- Good to know. If you live in a remote community, Jabiru, Alyangula or Nhulunbuy, your retailer is Power and Water itself.
Key takeaways
- There is not a lot of competition in the NT energy market, as prices are regulated by the state.
- Several tariff types exist in the NT including a prepayment tariff depending on where you live.
- All energy distribution in the NT is handled by the Power and Water Corporation.
Compare electricity plans in Darwin and the NT
Compare alternatives
We currently don't have a partnership for that product, but we have other similar offers to choose from (how we picked these ):
Because of the smaller market you have very few choices between electricity providers in the Northern Territory.
The market is dominated by state-owned provider Jacana Energy and only Territorians living in major centres like Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs have a choice of retailer at all.
The most common plan types are:
- Single rate plan. Pay the fixed daily charge and then one standard rate for your electricity usage.
- Time of use plan. Pay the fixed daily charge then one rate for your electricity usage during the day (6am to 6pm, peak) and another for your usage during the night (6pm to 6am, off-peak). The off-peak rate is cheaper.
- Prepayment plan. If you have a prepaid meter you'll be on this kind of plan. Also called 'pay-as-you-use' you pay upfront for as little or as much as electricity as you want.
- Multipurpose plan. This plan is for people who also run a business from home. The rates are "stepped" based on your usage. E.g. the first 45 kWh of the day is one rate and anything over is another, higher rate.
Compare gas retailers in Darwin and the NT
In the Northern Territory, residential properties aren't usually connected to a main gas supply.
In most instances, you'd only use gas for cooking in which case you'd need to purchase LPG bottled gas from suppliers such as Elgas, Kleenheat, Origin LPG or Supagas.
Greenest energy providers in NT
According to Greenpeace's Green Electricity Guide by Greenpeace, the 2 greenest electricity providers in the Northern Territory are:
- Jacana Energy (Score: 5.99/10)
- Rimfire Energy (Score: 5.59/10)
Both providers are committed to ending coal use by 2030 and halting fossil fuel expansion.
- Keep in mind: Compared to the greenest electricity providers in other parts of the country, both Jacana Energy and Rimfire Energy still have a long way to go.
Will getting solar in the NT reduce my energy bills?
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Northern Territory experiences average annual daily sunshine hours between 9-10 hours, making it one of the sunniest parts of the country.
This means getting a solar PV system should reduce your energy bill as long as you can handle the upfront costs.
When thinking about getting solar, consider:
- Solar as an investment. Depending on the size of your system it could pay itself off in as few as 4 years.
- Ongoing savings. If you generate enough electricity to power your home, you'll pay less on your electricity bill. If you generate surplus electricity and send it back to the grid, you'll be able to get paid in the form of a solar feed-in tariff.
- Rebates to help you get started. The federal government offers rebates for households that invest in solar panels. There are also NT specific solar rebates available.
There are conditions for solar buyback rates. For Jacana Energy solar customers all solar units must be under 30kVa and you must consume less or equal to 750MWh/year.
Can I get solar rebates in the Northern Territory?
The Northern Territory government currently offers the Home and Business Battery Scheme.
Eligible homeowners can get a grant to assist with the purchase and installation of home batteries and inverters.
The grant is $450 per kWh of usable battery system capacity (maximum grant of $6,000).
- Keep in mind: Jacana Energy customers who still receive the legacy premium 1 for 1 feed-in tariff (which was a higher rate of 26.65 c/kWh) will be transferred to a standard feed-in-tariff (9.13 c/kWh) if they receive this grant.
What is the Northern Territory Concession Scheme?
Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for a rebate to help with your energy bills.
This program helps Territorians under the age of 65 with living expenses. One of the eligible expenses is electricity bills.
Assistance payments for those those who live in caravan parks.
A program to support seniors in the Northern Territory with paying for living expenses.
Learn more about energy
Our energy guides can help you compare and understand what plan is best for you.
Best energy plans: 5 plans selected by our experts, assessed and updated regularly
Cheap energy plans: Find the cheapest energy plans available this month
Solar power plans: Got rooftop solar? Compare your options and save even more
Average energy bill: Find out how your energy bill compares to the rest of Australia
Frequently asked questions
More guides on Finder
-
Energy statistics Australia
Find out how much the average household spends on energy, how Australia's energy prices compare globally, and statistics on energy stress.
-
Cheap energy plans
Compare the cheapest electricity and gas plans available in your state.
-
8 electricity and gas sign-up deals available for December 2024
Switch energy providers and take advantage of energy deals including credits and points.
-
GloBird Energy review
Find out if GloBird Energy fits your household bill.
-
1st Energy plans and review
Find out how 1st Energy’s plans fare in your state.
-
Compare gas and electricity providers in Perth and WA
Most Western Australia residents can't switch electricity providers but have a few options when it comes to gas. Find out if you can switch energy retailers.
-
Compare energy plans in NSW (without draining your brainpower)
Whether you're in Sydney or regional NSW, comparing energy plans doesn't have to be a headache.
-
EnergyAustralia plans and review
EnergyAustralia provides a variety of options for gas supply to residential and business clients.
-
Momentum Energy review
Our verdict: Momentum Energy is a solid option if you’re searching for a green energy provider as well as reasonably priced plans in NSW, VIC, SA or QLD.
-
Alinta Energy review
Alinta Energy's prices fall in the middle of the pack but you do get some extra perks alongside.