Alice Springs, NT – As temperatures soar in central Australia, a growing number of families are facing an impossible choice: pay for electricity to retain cool, or put food on the table. The extreme heat, exacerbated by the climate crisis, is driving up power bills and leaving vulnerable communities, particularly First Nations Australians, struggling to cope.
Vanessa Napaltjari Davis, an Arrernte and Luritja woman living in Nyewente, also known as Trucking Yards, a town camp surrounding Alice Springs, is one of over 65,000 Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland relying on prepaid electricity. She describes a recent stretch where temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius for nearly 40 days. “We almost had 40 days over 40,” she says. “I was struggling to keep on top of the power bill and keep my little grannies [grandchildren] cool.”
The situation highlights a critical issue of energy affordability and access for Indigenous communities in remote Australia. Prepaid electricity meters, while intended to facilitate manage consumption, are creating a precarious situation where power can be disconnected with little notice, leaving families without essential cooling during dangerous heatwaves. The rising cost of living, coupled with inadequate housing, is compounding the problem.
The Rising Cost of Keeping Cool
Davis typically budgets $70 per week for electricity, enough to cover her needs during moderate temperatures. However, with the recent extreme heat, that amount now lasts less than three days. “I usually put $70 a week on my electricity when it’s normal temperature, and it will last me until the next pay week,” she explains. “But because of this extreme hot weather, that $70 is only like two or three days.” She is forced to repeatedly top up her prepaid card, diverting funds from other essential expenses like food.
This isn’t an isolated case. A 2025 study by Original Power, a First Nations energy justice organisation, found that households relying on prepaid electricity experience an average of 49 disconnections per year – almost one per week – due to unaffordable bills. The financial strain is particularly acute for Davis, who is the sole provider for her household.
“What’s more important, the electricity or food? But to us, they are both important,” Davis says. “We need the electricity to keep the fridge cool for the food to be stored in. If we don’t keep the electricity on then the food goes off, then a lot of people have to wait until their next payday to buy more food. This is the decision that we create every day, everybody.” She provided a breakdown of her power costs, revealing she paid $1331.12 during the winter months (June-August), $920.64 in September-November, and already $663.97 for December and January, with frequent disconnections due to insufficient funds.
Systemic Issues and Calls for Change
The Northern Territory government states that electricity prices are “regulated and subsidised,” and that consumption typically increases during extreme temperatures. A spokesperson for Jacana Energy, the electricity retailer, confirmed that higher consumption leads to quicker depletion of prepaid credit, but the tariff itself remains unchanged. They also highlighted the availability of safeguards like emergency credit and hardship programs.
However, advocates argue that these measures are insufficient. Lauren Mellor, co-director of Original Power’s clean energy communities program, says governments are “dragging their heels” on implementing a ban on disconnections during extreme heat. Original Power has proposed a trial banning disconnections when temperatures exceed 40°C, but the proposal is still under consideration by the Albanese government. Mellor emphasizes that “poor quality housing and a reliance on box air-conditioners in many First Nations communities cause families to spend more to keep homes at safe temperatures.”
Dr. Simon Quilty, a physician working in the Northern Territory for over two decades, has observed a direct correlation between inadequate housing and increased hospital admissions during heatwaves. “What I started to notice in 2014 in Katherine was how many people were coming to hospital because of their terrible housing stock,” he said. “You would see a real uptick in admissions and highly serious illnesses in the really hot months.”
The federal government has stated its commitment to addressing energy poverty and supporting the clean energy transition in remote areas, thanking Original Power for its work and promising continued collaboration with states and territories. The Northern Territory government is running campaigns to educate customers on energy conservation and available support schemes.
Vanessa Napaltjari Davis is a senior researcher at the Tangentyere Council Research Hub, with over 20 years of experience in social research and evaluation. Her ORCID ID is 0000-0001-9828-8038. She advocates for community-led research and ensuring Aboriginal voices are heard in policy decisions.
As central Australia braces for continued extreme temperatures, the need for systemic change is becoming increasingly urgent. The long-term solution requires investment in energy-efficient housing, affordable energy options, and policies that prioritize the wellbeing of vulnerable communities. The question of whether to prioritize electricity or food should not be one that families like Davis’ are forced to confront.
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