HDB households to collect utility rebates

Eligible lower- and middle-income households will be assisted with their utility bills starting July 2009 in Singapore by receiving the Utilities Save or U-Save-rebates.

The Finance Ministry has announced in 29 June 2009 that over 780,000 HDB families will obtain $60 million in utility rebates by next month. The money constitutes a part of the $4 billion goods and service tax (GST) offset package that has been released in 2007, which is designed to assist households in coping with the two percent point hike in GST that same year. The rebate in July, which comes six months after the first payout in January, is the second payment in 2009. Overall, $125 million of Utilities Save or U-Save-rebates will be given in 2009, thus, one- and two-room households can expect a $100 worth of rebates that can offset as much as 15 percent of their annual utility bills. Four-room household owners, however, can expect U-Save rebates of $85, which is equivalent to 5 percent of their annual bills. The said rebates can be utilised only to offset utility charges directly, and will be reflected in the utility bills of eligible household for July.

For over five years, the rebates will cost the Government an approximate of $620 million. When totally disbursed, HDB households will gain rebates amounting from $370 for executive flat owners up to $1,130 for one-room households.