NT Councils Face Power Price Hikes, Threatening Services

0:00It's April 18th. Welcome to Sydney News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Northern Territory Councils are staring down the barrel of steep power price hikes, forcing tough choices like slashing community services or hiking, rates for locals. The NT government's electricity tear for form, kicked off in their mid-2025 budget, rolls out to Council starting July 1st this year, and it's already got everyone on edge. Darwin City Council is feeling the pinch hardest right now, with leaders saying the jump will cost them nearly half a million dollar extra. That could mean shorter library hours, dimmer street lights, close pools earlier, and less lighting for sports fields, just to balance the books, without going into the red. Folks like Darwin's Lord Mayor Peter Styles and Council execs are speaking out, warning it'll crimp their support for crime prevention through park, and walkway lights. Ray payers might face a half a percent increase, hitting households and businesses already squeezed by earlier household hikes. Out in remote spots like Alice Springs,

1:02the local government association warned small councils could suspend family, youth, and health programs. Entirely to cope, town pools might shut even sooner, leaving communities high and dry on basics. As leaders push the government to defer the rises for a year, or cough up grants the offset cost. No word back from the top yet. Councils are budgeting, tight, hoping for a rethink before the lights literally go out on services.