Northern Territory smart-meter rollout botched: bills delayed months, government admits failure
ABC News Australia reports the Northern Territory government has acknowledged a major failure in its smart-meter rollout. Roughly 60,000 households have experienced electricity and water bills delayed by months because of measurement errors. The territory has announced a remediation package and an independent review.
ABC News reports Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro told the Northern Territory parliament that "the software integration of the meters did not reach an acceptable standard" and apologized. Utility providers Jacana Energy and Power and Water Corporation acknowledged the problem had persisted since 2024. Officials said 18% of affected households had disputed incorrect billing amounts.
A preliminary review by independent auditor Ross Smith found that delivery indicators in the contract between software vendor Itron Australia and local integrator Compass Group were inadequately defined at the outset. The NT Treasury announced an average credit of AU$380 for households hit by delayed bills.
Labor opposition spokesperson Selena Uibo called the failure "not a simple technology error but a management lapse". Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said national smart-meter coordination would be reviewed. The territory has set aside AU$22 million to remediate the rollout.
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