Northern Territory Power and Water Embedded Generation Guide: Connecting Solar in the NT

Key Takeaways

• An approved connection agreement with Power and Water Corporation is mandatory before installing solar in the Northern Territory.
• You must contact Jacana Energy to ensure your electricity meter is correctly configured for solar generation and feed-in tariffs.
• Feed-in tariffs are available for residential and business solar systems under 30kVA that consume less than 750 MWh annually.
• Specific technical requirements and the detailed application process for Power and Water Corporation are not publicly detailed by Jacana Energy.

Connecting Solar to the Northern Territory Grid

If you are planning to install a solar power system in the Northern Territory, you must follow specific procedures to connect to the electricity grid. This guide outlines the requirements set by Power and Water Corporation (PWC) for embedded generation and the steps you need to take with Jacana Energy, the electricity retailer in the NT. All new solar installations require an approved connection agreement with Power and Water Corporation.

Understanding the Connection Process in the NT

Connecting your solar system to the grid in the Northern Territory involves coordination between you, your installer, Power and Water Corporation, and Jacana Energy. Power and Water Corporation manages the electricity distribution network, while Jacana Energy handles retail electricity services, including feed-in tariffs.

For new solar installations, you must first obtain an approved connection agreement from Power and Water Corporation. This agreement is a prerequisite for connecting your system to the network. Once connected, if you receive a Feed-in Tariff (FiT) from Jacana Energy, you are agreeing to the Jacana Energy Power Purchase Agreement.

Costs and Fees for NT Solar Connections

Several fees may apply when connecting a solar system in the Northern Territory, primarily related to network connection and meter services. These charges are valid from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

These fees cover the administrative and technical work required to integrate your solar system and ensure accurate billing.

Setting Up Your Meter for Solar in the Northern Territory

After your solar system is installed and you have your approved connection agreement, a crucial step is to ensure your electricity meter is correctly configured for solar. For new solar installations, you should contact Jacana Energy at 1800 522 262 to request that your meter be set up correctly for solar. This step is essential for accurate measurement of both your consumption and any electricity exported to the grid.

Jacana Energy automatically applies the Super FiT for customers with rooftop solar and electronic interval (smart) meters from 3pm to 9pm daily. This indicates that having a compatible meter is important for accessing specific tariff benefits.

Northern Territory Solar Feed-in Tariffs

Jacana Energy offers feed-in tariffs (FiTs) to eligible residential and business customers who export surplus solar electricity to the grid. These tariffs compensate you for the electricity your system generates but you do not consume.

The standard Anytime FiT for customers with rooftop solar is 9.33 c/kWh. Additionally, a Super FiT of 18.66 c/kWh is available for customers with rooftop solar and electronic interval (smart) meters, applied automatically from 3pm to 9pm daily. For ABN holders registered for GST, GST is applied to these feed-in tariff rates.

To be eligible for these feed-in tariffs, residential and business customers must have a solar photovoltaic (PV) system that is less than 30kVA and consumes less than 750 MWh per year.

What you can check yourself, and what you cannot

You can check your eligibility for feed-in tariffs by reviewing your system size and annual consumption against the criteria provided by Jacana Energy. You can also contact Jacana Energy to confirm your meter setup status and ensure it is configured for solar.

However, you cannot change your meter's programming or connection settings yourself. Grid-protection settings and meter configurations are set by accredited professionals and changing them can breach your connection agreement and pose safety risks. Any changes to your meter or connection must be performed or authorised by Jacana Energy and Power and Water Corporation.

What the published sources do not tell you

While Jacana Energy provides clear information on feed-in tariffs and meter setup, the publicly available documents do not detail the specific technical requirements or the full application process for obtaining an approved connection agreement with Power and Water Corporation. Information regarding inverter standards, capacity caps for specific regions like Darwin or Alice Springs, or requirements for zero-export systems are not specified in the provided sources. For these technical details, you would need to consult Power and Water Corporation directly or work with an accredited solar installer who is familiar with their specific requirements.