{"id":"power-and-water-corporation-act-1987","name":"Power and Water Corporation Act 1987","slug":"power-and-water-corporation-act-1987","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30503,"registerId":"nt-power-and-water-corporation-act-1987-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Power and Water Corporation Act 1987","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nPOWER AND WATER CORPORATION ACT 1987\nAs in force at 2 June 2014\nTable of provisions\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart II Power and Water Corporation\n4 Power and Water Corporation ......................................................... 1\n5 Corporation is Government owned corporation ............................... 2\n6 Status as Agency............................................................................. 2\n7 Matters relating to Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 .................................................................... 2\n14 Functions of Corporation – electricity .............................................. 2\n14A Functions of Corporation – water and sewerage ............................. 3\n14B Functions of Corporation – gas ....................................................... 4\n14C Functions of Corporation – general ................................................. 4\nPart III Miscellaneous\n19 Exemption from rates, &c. ............................................................... 5\n20 Protection of employees from personal liability ............................... 5\n22 Authentication of documents ........................................................... 5\n24 Money due to Corporation ............................................................... 6\n26 Regulations...................................................................................... 6\n27 Act binds the Crown ........................................................................ 6\nPart IV Savings and transitional\n28 Certain property to vest in Authority ................................................ 6\n30 Proceedings under Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983 ............ 7\n31 References to Electricity Commission ............................................. 7\n32 Territory to indemnify Authority........................................................ 8\n34 References to Authority ................................................................... 8\nSchedule Modifications of Public Sector\nEmployment and Management Act 1993 in\nrelation to the Corporation\n1 Sections 22 and 23 modified ........................................................... 9\n\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 ii\n2 Section 24 modified ......................................................................... 9\n3 Sections 27 and 28 modified ......................................................... 10\nENDNOTES\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 2 June 2014\n____________________\nPOWER AND WATER CORPORATION ACT 1987\nAn Act to establish the Power and Water Corporation and for related\npurposes\nPart I Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Power and Water Corporation\nAct 1987.\n2 Commencement\n(1) Sections 1 and 2 shall come into operation on the day on which the\nAdministrator's assent to this Act is declared.\n(2) The remaining provisions of this Act shall come into operation on a\ndate to be fixed by the Administrator by notice in the Gazette.\n3 Definitions\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:\nCEO means the person appointed under section 16 of the\nGovernment Owned Corporations Act 2001 to be the chief\nexecutive officer of the Corporation.\nCorporation means the Power and Water Corporation referred to\nin section 4.\nPart II Power and Water Corporation\n4 Power and Water Corporation\nThere is hereby established the Power and Water Corporation.\n\nPart II Power and Water Corporation\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 2\n5 Corporation is Government owned corporation\nThe Corporation is declared to be a Government owned\ncorporation for the purposes of the Government Owned\nCorporations Act 2001.\n6 Status as Agency\n(1) The Corporation:\n(a) is an Agency for the purposes of the Public Sector\nEmployment and Management Act 1993; and\n(b) is not an Agency for the purposes of any other Act.\n(2) An Administrative Arrangements Order cannot be made that\nnominates the Corporation as an Agency.\n7 Matters relating to Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993\n(1) The CEO is the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for the\npurposes of the Public Sector Employment and Management\nAct 1993.\n(2) The Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 applies\nin relation to the Corporation as if it had been amended as set out\nin the Schedule.\n14 Functions of Corporation – electricity\n(1) The functions of the Corporation in relation to electricity are:\n(aa) to manage, plan, develop, expand, enhance, improve and\nreinforce electricity networks and power systems;\n(ab) to provide and improve electricity network services;\n(ac) to provide services designed to improve the efficiency of\nelectricity supply and the management of demand on\nelectricity networks;\n(a) to generate, acquire, exchange, transport, distribute, market\nand otherwise supply electricity;\n(b) to undertake, maintain and operate any works, system,\nfacilities, apparatus or equipment required for any purpose\nreferred to in paragraphs (aa) to (a);\n\nPart II Power and Water Corporation\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 3\n(c) to use its expertise and resources to provide consultative,\nadvisory or other services for profit;\n(d) to develop and turn to account any technology, software or\nother intellectual property that relates to a function referred to\nin paragraphs (aa) to (c); and\n(e) to manufacture and market any product that relates to a\nfunction referred to in paragraphs (aa) to (d).\n(2) In addition to subsection (1), it is also a function of the Corporation:\n(b) to do anything that the Corporation determines to be\nconducive or incidental to the performance of a function\nreferred to in subsection (1); and\n(c) to do anything that it is required or authorised to do under the\nElectricity Reform Act 2000, Electricity Networks (Third Party\nAccess) Act 2000 or any other written law.\n14A Functions of Corporation – water and sewerage\n(1) The functions of the Corporation in relation to water and sewerage\nare:\n(a) to acquire, store, treat, distribute, market and otherwise\nsupply water for any purpose;\n(b) to collect, store, treat, market and dispose of wastewater;\n(c) to undertake, maintain and operate any works, system,\nfacilities, apparatus or equipment required for any purpose\nreferred to in paragraph (a) or (b);\n(d) to use its expertise and resources to provide consultative,\nadvisory or other services for profit;\n(e) to develop and turn to account any technology, software or\nother intellectual property that relates to a function referred to\nin paragraph (a), (b) or (c); and\n(f) to manufacture and market any product or by-product that\nrelates to a function referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (e).\n(2) In addition to subsection (1), it is also a function of the Corporation:\n(b) to do anything that the Corporation determines to be\nconducive or incidental to the performance of a function\nreferred to in subsection (1); and\n\nPart II Power and Water Corporation\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 4\n(c) to do anything that it is authorised to do by any other written\nlaw.\n(3) If the performance of any of the Corporation's functions referred to\nin subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) requires that the Corporation hold a\nlicence under the Water Act 1992, the Corporation may only\nperform the function in accordance with the terms and conditions of\nthe licence.\n(4) In subsection (1), wastewater means liquid waste, whether\ndomestic or otherwise, and includes faecal matter and urine.\n14B Functions of Corporation – gas\nThe functions of the Corporation in relation to gas are to buy, sell,\nprocess, store or transport:\n(a) gas or products derived from gas; or\n(b) products associated with gas or the products derived from it.\n14C Functions of Corporation – general\n(1) The Corporation has any other functions that are conferred on it by\nor under this Act or any other enactment.\n(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Corporation has the functions of:\n(a) providing communications facilities and services; and\n(b) providing other facilities and services.\n(3) The Corporation may only provide a particular kind of facility or\nservice under subsection (2):\n(a) if the provision of the facility or service is consistent with the\nrequirement that the Corporation act in a commercial manner;\nand\n(b) with the approval of the Minister.\n(4) The Corporation may provide billing, procurement, financial and\ncommercial services to one or more of the following:\n(a) the Power Generation Corporation established by section 5 of\nthe Power Generation Corporation Act 2014;\n(b) the Power Retail Corporation established by section 5 of the\nPower Retail Corporation Act 2014;\n\nPart III Miscellaneous\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 5\n(c) a subsidiary of the Corporation, Power Generation\nCorporation or Power Retail Corporation.\n(5) This section and sections 14, 14A and 14B do not impose on the\nCorporation any duty to perform any function that is enforceable by\nproceedings in a court.\nPart III Miscellaneous\n19 Exemption from rates, &c.\n(1) Land vested in, committed to the care, control and management of,\nor acquired by the Corporation under or pursuant to this Act is\nexempted from local government rates, charges and taxes.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not exempt the Corporation from payment of\ncharges for any commodity or service provided or supplied by a\nlocal government council, whether the charge made be assessed\nupon the value of land occupied or owned by, vested in, committed\nto the care, control and management of, or acquired by the\nCorporation or otherwise.\n(3) Where land vested in, committed to the care, control and\nmanagement of, or acquired by the Corporation is leased or let to a\nperson, that land is not exempt from rates, charges or taxes under\nthis section but any rates, charges or taxes payable in respect of\nthe land are not payable by the Corporation but, if the law\nauthorizing the imposition or levy of the rate, charge or tax so\nallows, are payable by the lessee or tenant of that land.\n20 Protection of employees from personal liability\nAn employee or agent of the Corporation is not personally liable for\nany act or default of that person or the Corporation done or omitted\nto be done in good faith in the course of the operations of the\nCorporation or for the purposes of this Act.\n22 Authentication of documents\nA summons, process, demand, order, notice, statement, direction\nor other document requiring authentication by the Corporation is\nsufficiently authenticated without the seal of the Corporation if\nsigned by a person authorised to do so by the board of the\nCorporation constituted under the Government Owned\nCorporations Act 2001.\n\nPart IV Savings and transitional\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 6\n24 Money due to Corporation\nAny money due to the Corporation under this Act may be recovered\nby the Corporation as a debt.\n26 Regulations\nThe Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this\nAct, prescribing matters:\n(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or\n(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or\ngiving effect to this Act.\n27 Act binds the Crown\nThis Act binds the Crown in right of the Territory.\nPart IV Savings and transitional\n28 Certain property to vest in Authority\n(1) Subject to section 30, on the commencement of this Act in respect\nof the operations of the unit of administration within the meaning of\nthe Public Service Act 1976 known as the Northern Territory Water\nAuthority:\n(a) any levy, fee, charge, interest, debt, or money payable to the\nTerritory shall become payable to and be recoverable by the\nAuthority;\n(b) all liabilities, contracts, and engagements, and all rights and\nauthorities of any nature whatever of the Territory shall\nbecome liabilities, contracts, engagements, rights, and\nauthorities of the Authority; and\n(c) all rights, authorities, and licences granted or issued by the\nTerritory shall continue in force on the same terms and\nconditions on which they were granted or issued or on which\nthey arose as if such rights, authorities, and licences had\nbeen granted or issued by the Authority.\n(2) All estates and interests in property, real and personal, and rights\n(except property mentioned in subsection (1)) held by the Territory\nimmediately before the commencement of this Act that is or are\nutilized by, or required for the purposes of the operation of, the unit\nof administration within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1976\nknown as the Northern Territory Water Authority shall, by virtue of\n\nPart IV Savings and transitional\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 7\nthis section and without further assurance, vest in the Authority in\npursuance of subsection (3) subject to any liabilities, charges,\nobligations or trusts affecting the estates or interests.\n(3) The Minister shall from time to time as the estates and interests\nreferred to in subsection (2) are identified or ascertained declare by\ninstrument in writing that the property specified, either generally or\nspecifically, in the instrument is property to which subsection (2)\napplies, and the Authority thereupon has such powers as are\nnecessary to take possession of, recover, and deal with the\nproperty and enforce the rights.\n(4) On the lodgement of a copy of an instrument under subsection (3)\nwith the Registrar-General or an officer controlling any register or\nother record of interests in property, the Registrar-General or that\nofficer, as the case may require, shall, in respect of registrable\nestates or interests specified in the instrument, make the necessary\nentries in the relevant registers or records and generally do all such\nthings as may be necessary to give effect to subsection (2).\n30 Proceedings under Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1983\nAn action, prosecution or other proceeding begun under the Water\nSupply and Sewerage Act 1983 as then in force before the\ncommencement of this Act may be continued as if this Act had\nnever commenced, and an action, prosecution or other proceeding\nin respect of a thing done or omitted to be done under the Water\nSupply and Sewerage Act 1983 as then in force before the\ncommencement of this Act may be brought, taken and prosecuted\nin the same manner as if this Act had never commenced.\n31 References to Electricity Commission\n(1) On the lodgment of a copy of this Act with the Registrar-General or\na proper officer controlling any official register or record of real\nproperty vested in the Northern Territory Electricity Commission\nbefore the commencement of this Act (other than sections 1 and 2)\nor in which the Commission held, immediately before that\ncommencement, an interest, the Registrar-General or that officer\nshall make the necessary entries in the relevant registers and other\nrecords to record the change of name of the body corporate of the\nCommission.\n(2) All references to the Commission in any security, licence, ADI\naccount or instrument (including a contract, arrangement, Act,\nregulation, by-law or rule or court document relating to an action,\nprosecution or proceeding) which is subsisting immediately before\nthe date of commencement of this Act, or in any notice or other\ncommunication served, given, or sent before, on, or after that date\n\nPart IV Savings and transitional\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 8\nin relation to any such security, licence, ADI account, or instrument\nshall, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as references\nto the Authority.\n(3) By-laws made by the Commission under the Electricity Commission\nAct 1978 and in force as at the commencement of this Act, being\nby-laws which, after the commencement, could be made by the\nAuthority under this Act shall not expire but continue in force as if\nthey were made by the Authority, and may be amended by the\nAuthority accordingly.\n(4) In this section:\nNorthern Territory Electricity Commission or Commission\nmeans the body corporate established under section 4 of the\nElectricity Commission Act 1978.\n32 Territory to indemnify Authority\nThe Territory shall indemnify the Authority, and keep the Authority\nindemnified, against all actions, claims or demands brought or\nmade against the Authority in relation to an act done or omitted to\nbe done under or pursuant to the Water Supply and Sewerage\nAct 1983 before the commencement of this Act, being actions,\nclaims or demands that, but for this Act, could be brought or made\nagainst the Territory.\n34 References to Authority\n(1) A reference to the Power and Water Authority:\n(a) in any security, licence, bank account or instrument (including\na contract, arrangement, Act, regulation, by-law or rule or\ncourt document relating to an action, prosecution or\nproceeding) or any other document, that subsists immediately\nbefore the commencement of the Power and Water\nAmendment Act 2001; or\n(b) in any notice or other communication served, given, or sent\nbefore, on, or after the commencement of that Act in relation\nto the security, licence, bank account, or instrument,\nis, unless the context otherwise requires, to be read as a reference\nto the Corporation.\n(2) On the commencement of the Power and Water Amendment\nAct 2001, a reference to the Power and Water Authority in any\nregister or certificate relating to interests in land is to be taken to be\na reference to the Power and Water Corporation.\n\nSchedule Modifications of Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 in\nrelation to the Corporation\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 9\nSchedule Modifications of Public Sector Employment\nand Management Act 1993 in relation to the\nCorporation\nsection 7(2)\n1 Sections 22 and 23 modified\nSections 22 and 23\nrepeal\n2 Section 24 modified\n(1) Section 24(1)\nomit, insert\n(1) The functions of the Chief Executive Officer of the Power and\nWater Corporation under this Act are to employ and manage\nemployees in accordance with this Act for the purpose of enabling\nthe Corporation to perform its functions.\nNote for subsection (1)\nIn the exercise of his or her functions, the Chief Executive Officer is subject to the\ndirection of the Board of the Power and Water Corporation (see section 16(5) of\nthe Government Owned Corporations Act 2001).\n(2) Section 24(2)(a)\nomit\n(3) Section 24(2)(b)\nomit, insert\n(b) upholds the human resource management principle and\nperformance and conduct principle; and\n(4) Section 24(3)(b) and (h)\nomit\n\nSchedule Modifications of Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 in\nrelation to the Corporation\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 10\n(5) Section 24(4)\nomit\nor any other Act.\ninsert\nAct in relation to employees.\n3 Sections 27 and 28 modified\nSections 27 and 28\nrepeal\n\nENDNOTES\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 11\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nPower and Water Authority Act 1987 (Act No. 20, 1987)\nAssent date 25 June 1987\nCommenced 1 July 1987 (Gaz S48, 29 June 1987)\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 1988 (Act No. 36, 1988)\nAssent date 14 September 1988\nCommenced 14 September 1988\nStatute Law Revision Act 1989 (Act No. 60, 1989)\nAssent date 2 October 1989\nCommenced 2 October 1989\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 1989 (Act No. 75, 1989)\nAssent date 12 December 1989\nCommenced 2 January 1992 (Gaz S65, 20 December 1991)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1990 (Act No. 33, 1990)\nAssent date 11 June 1990\nCommenced 11 June 1990\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 1991 (Act No. 52, 1991)\nAssent date 26 September 1991\nCommenced 26 September 1991\nPublic Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993\n(Act No. 28, 1993)\nAssent date 30 June 1993\nCommenced 1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and\nManagement Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53,\n29 June 1993)\n\nENDNOTES\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 12\nLocal Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993 (Act No. 84, 1993)\nAssent date 31 December 1993\nCommenced 1 June 1994 (s 2, s 2 Local Government Act 1993 (Act No. 83,\n1993) and Gaz S35, 20 May 1994)\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 1994 (Act No. . 6, 1994)\nAssent date 16 March 1994\nCommenced 13 May 1994 (Gaz S33, 13 May 1994)\nAmending Legislation\nStatute Law Revision Act 1994 (Act No. 50, 1994)\nAssent date 20 September 1994\nCommenced 20 September 1994\nFinancial Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 (Act No. 5, 1995)\nAssent date 21 March 1995\nCommenced 1 April 1995 (s 2, s 2 Financial Management Act 1992 (Act\nNo. 4, 1995) and Gaz S13, 31 March 1995)\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 39, 1998)\nAssent date 27 May 1998\nCommenced 27 May 1998\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 1999 (Act No. 38, 1999)\nAssent date 31 August 1999\nCommenced 17 May 2000 (s 2)\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 2000 (Act No. 8, 2000)\nAssent date 21 March 1999\nCommenced 1 April 2000 (Gaz S14, 31 March 2000)\nPower and Water Authority Amendment Act 2001 (Act No. 70, 2001)\nAssent date 21 December 2001\nCommenced s 8 to extent it rep s 19: nc; rem: 1 July 2002 (Gaz G25,\n26 June 2002, p 5)\nStatute Law Revision (Financial Provisions) Act 2002 (Act No. 38, 2002)\nAssent date 13 September 2002\nCommenced 30 October 2002 (Gaz G43, 3 October 2002, p 3)\nStatute Law Revision Act (No. 2) 2002 (Act No. 59, 2002)\nAssent date 7 November 2002\nCommenced 7 November 2002\nPublic Sector Employment and Management Amendment Act 2011 (Act No. 29, 2011)\nAssent date 31 August 2011\nCommenced 1 January 2012 (Gaz S73, 20 December 2011, p 2)\nPower and Water Corporation Legislation Amendment Act 2014 (Act No. 13, 2014)\nAssent date 13 May 2014\nCommenced 29 May 2014 (Gaz S29, 29 May 2014, p 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 13\nLocal Government Amendment Act 2014 (Act No. 19, 2014)\nAssent date 2 June 2014\nCommenced s 16: 1 July 2014; s 18: 1 December 2014; rem: 2 June 2014\n(s 2)\n3 SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS\nss 12 and 13 Power and Water Authority Amendment Act 2001 (Act No. 70,\n2001)\n4 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 14, 14A, 14C, 22,\n28, 30, 31 and 32 and sch.\n5 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nlt amd No. 70, 2001, s 14\ns 1 sub No. 70, 2001, s 4\npt II hdg amd No. 70, 2001, s 14\ns 3 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 6, 1994, ss 4 and 6; No. 38, 1999, s 4; No. 70,\n2001, s 5; No. 13, 2014, s 25\ns 4 amd No. 5, 1995, s 19; No. 70, 2001, s 6\ns 5 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3\nsub No. 6, 1994, s 5; No. 38, 1999, s 5; No. 70, 2001, s 7\ns 6 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3\nsub No. 6, 1994, s 5\namd No. 38, 1999, s 6\nsub No. 70, 2001, s 7\namd No. 29, 2011, s 45\nsub No. 13, 2014, s 26\npt IIA hdg ins No. 6, 1994, s 5\nom No. 38, 1999, s 7\ns 7 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3\nsub No. 6, 1994, s 5; No. 38, 1999, s 8\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 7\nins No. 13, 2014, s 26\ns 8 sub No. 6, 1994, s 5\namd No. 38, 1999, s 9\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 7\nss 9 – 10 sub No. 6, 1994, s 5; No. 38, 1999, s 10\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 7\ns 10A ins No. 38, 1999, s 10\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 7\ns 11 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 6, 1994, s 6 No. 38, 1999, s 11\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 7\ns 12 amd No. 6, 1994, s 6\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 7\ns 13 amd No. 33, 1990, s 9; No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 6, 1994, s 6; No. 38, 1999,\ns 12; No. 8, 2000 s 4\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 7\n\nENDNOTES\nPower and Water Corporation Act 1987 14\ns 14 amd No. 52, 1991, s 3; No. 39, 1998, s 3\nsub No. 8, 2000, s 5\namd No. 70, 2001, s 14; No. 13, 2014, s 27\nss 14A – 14B ins No. 8, 2000, s 5\namd No. 70, 2001, s 14\ns 14C ins No. 8, 2000, s 5\namd No. 70, 2001, s 14; No. 13, 2014, s 28\ns 15 amd No. 36, 1988, s 2; No. 75, 1989, s 3; No. 52, 1991, s 4; No. 28, 1993,\ns 3; No. 39, 1998, s 4; No. 8, 2000, s 6; No. 70, 2001, s 14; No. 59, 2002, s 5\nrep No. 13, 2014, s 29\ns 16 sub No. 38, 1999, s 13\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 8\ns 17 amd No. 39, 1998, s 5\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 8\ns 18 rep No. 28, 1993, s 3\ns 19 amd No. 84, 1993, s 6; No. 59, 2002, s 5; No. 19, 2014, s 26\ns 20 amd No. 70, 2001, s 14\ns 21 rep No. 70, 2001, s 8\ns 22 amd No. 6, 1994, s 6; No. 70, 2001, s 9\ns 23 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 6, 1994, s 6\nrep No. 70, 2001, s 10\ns 24 amd No. 70, 2001, s 14\ns 25 amd No. 39, 1998, s 6\nrep No. 8, 2000, s 7\ns 28 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6\ns 29 rep No. 70, 2001, s 10\ns 31 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 38, 2002, s 6; No. 13, 2014, s 30\ns 33 rep No. 70, 2001, s 11\ns 34 ins No. 70, 2001, s 11\nsch ins No. 13, 2014, s 31","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has broadened in scope since its original enactment. Originally focused on establishing an authority to provide electricity and water services, later amendments and the current text expand commercial powers and subject-matter coverage: it now expressly authorises commercial activities such as consultancy, development and exploitation of technology and intellectual property, manufacture and marketing of related products, and provision of services to related government-owned corporations and subsidiaries (ss 14(1)(c)–(e); 14A(1)(d)–(f); 14C(4)). The Corporation is also declared a Government owned corporation (s 5) and operates under modified public sector employment rules (s 7, Schedule). These changes move the entity from a narrow public utility role toward a corporate, commercial operator with broader market-facing functions and associated regulatory and fiscal implications."},"complexity_factors":["Relatively short Act with 4 Parts and a Schedule, but multiple substantive function sections (ss 14–14C)","Only a few defined terms in the Act itself (CEO, Corporation) but heavy cross-referencing to other statutes (Government Owned Corporations Act 2001; Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993; Electricity Reform Act 2000; Water Act 1992; and various amendment Acts)","Schedule modifies another complex statute (PSEMA) rather than duplicating provisions","Conditional rules and limits (e.g. licence condition for water/sewerage s 14A(3); Ministerial approval and 'commercial manner' requirement s 14C(3))","Savings and transitional provisions vesting property and indemnifying the Territory (ss 28, 31, 32) add administrative complexity","Multiple exceptions and practical rules (rate exemption with lessee exception s 19; non-enforceability of functions s 14C(5))","Frequent historical amendments and consequential notes increase interpretive complexity for practitioners (see ENDNOTES)"],"plain_english_summary":"The law establishes a government‑owned Power and Water Corporation to run electricity, water, sewerage and gas services and to operate commercially — including consulting, technology and product activities. It affects the Corporation’s employees, customers, competing private providers, local governments (rate exemptions on vested land) and the Northern Territory’s finances.\n\nWhy it matters: it commercialises public utilities, concentrates service delivery within a GOC (with competition and fiscal implications), and imposes licensing, governance and transition obligations that shift risks and revenues."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has grown significantly beyond its original 1987 purpose. Originally established as the 'Power and Water Authority' focusing on electricity and water utilities, the Act has expanded to include: (1) gas functions (added 2000), (2) general commercial services including communications (added 2000), (3) service provision to related corporations like Power Generation Corporation and Power Retail Corporation (added 2014), (4) intellectual property development and commercial consulting for profit, and (5) significant restructuring of employment arrangements. The 2001 amendments renamed the body from 'Authority' to 'Corporation' and shifted governance to the Government Owned Corporations Act framework, representing a fundamental change from a public authority model to a corporate model."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to other Acts (Government Owned Corporations Act 2001, Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993, Electricity Reform Act 2000, etc.)","Schedule containing detailed modifications to another Act (Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993)","Savings and transitional provisions dealing with predecessor bodies (Northern Territory Electricity Commission, Northern Territory Water Authority, Power and Water Authority)","Conditional limitations on functions (e.g., water functions require licences under Water Act 1992; general services require Minister approval and commercial consistency)","Nested definitions (e.g., 'wastewater' defined within section 14A)","Historical layering visible in amendment history showing significant restructuring in 2001 and 2014"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act creates the **Power and Water Corporation** — a government-owned company that runs electricity, water, sewerage, and gas services across the Northern Territory.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n* **Residents and businesses** in the NT who use electricity, water, or gas services\n* **Employees** of the Corporation (they're protected from personal lawsuits when acting in good faith)\n* **Other government bodies** — the Corporation can provide billing and commercial services to related government energy companies\n* **Local councils** — the Corporation doesn't pay council rates on its land, though tenants leasing Corporation land may have to pay\n\n**Key things the Corporation can do:**\n\n* **Electricity:** Generate, buy, sell, transport, and distribute power; maintain power networks; develop energy technology\n* **Water and sewerage:** Supply drinking water, treat and dispose of wastewater, build and maintain pipes and treatment plants\n* **Gas:** Buy, sell, process, store, and transport gas\n* **Other services:** Provide communications and other commercial services (with Minister approval), plus consulting services for profit\n\n**Important protections and rules:**\n\n* The Corporation is a **\"Government owned corporation\"** — meaning it operates commercially but is ultimately owned by the Territory\n* **Employees are shielded** from personal legal liability when doing their jobs honestly\n* **Land owned by the Corporation is exempt from council rates**, though this exemption doesn't pass to tenants\n* **Debts owed to the Corporation can be recovered as court debts**\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis law essentially sets up the Northern Territory's main utility provider as a flexible, commercially-oriented government business. It allows the Corporation to diversify into new areas (like communications and consulting) while maintaining core infrastructure services that everyone in the Territory relies on."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/power-and-water-corporation-act-1987","history":"/api/acts/power-and-water-corporation-act-1987/history","analysis":"/api/acts/power-and-water-corporation-act-1987/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/power-and-water-corporation-act-1987/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/power-and-water-corporation-act-1987/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/power-and-water-corporation-act-1987/documents"}}