The Emergency Services Levy (ESL) is a charge that has previously been added to the cost of your property insurance to fund fire and emergency services agencies in New South Wales. On 30 May 2017, the NSW Government announced that it had deferred its policy of funding fire and emergency services through a property levy collected by councils. The Government will continue to require insurance companies to provide funding for the emergency services, which Chubb will reclaim by collecting an ESL on property insurance premiums. The legislation reintroducing the obligation on insurance companies to collect the ESL became effective on 1 July 2017. As such, the purchase of this insurance includes a charge for ESL. The ESL component of your insurance premium may be higher after 1 July 2017 than in previous years.
NSW ESL Rates
The following ESL rates will be effective for Chubb accounts:
• 32% for Commercial effective 1 August 2019 (previously 28%)
• 17% for Homeowners effective 1 August 2020 (previously 15%)
• 1% for Motor Vehicle effective 1 August 2019 (unchanged)
The ESL rate has been calculated at a rate sufficient to meet Chubb’s contribution requirements and may be reviewed from time to time.
Premiums are regularly reviewed and take into account risk factors such as location, construction and claims history. In addition, our premiums take into account business expenses, including operating and reinsurance costs. Any changes to our premiums are independent of changes to the ESL.
The Insurance Monitor
The Insurance Monitor was established in June 2016 as an independent body. One of its functions is to monitor the prices for the issue of regulated contracts of insurance. Professor Allan Fels AO and Professor David Cousins AM have been appointed by the NSW Government as the Emergency Services Levy Insurance Monitor and Deputy Monitor, respectively.
If you would like further information
If you have any ESL queries or concerns you can contact your broker alternatively you can contact the ESL Insurance Monitor’s Office on 1300 607 723 or at
enquiries@eslinsurancemonitor.nsw.gov.au.
Information about the Insurance Monitor can be found at:
www.eslinsurancemonitor.nsw.gov.au
Information on the NSW Emergency Services Levy Price Comparison Order
As an issuer of regulated insurance, renewal statements and invoices issued by Chubb or on behalf of Chubb by its representatives must comply with the requirements of the Price Comparison Order. This means that from 1 July 2019 all renewal statements and invoices will feature a year on year premium comparison.
