Northern Territory

Territory developments and council actions

Energy efficient public lighting trials
The Power and Water Corporation has conducted a trial of energy efficient public lighting technologies. The trial involves the replacement of around 100 80W Mercury Vapour (MV) lights with 2X14W T5s. The case study reveals interesting outcomes of the trial.

This follows an earlier trial, initiated in 2004, of seven solar and wind-powered street lights. The trial was located at Imangara, a remote community located on Murray Downs near Tennant Creek. For more information, see Power and Water's media release.

Regulatory and market structure

The regulatory and market structure of the Northern Territory operates on a traditional model – full retail contestability has not been introduced. It appears that there has not been a formal review of lighting charges.

In addition, councils may have to pay a bundled tariff that does not distinguish between electricity supply charges, OMR charges and capital maintenance. Nor have the rights of councils in relation to provision of public lighting servies been formalised into a code of conduct.

Stakeholders

Distribution Businesses	The Power and Water Authority is the Northern Territory's only distribution business. It is government-owned. Contact: Trevor Horman Manager, Sustainable Energy Power and Water Corporation Darwin NT Phone: +61 (0)8 8924 5093 Fax: +61 (0)8 8924 5121
Regulator	The Utilities Commission is the independent electricity industry regulator.
Local Government Association	Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT), Ph: +61 (0)8 8936 2888.
Territory Government Department	The Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines (DPIFM) is responsible for energy policy.
Roads Authority	NT Roads and Transport Assets. Email or Ph: + 64 (0)8 8924 7481.

Funding opportunities

EnvironmeNT Grants
EnvironmeNT Grants is a grants program to undertake environmental projects in the Northern Territory. Local government can apply for Individual Project Grants, which includes an energy efficiency category. The objective of this category is to 'support projects that will reduce and/or promote efficient energy consumption (and greenhouse gas emissions) and can be used as demonstration models able to be implemented in similar organisations across the Territory.'

The Sustainable Public Lighting website was created by ICLEI Oceania. Funding for this website was provided by the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) in the Department of Environment and Water Resources. The site is based on Sustainability Victoria's Energy Toolbox website.