The NSW Government delivers assistance to customers in the form of energy social programs. For most customers, the NSW Government delivers these programs through a customer’s energy retailer.
Retailers must deliver the Government's energy assistance measures and can claim reimbursement from the State Government.
To make sure that retailers implement the NSW Government's energy social programs fairly, the NSW Government publishes Social Programs for Energy Codes that outline the requirements.
There can be multiple Codes in effect at the same time.
Codes currently in effect
NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 8.2
The NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 8.2 was published on 24 June 2025 in the NSW Government Gazette No 252 of 24 June 2025 (PDF, 1 MB). It sets out the rules for all NSW retailers delivering the NSW energy rebate programs, Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) and delivery of National Energy Bill Relief in NSW for 2025–26.
In effect from: 1 July 2025
Replaced: NSW Social Programs for Energy Code (version 8.1)
Note: The correct NSW energy rebate values are available in the erratum of the NSW Government Gazette No 264 of 27 June 2025 (PDF, 481 KB).
This Code (Clause 69.1.4) requires retailers to use best endeavours to determine a small business customer’s energy using the National Energy Bill Relief – NSW small business energy usage estimation methodology version 2.0 (PDF, 776 KB).
NSW Social Programs for Energy (Energy Debt Relief Trial) Code version 1.0
The NSW Social Programs for Energy (Energy Debt Relief Trial) Code (version 1.0) was published on 17 December 2024 in the NSW Gazette. It sets out the rules for retailers delivering a closed debt relief trial program operating in the 2024-25 financial year.
In effect from: 17 December 2024
This Code requires retailers to identify and categorise eligible customers using version 1.0 of the Energy Debt Relief Trial - Methodology for Identifying Eligible Customers (PDF, 697 KB).
Previous versions
Previous versions of the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code are linked below for reference. Some of these provisions remain in effect.
NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 8.1
Preceding version 8.2, the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 8.1 (PDF, 951 KB) was published on 8 August 2024. This version was revoked on 30 June 2025.
NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 8.0
Preceding version 8.1, the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 8.0 (PDF, 578 KB) was published on 31 June 2024. This version was revoked on 8 August 2024.
NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 7.1
Parts of the NSW Social Programs for Energy Code version 7.1 (PDF, 723 KB) for 2023-24 remain in effect with respect to the delivery of National Energy Bill Relief.
This version requires retailers use their best endeavours to determine a small business customer’s energy usage using the National Energy Bill Relief – NSW small business energy usage estimation methodology as at 31 July 2023 (PDF, 182 KB).