Electricity in the Northern Territory
The NT is not part of the National Electricity Market. Its towns run on separate, smaller grids: the Darwin to Katherine system, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Power and Water Corporation owns the networks, and most homes buy their electricity from Jacana Energy, the government-owned retailer, at prices set under the NT Government's Electricity Pricing Order.
Residential prices rose 5.3% from 1 July 2026. Even so, the NT has one of the cheapest regulated bills in the country because its daily supply charge is very low.
NT electricity rates for 2026-27
| Network | Usage | Supply | At 4,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacana Energy, Standard ResidentialDarwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs | 31.68c/kWh | $0.62/day | $1,495/yr |
The Standard Residential tariff is 31.68c/kWh plus 62.45c a day, including GST. That supply charge is less than half of what most eastern states pay, which keeps bills down for small households. The same prices apply in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
| Tariff | Usage | Daily charge |
|---|---|---|
| Time of Use, 9am to 3pmSmart meter required | 25.83c/kWh | $0.62/day |
| Time of Use, all other times | 33.22c/kWh | Included above |
| Prepayment | 34.83c/kWh | None |
A cap on the residential rate from July 2026
From 1 July 2026 the residential rate covers the first 164 kWh a day, averaged over the billing period. Usage above that is charged at the business tariff. Jacana says this only affects homes with bills over $1,500 a month.
Is time of use worth it in the NT?
Jacana's time-of-use tariff is simple: power is cheaper from 9am to 3pm and dearer the rest of the day. The cheap window lines up with peak solar, so it suits homes that can run air conditioning, pool pumps and washing through the middle of the day.
The catch is that 33.22c applies for 18 hours a day, including the evening when most homes use the most. If you are out during the day and run the air conditioner at night, the standard tariff is likely cheaper. Our time-of-use guide shows how to check.
Solar feed-in tariffs and the NT climate
The NT pays some of the best regulated feed-in tariffs in Australia. Jacana pays 9.33c/kWh for exports at any time, or 18.66c/kWh for exports between 3pm and 9pm on its Super FiT for customers with a smart meter.
The evening rate rewards west-facing panels and batteries, which push power into the grid after 3pm when demand is high. Heat matters too. Panels lose output as they get hotter, so a system in Darwin produces less per panel in the build-up than its rating suggests, and NT installers allow for that when sizing a system. Small grids also limit how much each home can export, so check the export limit for your area before you buy.
NT electricity concessions
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program: About 30% off the first 14kWh. Homes and small businesses installing a battery with solar. Official details
- NT Electricity Concession: Up to $1,200 a year. Members of the NT Concession Scheme. Official details
- Electricity concessions in every state and how to claim
Members of the NT Concession Scheme get up to $1,200 a year off electricity, which covers up to 8,000 kWh. Households that go over the cap because someone has a qualifying medical condition can get an extra $154 allowance.
See what these rates mean for your own bill in our NT bill calculator.
Electricity rates by city in NT
Each city page shows the network price, the cheapest plans, typical bills for the local climate zone, solar output for the postcode and who to call in an outage.
Questions about NT electricity rates
Jacana Energy's Standard Residential tariff is 31.68c/kWh plus a daily charge of 62.45c, including GST, from 1 July 2026. The time-of-use tariff charges 25.83c between 9am and 3pm and 33.22c at other times. Prices are the same in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
Yes, residential prices rose 5.3% from 1 July 2026. A new rule also applies the residential rate to the first 164 kWh a day only, averaged over the billing period, with usage above that charged at the business tariff. Jacana says that only affects homes with bills over $1,500 a month.
The NT grids are small and a long way from the eastern states, so they have never been connected. Darwin and Katherine share one system, while Alice Springs and Tennant Creek run their own. The NT Government sets retail prices through an Electricity Pricing Order instead of a market regulator.
It is Jacana Energy's higher feed-in tariff for customers with a smart meter. It pays 18.66c/kWh for solar exported between 3pm and 9pm, double the standard 9.33c rate. West-facing panels and home batteries are the best way to earn it, because most rooftop solar is exported in the middle of the day.
Members of the NT Concession Scheme can get up to $1,200 a year off their electricity bill, covering up to 8,000 kWh. If you exceed that because someone in the house has a qualifying medical condition, you can claim an extra $154 allowance. Apply through the NT Government concessions site.
Usually, yes. The NT has strong sun all year, a regulated feed-in tariff of 9.33c and an 18.66c evening rate with a smart meter. Heat reduces panel output in the build-up, and small grids can limit exports, so get quotes that size the system for local conditions and confirm the export limit for your address.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.