EAPA agency will use their own assessment guidelines in deciding if they can help you with vouchers.

How does it work?

1.	In most cases you will need to make an appointment with the agency by phone.
2.	Take your electricity or gas bill to the appointment and the agency will decide if they can give you one or more vouchers (most agencies will not give EAPA for the full amount of the bill).
3.	The agency may also help you arrange a payment plan with your supplier for the remainder of the bill, or provide other assistance such as financial counselling.
4.	Pay the vouchers on to your account at the post office or other outlet, remembering to bring along a recent bill with the barcode intact.
5.	If not organised beforehand, call your energy supplier to make an arrangement for the remainder of your bill.
6.	If you are unable to make arrangements to pay the remainder, you can contact us for help.

Who to contact about the scheme

Further information about the EAPA scheme is available from the Department of Water and Energy .