NT to get first private power station

GENERAL Electric hopes to begin building the NT's first private power station by the end of the year but lower power bills aren't a sure thing.

ENERGY giant General Electric will open the first privately owned power station in the Northern Territory by the end of the year, but reduced prices for hard-hit consumers are not guaranteed.

THE US-based conglomerate has been in talks with the government for 18 months about setting up private electricity generation, and legislation was passed in May to allow the separation of the retail and generation arms of the ailing Power and Water Corporation (PWC).