Power and Water Corporation, through the Northern Territory Electricity System and Market Operator (NTESMO), is responsible for undertaking electricity system control and market operator functions in the Northern Territory’s regulated electricity systems of Darwin-Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
Costs incurred in performing NTESMO’s regulated functions are recovered through charges on retailers approved by the Utilities Commission of the Northern Territory. The commission’s regulatory determination sets the allowed revenues for the system control and market operator functions for each regulatory year based on an assessment of NTESMO’s efficient costs.
The FY2028–32 Regulatory Proposal will set out the forecast expenditure Power and Water expects to incur in performing NTESMO’s regulated functions across the next 5-year regulatory period from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2032.
As part of the regulatory determination process, we are committed to engaging openly with stakeholders to ensure our regulatory proposal is well informed, evidence based and aligned with customer and industry needs.
To ensure stakeholders have an opportunity to contribute to the development of NTESMO’s FY2028–32 Regulatory Proposal, an indicative consultation process and timeline has been established.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Publication of consultation paper | 5 December 2025 |
| Stakeholder workshop | 11 December 2025 |
| Submissions due on consultation paper | 16 January 2026 |
| Incorporate feedback from consultation and submit Regulatory Proposal to Utilities Commission | 27 February 2026 |
| Commission regulatory process and decisions | As determined by the commission |
A workshop was held with stakeholders on 11 December 2025 to assist with the development of Power and Water’s initial NTESMO FY2028–32 Regulatory Proposal.
A consultation paper was published on 5 December 2025 to facilitate feedback from stakeholders.
Read the FY2028–32 System Control and Market Operator Charges Review Consultation Paper PDF, 0.89 MB
Stakeholders were encouraged to provide their views on the questions in the consultation paper. Comments on any other issues relating to the development of NTESMO’s proposals were also welcome.
Responses were to be provided by written submission to market.operator@powerwater.com.au by 16 January 2026.
Three written submissions were received:
The commission’s process for approving NTESMO’s proposed annual revenue requirements is expected to be completed within 12 months, following release by the commission in April 2026 of a valid Regulatory Proposal from Power and Water for public consultation.
To enable assurance checks to be undertaken prior to publication, Power and Water submitted its Initial Proposal, informed by stakeholder consultation, to the commission on 27 February 2026.
Actual timing of the components of the FY2028–32 Review relating to the commission’s work will be at the commission’s discretion.
More information regarding the FY2028–32 System Control and Market Operator Charges Review can be found on the Utilities Commission Northern Territory website.
