PowerWater
| Company type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Utilities |
| Predecessor | Power and Water Authority |
| Founded | July 1, 2002 |
| Headquarters | Northern Territory , Australia |
Area served | Northern Territory |
| Products | Electricity, water, sewage services |
| Owner | Government of the Northern Territory |
Power and Water Corporation, operating under the name PowerWater, is a government-owned entity in the Northern Territory and serves as the exclusive provider of electricity, water, and sewage services within the area.
History
Established on 1 July 2002, Power and Water Corporation replaced the earlier government utility known as Power and Water Authority, marking the Northern Territory's inaugural government-owned corporation.
Electricity
PowerWater is responsible for the operation of three distinct electricity networks in the Northern Territory, while investment decisions and regulatory oversight are conducted by the Australian Energy Regulator. These systems comprise:
- The northern grid extending from Darwin down to areas south of Katherine, catering to roughly 150,000 individuals
- The Tennant Creek network, which supplies power to nearly 7,000 inhabitants
- The southern network covering Alice Springs, serving an estimated 28,000 people
Among PowerWater’s major power generation facilities are the Channel Island Power Station located on Middle Arm of Darwin Harbour—the territory’s largest—and Alice Springs' Ron Goodin Power Station, ranked second in size. The Katherine and Berrimah power stations are linked to Channel Island, supporting the Darwin–Katherine network.
Additional power plants include those at McArthur River, Tennant Creek, Brewer Estate, and Yulara.
The Weddell Power Station was developed between 2008 and 2014 to boost Darwin’s electricity capacity by 30%. Its initial two generators became operational during 2008–2009, with a third unit added in 2014 following earlier postponements.
Water
In addition to electricity services, PowerWater oversees sewerage management and key water catchment areas throughout the territory. The main source for Darwin’s water supply is the Darwin River Dam, which provides up to 90% of the city’s water needs. Prior to this, the Manton Dam served as the primary water reservoir.