NT schools are being hit with massive power bill hikes - one school saw a 636% increase in just one month. Last week, we shared our Media Release on this pressing issue and President Dr Ruth Mirams has had several media interviews with various radio shows across the Territory. You can listen to her speaking with Rick Hind on ABC Mornings below.
NTCOGSO is calling for:
- Reinstatement of schools in the NT electricity subsidy
- NT Government funding to fully cover the 1 July 2025 power price increases until schools are reinstated in the subsidy, provided separately from Commonwealth student funding
- The Department of Education to act as the central client for electricity, removing the burden from 152 individual schools that are left vulnerable negotiating separate contracts with suppliers
Minister for Education, Jo Hersey, wrote to NTCOGSO on 19 August and provided the following reassurance:
"It has been made clear to school leaders that schools will not have to divert resources from learning programs to afford these cost increases. I have requested the department to work through the impact of these changes for all government schools across the NT and to manage any cost increases with an equivalent increase to school budgets. This will apply from 1 July 2025.
Schools will receive an additional cash grant in Semester 2 to cover the estimated cost increases for 2025. For 2026 onwards, the department will make changes to facility funding in the School Resourcing Model to reflect the new electricity tariffs and cost increases. Schools can access additional support if they encounter any other financial difficulties."