Assistance for NSW residents impacted by power outage

By PETER ROWE

Far West NSW residents and businesses will be able to claim for financial assistance from November 7.

People are encouraged to apply via the Service NSW website and mobile apps, with easy-to-use instructions available.

“This region has gone through a major disruption, with households and businesses hit hard,” NSW Premier Chris Mimms said.

“This money will go some of the way to easing the impact.”

Eligible applicants will receive a single, one-off payment of $200 to help provide some financial relief for expenses following the severe storm which collapsed seven transmission towers which serviced the area.

Small-to-medium business owners can claim a one-off payment of $400.

To be eligible for the Power Outage Support Grant, an individual’s primary place of residence, or a business’s principal place of operation, must be within the impacted Local Government Areas of Broken Hill, Central Darling and the Unincorporated Area, which covers the north west corner of NSW.

Businesses with an active ABN at the time of the outage and fewer than 200 employees as of October 17 will be eligible to apply. Around 1,200 small-to-medium businesses are eligible for the grants.

For grants for individuals, apply through the Service NSW app or visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/support-for-far-west-residents.

For the business grants, apply through the Service NSW Business Bureau app or visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/support-for-far-west-business.

To make a claim, please jump online and follow the easy-to-use instructions.

While applications cannot be made over the phone, people can call Service NSW on 13 77 88 if they need assistance with making an application online or using the app.

If people need additional assistance, they can visit the Service NSW service centre at 115 Bagot St Broken Hill or the Recovery Assistance Point at 329-331 Blende St Broken Hill between 9am and 6pm.

Once an application has been approved, residents and business owners can expect to see the one-off payments in their bank account within a few days.

*Applications close on 31 March 2025.