NTCOSS’ latest Cost of Living fact sheet has revealed an alarming jump in households having their power disconnected as electricity, water and sewerage prices in the Northern Territory (NT) rose at more than double the national average.
In the last decade in Darwin, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for electricity rose at 25.2%, double the national rate, and for water and sewerage 48.6%, nearly triple the national average.
The inflation rate for utilities was similar across the NT.
There was an 11% rise in monthly involuntary ‘self-disconnections’ from 2020 to 2021 for households with prepayment electricity meters, when electricity is disconnected because the customer is unable to top up their prepayment meter.
In Alice Springs, households with prepayment meters were disconnected on average 53 times a year, more than once a week.
The average duration of each disconnection across the NT was up 33% to 504 minutes (8.4 hours).
The problem is exacerbated by the NT Government’s refusal last year to adopt a new 7 Star Energy Efficiency standard while the other states and Territories, excluding Tasmania, agreed to the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme to reduce household energy use.
Most households in remote Aboriginal communities and some urban housing, comprising the NT’s most disadvantaged residents, use prepaid power meters.
NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale said it was unacceptable and shameful for people to be denied access to electricity in a wealthy country such as Australia.
“We urge our Federal and Territory political leaders to act immediately to protect Territorians’ access to electricity,” Ms Di Natale said.
“Energy is an essential service. It plays a critical role in the health and wellbeing of people and powers the economy.
“It is needed to keep the lights on, safely store food, keep medications safe and for heating, cooling and hot water.”
NTCOSS reported last month that the highest inflation in Australia in more than 30 years was making the cost of housing, fuel and food unaffordable and forcing many Territorians to make choices between putting food on the table or paying for electricity.
Many of the lowest income households including single parents on JobSeeker payments are not eligible for the NT Concession Scheme.
NTCOSS is calling on the NT Government to:
• Expand the NT Concession Scheme to extend concessions to all Commonwealth Health Care Card Holders
• Ensure that a range of payment options, including Centrepay, are available for households with prepayment meters to purchase pre-paid electricity
• Adopt National Construction Code 2022 requiring new homes to achieve the 7 star Energy Efficiency standard already agreed to by most states.
NTCOSS again urges the Federal Government to increase JobSeeker to at least $73 per day to cover the basics.
Media Contact 0429 515 013 or media@ntcoss.org.au