Contestable customers
Customers who can choose their electricity retailer are called contestable customers. In the Northern Territory this has been gradually introduced, in groups of customers called tranches depending on electricity consumption, since April 2000.
On 1 April 2010 the final two tranches, which include household and small business customers on the regulated market networks, became contestable. This means the market is open for other retailers to sell electricity to all Power and Water customers.
The tranches are defined by their minimum electricity consumption and were opened to competition as follows:
| Tranche | Date of introduction |
Minimum annual electricity consumption per site (kWh) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||
| 1 | 1 April 2000 | 4,000,000 kWh | ||
| 2 | 1 October 2000 | 3,000,000 kWh | ||
| 3 | 1 April 2001 | 2,000,000 kWh | ||
| 4 | 1 April 2002* | 750,000 kWh | ||
| 5 | 1 April 2010 | 160,000 - 750,000 kWh | ||
| 6 | 1 April 2010 | <160,000 kWh | ||
Residential and small businesses customers (Tranche 5 to 6)
Most household and small businesses customers are in Tranche 5 or Tranche 6. From 1 April 2010 other electricity retailers can open in the Northern Territory to sell to these customers however at that date Power and Water Corporation was the only holder of an electricity retail licence.
These customers are covered by Power and Water's existing customer contract. Price arrangements have not changed, the prices are set and subsidised by the Northern Territory Government until April 2012.
Other retailers who enter the market may access Power and Water's networks and can enter into an agreement with an electricity generator including Power and Water.
Power and Water Corporation has a licence for each of its three main electricity activities (generation, networks and retail), as well as a licence for the role of System Controller, under the Electricity Reform Act 2000.
For more information on the changes, read the Utilities Commission's paper of February 2010.
Tranche 4 customers
The contractual arrangements for Tranche 4 customers are slightly different to those of Tranche 1 to 3 customers. The Tranche 4 customer price is governed by the Electricity Reform Act 2000 - Electricity Pricing Order (Gazetted 30 March 2004) as the prices continue to be partially subsidised by the Northern Territory Government. For a copy of this pricing order, please contact the Contestable Customer Unit on (08) 8924 7250.
Major customers (Tranche 1 to 4)
Major electricity users - consuming 750,000 kWh or more a year per site - are able to discuss a customised rate and contract.
Major customers have access to:
- A Power and Water dedicated account manager
- Power and Water's monthly electricity consumption graphs
- Electronic monthly bills
- The option to pay by electronic funds transfer and
- Regular email updates.
Major electricity users who are not supplied electricity through an electricity supply agreement may be charged for electricity based on a default tariff. This tariff is to reflect the risk involved in supplying these customers for an unspecified (possibly short) period.
If you require more information please contact customer services on 1800 245 092 or email businesscustomers@powerwater.com.au.
Major customers can review our default tariff pricing principles.