This joint submission encourages the Northern Territory Utilities Commission to reconsider the draft Electricity Industry Performance Code decision in light of broad support for reforming remote reporting. Enhancing transparency through these proposed reforms will:

• improve accountability
• help to ensure the EIP Code remains relevant and effective for First Nations interests
• promote more equitable energy outcomes for all households across the Territory.

On 13 May 2025, the Northern Territory Utilities Commission published a draft decision on the 2024 review of the Electricity Industry Performance Code. The draft decision addresses several issues affecting First Nations households in the Territory, including the important matter of electricity retail performance reporting requirements.

The Commission acknowledges in its draft decision that ”the current framework of delivering electricity in communities lacks publicly available performance reporting and service standards” but proposes no immediate remedial action. Instead, the Commission has deferred responsibility, stating that “given responsibility for electricity service provision rests with the Territory Government, any changes to improve performance reporting and transparency should be led by the responsible departments in the first instance”. 

In response to the Northern Territory Utilities Commission's Electricity Performance Code Review, this joint submission was put together from the following organisations: First Nations Clean Energy Network, Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory, ACOSS, AMSANT, Central Land Council, Darwin Community Legal Centre, Energy Consumers Australia, Justice and Equity Centre, NTShelter, NTCOSS, Original Power, and South Australia Financial Counsellors Association.

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Community members and energy providers impacted by widespread electricity outages in the Flinders and Northern Flinders Ranges have come together for a special meeting.

For many remote Indigenous communities across Australia, electricity continues to be unreliable, unaffordable and inequitable, impacting quality of life and the ability to remain on Country.

This paper speaks to energy access challenges, the role of adequate housing in energy solutions, past successes that can be leveraged by future programs, community perspectives on energy and the interface with Indigenous culture, and emerging trends in best-practice energy delivery.

It also reflects on the opportunities that a decentralised, renewables-focused energy system offers remote communities in terms of improved living conditions and self-determination.

Authors: Ruby Heard, Michael Berris, Anna Cain, Chris Croker, Michael Frangos, Donna Fraser, Andre Grant, Brad Riley, Paul Rodden, The current state of power supply to remote Indigenous communities, Engineers Australia, April 2025

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