NT Concession Scheme Transfer After Death

The NT Concession Scheme saves eligible households over $1,200 a year on electricity alone, plus water, rates, and vehicle registration discounts. When a partner dies, these concessions don't transfer automatically — they're registered to an individual, not a household. If you don't act within the first billing cycle, you'll lose the concession for that period and may need to re-apply from scratch.

Jacana Energy Electricity Rebate

The Jacana Energy rebate provides up to $1,200 annually in electricity concessions for eligible Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card holders. It's the single largest concession available through the NT scheme.

If the rebate was in the deceased's name, contact Jacana Energy to:

1. Transfer the account to your name (if you were a secondary account holder) or establish a new account
2. Register your concession card details against the account
3. Confirm the rebate will apply from the transfer date

You'll need your Pensioner Concession Card number, proof of identity, and a copy of the death certificate. Jacana typically processes concession registrations within one billing cycle.

If the account was solely in the deceased's name and you need to establish a new account, do this before the next bill is generated. Otherwise you'll be charged the full commercial rate for that period.

Power and Water Corporation

Water and sewerage concessions through Power and Water Corporation follow the same principle — they're linked to the account holder's concession card, not to the address. Contact Power and Water to update the account holder details and register your concession eligibility.

Council Rates Concessions

Local councils in the NT offer rates relief for eligible pensioners:

• Katherine Town Council: Approximately $200 in rates concession for Pensioner Concession Card holders
• Darwin City Council: Rates concessions for eligible pensioners and seniors
• Alice Springs Town Council: Pensioner rates relief program
• Palmerston City Council: Concession programs for eligible ratepayers

Each council administers its own concession program independently. They are not notified when a ratepayer dies and won't proactively offer to transfer the concession to a surviving spouse. You need to contact each relevant council separately.

Vehicle Registration Concession

The Motor Vehicle Registry offers registration concessions for eligible concession card holders. When transferring a vehicle from the deceased to the surviving spouse, handle the concession registration at the same time as the stamp duty exemption (using exemption codes WB, WE, or WW).

What Happens to Your Concession Card

Your ability to maintain NT concessions depends on whether you hold your own Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card:

• If you have your own card (because you receive your own Age Pension, DSP, or other qualifying payment), your concessions continue. You just need to register them against your own utility accounts.
• If your card was linked to your partner's payment, notify Centrelink immediately. During the 14-week bereavement period, your card should continue. After that, it depends on whether you qualify for a payment in your own right.

The Pensioner Concession Card also provides access to PBS medicines at concession rates and bulk-billed Medicare services, so maintaining card status has implications well beyond utility bills.

The Transfer Checklist

Act within the first week after the funeral:

1. Confirm your own Pensioner Concession Card status with Centrelink
2. Contact Jacana Energy — transfer account and register concession
3. Contact Power and Water — update account holder
4. Contact your local council — apply for rates concession in your name
5. Handle vehicle registration concession when transferring the vehicle at MVR

The Northern Territory Survivor Benefits Navigator includes the complete concession transfer checklist with every provider's contact details and the documents needed for each transfer.

See more Northern Territory guides →