Input from our customers has helped shape Power and Water’s latest investment submission for the future of the Northern Territory’s power system.

The proposal – which has been submitted for review by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) – includes proposed investments in technology and systems for the 2024-29 period to better enable secure operation of our regulated power networks of Darwin-Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, with increased renewable generation.

Other initiatives include the installation of smart meters to all residential customers in these areas by

30 June 2029.

The AER is the body responsible for regulating electricity networks across much of the country and sets revenue thresholds for network service providers like Power and Water.

Power and Water’s General Manager of Regulation, Economics and Pricing, Taryn Maroney, said customer feedback has played a critical role in informing the new submission.

‘Customers are at the heart of everything we do and so engagement has been a really important part of developing our investment plans,’ Ms Maroney said.

‘We ran a series of People’s Panels with residential customers from our Darwin-Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek networks.

‘They told us they want more to be done to better integrate renewables into our electricity network, they want greater transparency of their power use and, of course, they want secure, reliable and affordable supply.’

Business customers and energy partners were also consulted by Power and Water as part of the process.

‘We need our commercial partners to be supportive of our investment plans to enable them to better align their future activities,’ Ms Maroney said.

‘Overall, the engagement process has helped develop a robust submission that will now be reviewed by the AER.’

As part of its review, the AER is seeking feedback on its Draft Decision and Power and Water’s Revised Regulatory Proposal, both of which are available here.

This is the final opportunity for Northern Territory residents and businesses to share their feedback directly to the AER Reset’s Team at AERresets2024-29@aer.gov.au. Feedback closes on 19 January 2024.

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Contact: Media unit

Phone: 0401 117 599