Departments, Authorities and State Owned Corporations have various hardship policies and programs in place that enable customers to manage their payments. Examples of these measures include:

• providing advice to customers on managing consumption;
• assisting eligible customers to access available rebates or concessions; and
• offering flexible payment options.

All NSW Government Departments, Authorities and State Owned Corporations are requested to review their policies and programs to ensure that they contain appropriate measures for assisting customers experiencing genuine financial hardship to manage their payments.

The review should include consideration of the eligibility criteria for access to assistance options; the effectiveness of existing measures in alleviating hardship; and offering monthly payment options to ease financial pressure for households.

Morris Iemma
Premier

Date: 21 May 2008