North Territories Energy Prices

The big NT difference: effectively one retailer, government-regulated prices

This is the most important thing to understand upfront. In the NT, all electricity plans strictly abide by the rates and prices set yearly by the NT government. That also means plans don't come with any discounts. Plico

The NT's energy market is competition deregulated — meaning retailers can enter the market — but prices are regulated, meaning all plans must follow prices set by the NT government. The Electricity Pricing Order sets maximum retail prices for residential customers using less than 750 MWh per year. WATTever

There are only four licensed electricity providers in the NT: Jacana Energy, Rimfire Energy, Next Business Energy, and Power and Water Corporation. Jacana Energy is the most popular, supplying electricity to over 88,000 customers. Plico

Only Territorians living in major centres like Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs have a choice of retailer at all. If you're in a remote area, Power and Water Corporation is your only option. SolarQuotes

Your two real choices: Jacana Energy vs Rimfire Energy

Since prices are regulated and identical between retailers, the "comparison" is less about rate-hunting and more about which provider suits you best.

Jacana Energy is the government-owned default retailer, serving the majority of residential customers (approximately 85,000 homes) in Darwin and surrounding areas. Jacana offers four residential plans, with the Everyday Home plan featuring a standard single-rate tariff. Rimfire Energy is the largest non-government electricity provider in the NT. Despite the fully regulated market, Rimfire offers a 2.5% pay-on-time discount to its customers, in addition to charging the same regulated rates as Jacana. Synergy

There is one notable catch though: the NT Concession Scheme (for eligible pensioners and Centrelink recipients) is available through Jacana Energy, but not through Rimfire Energy. So if you're eligible for concessions, staying with Jacana is usually the better financial decision overall. WATTever

Your tariff options

The tariff options in the NT are: a flat rate (single fixed rate regardless of time of use); time of use (different rates during peak and off-peak periods, requiring a smart meter); pay-as-you-use (prepayment meters, slightly higher usage charge but no daily supply charge); and multipurpose (for households that also run a business from home). WATTever

New tiered pricing from January 2026: From 1 January 2026, domestic electricity tariffs have been capped, with the lower subsidised tariff limited to the first 55 kWh of consumption per day on average (equivalent to about 20,000 kWh per year — roughly 2.5 times the average NT household's consumption of 8,500 kWh). Customers above this threshold, including very high-usage households and apartment blocks sharing a single meter, pay a higher rate beyond that cap. Perth Solar Warehouse

NT bills are high — but for a unique reason

The NT's electricity tariffs are actually among the lowest in the country on a per-kWh basis. Without the government's Community Service Obligation (CSO) subsidy, an average Darwin household would pay nearly 50% more for electricity, with even higher rates in regional and remote areas. The CSO subsidy is estimated to reach $192 million in 2025–26. Perth Solar Warehouse

So why are NT bills high? Darwin stands out nationally for its high household electricity use — around half of a typical household's electricity demand is for cooling alone, with hot water accounting for another 17%. A typical Darwin home spends around $3,500 per year on power, much of it going towards cooling. Plico

The per-kWh rate is subsidised and relatively affordable; it's the sheer volume of electricity used in the tropical climate that drives bills up.

The biggest opportunity: solar and batteries

Since you can't shop around for a cheaper rate, the best way to cut your NT electricity bill is through self-generation. Research by the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis found that Darwin households could dramatically reduce their bills by adding rooftop solar and battery storage, and upgrading to more efficient electric appliances — with potential bill reductions of close to 90%. Switching existing appliances to efficient electric alternatives, including heat pump hot water systems rather than resistive electric systems, alone could save around $400 a year. Plico

The NT has introduced a feed-in tariff of 18.66 cents per kWh for regulated households that export electricity to the grid between 3pm and 9pm — the peak demand window. Households with batteries can make meaningful financial gains from exporting during this window. The NT also benefits from average daily sunshine hours of 9–10 hours, making it one of the sunniest parts of the country and an excellent environment for solar generation. PlicoSolarQuotes

How to make the most of the NT's regulated market

1. If you're eligible for concessions, stay with Jacana Energy. The NT Concession Scheme is only available through Jacana, not Rimfire — so any saving from Rimfire's 2.5% pay-on-time discount is likely outweighed by the concession value.
2. If you're not eligible for concessions, consider Rimfire. Their 2.5% pay-on-time discount is the only real pricing difference available in the market.
3. Switch to a time-of-use tariff if you have a smart meter. If you can shift high-consumption appliances (air conditioning pre-cooling, dishwasher, laundry) to off-peak hours, a time-of-use plan can save money. This is especially relevant for Darwin households whose main load driver is cooling.
4. Invest in solar and battery storage. This is genuinely the highest-impact action available to NT households. The combination of exceptional solar resources, high electricity consumption, and the 18.66c/kWh peak feed-in tariff makes the financial case strong.
5. Upgrade to a heat pump hot water system. Resistive electric hot water heating is one of the biggest avoidable costs for NT households. Heat pump systems use a fraction of the electricity for the same output and can deliver significant annual savings. Plico
6. Check your concession eligibility. The NT Concession Scheme provides up to $1,200 per year toward electricity costs (equivalent to 8,000 kWh per household) for eligible Centrelink and Veterans' Affairs recipients. If your electricity use exceeds the concession limit due to a medical condition, you may be eligible for an additional $154 medical support allowance. WATTever
7. Consider the Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme if you're in short-term financial difficulty — it provides one-off assistance to eligible low-income households who are at risk of disconnection.

The bottom line for the NT: you can't meaningfully shop around for a better rate the way you can in eastern states. The regulated market means prices are set by government, not by competition. The real gains for NT households come from reducing consumption through smarter appliances and solar, not from switching retailers. If you are switching, the Jacana vs Rimfire decision comes down to one thing: are you eligible for the NT Concession Scheme? If yes, stay with Jacana. If no, Rimfire's pay-on-time discount gives you a marginal edge.