NT government reveals scale of bungled smart meter rollout

The bungled rollout of smart meters in the NT has seen thousands more electricity users than previously thought facing billing delays. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)

Northern Territory government-owned energy retailer Jacana has revealed that the power bills for about 5,000 customers have been delayed due to issues with energy use data from smart meters.

Jacana representatives said almost 2,000 homes and small businesses had their power switched off in 2025-26 and the body was owed $33 million in unpaid bills.

The NT government-owned organisation responsible for distributing energy in the territory, Power and Water Corporation, has taken some responsibility for the bungle.

The Northern Territory's main energy retailer has revealed thousands more customers than previously thought have been affected by delays in billing due to the botched rollout of smart meters.

Jacana Energy chief executive Jo Conway revealed the scale of the bungle during an appearance at budget estimates in the NT parliament today.

Jacana Energy is the largest electricity retailer in the Northern Territory. (ABC News: William Green)

In response to a question from independent MLA Robyn Lambley about the number of Jacana customers affected by billing delays, Ms Conway said: "Initially the billing delays that were expected were around 3,000 customers, which we knew about in July, 2025.

In March, Alice Springs residents told the ABC their power had been unexpectedly switched off by Jacana after the organisation failed to send them bills for months.

At the time, Jacana said "a small number" of customers had received their bills late "due to technical issues" within the retailer's billing processes last year, but that those issues had been resolved.

Robyn Lambley led the questioning of Jacana and Power and Water executives in parliament today. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)

Ms Conway also revealed Jacana had switched off power to 1,995 customers — 1,842 homes and 153 small businesses — during the 2025-26 financial year, and was owed more than $33 million in unpaid power bills as of April.

Jacana, which is owned by the NT government, is by far the largest energy retailer in the NT, its only competitor being the privately owned Rimfire Energy.

Power and Water Corporation (PWC), also owned by the NT government, is the body responsible for maintaining energy infrastructure, distributing electricity, and providing meter reading data to energy retailers in the territory.

During estimates today, PWC representatives admitted that energy usage data from smart meters had not been regularly sup