The Victorian government is ripping millions of dollars out of power bill concession schemes in a move welfare groups say will leave more than 300,000 households worse off.
9News tonight revealed three hand-outs were being axed.
The largest, the service to property charge concession, cost $11 million last year and helped more than 217,000 struggling households.
Another, the controlled load electricity concession, was worth $3.87 million for nearly 100,000 Victorians.
And the third, the electricity transfer fee waiver, cost $128,000 to help 20,000 concession card holders.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the take-up rate was to blame.
“There are some programs that are not used, programs that were very much under subscribed, and I think those programs have come to an end,” he said.
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Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Emma King criticised the decision.
“I don’t think we should be touching concessions that impact the most vulnerable people,” she said.
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“It’s about $15 million, I’m really not sure why it’s being touched.”
The Essential Services Commission is due to decide by the end of May whether to lift power prices by 30 per cent.
“We need more support, not less,” King said.
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