FAQs
Rimfire Energy is an NT family-owned electricity business operating in the Territory since 2014, and we are the largest non-government electricity retailer operating in the Territory.
Our team has extensive experience in the electricity industry, and we are committed to providing you with competitive energy prices and quality customer service.
You can find out more about Rimfire Energy and our team at the About Us page.
Rimfire Energy currently sells electricity to the following types of customers:
- Residential customers eligible for standard regulated tariffs;
- Small Business customers eligible for standard regulated tariffs; and
- Large Business customers eligible for negotiated pricing.
Please note that due to the current regulated pricing and associated subsidy arrangements set by the NT Government, we are currently unable to offer pensioner and concession discounts, or sell electricity to the following customer types:
- Multipurpose customers;
- Caravan park residents; and
- Customers with prepayment meters.
We currently offer pay-on-time discounts on regulated tariffs for our residential and small business customers.
Our small business and residential customers can choose between a flat tariff pricing structure, where the same charge rate applies to all periods, or a time-of-use pricing structure, where separate charge rates apply for peak and off-peak periods.
Please refer to our Product and Price Sheet for further details on the current regulated pricing order tariffs for small business and residential customers.
For large customers on negotiated agreements our competitive customised prices have saved tens of thousands, and in some cases hundreds of thousands, of dollars on their electricity bills each year.
Our large business customers are all provided with customised pricing specific to their consumption patterns, payment terms, and external market prices at the time of contracting. If you are a large business customer and would like to get more information, please go to our Large Business Customers page.
We sell electricity to eligible customers in the following grid-connected regions:
- Darwin
- Katherine
- Tennant Creek
- Alice Springs
Absolutely. At Rimfire Energy, we are strong supporters of renewable energy and offer competitive solar feed-in tariffs to customers with solar PV installed at their premises.
As an electricity retailer, we do not control the physical supply of electricity to your premises.
Power and Water Corporation owns the electricity network (meters, poles and wires) and is responsible for the physical supply of electricity to your premises and the reliability of the network.
They are also responsible for connecting your premises to the network, however we can arrange this with Power and Water Corporation on your behalf if you would like us to.
Note residential electricity transfers take place on the first day of each month if application is received and accepted on or prior to the 15th and may incur a transfer fee.
In order to choose your electricity retailer and become a Rimfire Energy customer, you must have an eligible “smart meter” or a remotely-read interval meter installed at your premises.
These are computerised meters fitted with a SIM card to allow the meter to take a consumption reading every 15 minutes and communicate the data to Power and Water Corporation via the mobile communications network without the need for a meter-reader to attend your premises.
Power and Water Corporation have information about the types of meters used and how to identify them.
Power and Water Corporation imposes charges for smart meter upgrades and these costs are normally passed through to customers at cost by electricity retailers. The costs related to smart meter upgrades vary depending on the extent of the upgrade work required.
Please refer to our Product and Price Sheet for further details on typical meter upgrade charges for small business and residential customers.
We will consider you to be a small business customer if your premises are used for operating a business and has annual electricity usage of less than 750 MWh p.a.
It is likely that we will consider you to be a small business customer if you are a business customer with a standard contract containing regulated commercial pricing tariffs.
Indicatively, this means that if your current bills are less than $18k per month, then you will probably fit into the category of a small business customer. You can find further details at our Small Business Customers page.
We will consider you to be a large business customer if your premises are used for operating a business and has an annual electricity usage of more than 750 MWh p.a.
We will likely consider you to be a large business customer if you are a business customer and you meet either of the following arrangements:
- A negotiated contract, and you are currently being charged based on negotiated rates (instead of standard published rates); or
- A standard contract, and you are currently being charged based on unregulated commercial default tariffs.
Indicatively, this means that if your current bills are more than $18k per month, then you will probably fit into the category of a large business customer.
You can find further details at our Large Business Customers page.
We will consider you to be a residential customer if your premises are used for domestic purposes and has an annual electricity usage of less than 160 MWh p.a.
This does not include hostels, motels, guest houses, caravan parks, or premises wherein a caretaker resides, which are otherwise used for non-residential purposes.
You can find further details at our Residential Customers page.
Some reasons may include:
⦁ Weather conditions: PV solar panels require sunlight to generate electricity, and cloudy or overcast days can reduce output.
⦁ Obstructions: Buildings or trees that cast shade on the panels can also reduce production, as can dust build up.
⦁ System age: The efficiency of PV solar panels degrades over time, reducing their production capacity.
⦁ Inverter failure: An inverter failure can cause the system to produce less electricity.
⦁ Problems with wiring can cause voltage drops and reduce production.
⦁ Maintenance issues: Failure to perform routine maintenance, such as cleaning the panels or replacing faulty components, can reduce a solar system’s production.
It is recommended that cleaning and a maintenance inspection be conducted at least once each year and will identify many of these issues. Your solar installer can arrange repairs and warranty claims if required.
Rimfire Solar offer set-rate maintenance inspections which include cleaning as required, based on your system size.
This depends on many factors, such as:
- The setup of your current solar system.
- Your current production and usage.
- Your inverter type.
- The network rules in your area.
A CEC accredited solar designer or installer can advise you what are the best options for your installation and usage.
Rimfire Solar can provide a quote and tailored recommendations for both solar and battery systems, including when you have an existing system. You can find further details at our Solar Energy page.
Depending on your services there may be different charges. For most residential or small business customers:
- Daily Charge: This is the fixed charge per day for your connection. This fee is regulated by the NT Government.
- Anytime Energy: This is the per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate for the electricity you consume. This rate is regulated by the NT Government.
- Peak Energy/Off Peak Energy: These are the per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate for the electricity you consume on time of use tariffs, between 6am to 6pm or 6pm to 6am.
- Feed In Energy: This is the per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate for the electricity you generate with solar and feed back into the grid. Most solar systems provide for your electricity use before feeding to the grid, so this may not reflect the total production of your solar system.
Rimfire invoices detail an amount due if the invoice is paid by the due date, which includes a pay-on-time discount, and the invoice also details an amount due if paid after the due date, which does not include a pay-on-time discount.
To be certain that you receive the pay-on-time discount be aware that some payment methods may have delays at your financial institution and plan this into your payment date.
If you or someone residing at your premises require uninterrupted power supply for life support equipment then you can notify us or the network service provider (PowerWater). More information on the registration process is available in our Life Support Equipment Customer Policy
We understand that sometimes our customers may experience difficulties that affect how you do business with us.
If you are having trouble paying your bills then it’s important that you reach out to discuss this with us early and there are various ways that we can help you through these times. There is more information about this in our Residential Customer Hardship Policy.
We can also provide support to do business with us safely if you are experiencing family violence. More information is available in our Family Violence Customer Policy.
We operate under a commitment to continuous improvement and so welcome any feedback. You can let us know about any issues either verbally or in writing through any of our contact methods. More information on what you can expect from us is available in our Customer Complaints Policy
GreenPower is a government-managed program that lets individuals and businesses support renewable energy generation. When you buy GreenPower from Rimfire Energy, you’re supporting renewable energy that meets GreenPower’s strict criteria.
You can learn more about the benefits of GreenPower on the government website greenpower.gov.au
By purchasing GreenPower you’re minimising your impact on the environment by supporting Australia’s Renewable Energy Target and leading to continued growth, investment and promotion of the Australian renewable energy sector.
Not only that, but you can also feel great about investing in the future of Australia.
Depending on the percentage of purchased GreenPower, you’ll be eligible to use the GreenPower Customer Logo, list your business on the GreenPower government website and receive a GreenPower promotional pack to promote your support of renewable energy at your business.
You can learn more about usage of the GreenPower Customer Logo here.
You can email our GreenPower specialists:
Allan Duffell – aduffell@rimfireenergy.com.au
Ben Johannsen – bjohannsen@rimfireenergy.com.au
Kim Howlett – khowlett@rimfireenergy.com.au
Or, you can call us on 1800-RIMFIRE