The Northern Territory government says it has taken an "unprecedented" step by enacting legislation for the first time in response to the fuel cost crisis.

The move, coming a day after the federal government announced a 50 per cent cut to the fuel excise for three months — expected to save motorists 26 cents a litre — sees the Country Liberal Party government invoking the Price Exploitation Prevention Act to force fuel retailers to be transparent about their pricing.

To be enacted for the first time since its introduction in 1949, Treasurer Bill Yan said the measure will allow the Territory government to compel fuel retailers and suppliers to hand over their full cost structures, the margins made on fuel sales, and details on how pump prices are set.

It will allow the government to "request an open-ended amount of data from retailers, prohibit transactions, and if there is evidence of price exploitation, we can intervene".

"In the most extreme cases, we can overrule and set the price," Mr Yan said.

"These are extreme powers which give us the ability to intervene and overrule, which we genuinely hope we don't have to use because retailers will do the right thing. This is about market transparency and having the power to hold these companies and retailers to account."

Remote, predominantly Indigenous communities have faced persistently high fuel prices, driving up the cost of essential goods and limiting the ability of tradespeople and key workers to travel long distances to service those areas.

In remote Western Australia, National Indigenous Times has reported cases of First Nations families stopping short of hospitals and calling ambulances to complete their journey due to fuel costs.

Last week, the Central Land Council, Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory and Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory called on the federal government to urgently increase the remote area allowance, citing mounting cost-of-living pressures.

APO NT chairperson Theresa Roe said most people in remote communities rely on fixed incomes and have little capacity to absorb rising costs.

"Families will struggle to keep up with a surge in fuel prices and the price of food going up," she said last week.

Mr Yan said he has written to retailers across the Territory outlining expectations that the Commonwealth's fuel excise reduction be passed on in full to consumers. Failure to comply is a criminal offence, with penalties including fines of up to $74,000 and up to two years' imprisonment.

The Treasurer also moved to reassure residents about supply, saying there is no need to stockpile fuel. He said supplies continue to "arrive in the quantities and frequency we need and expect, with normal amounts of fuel on its way to arrive over the next few weeks".

"Our supply levels are in line with the rest of the country sitting at around 30 days with ships continuing to arrive weekly," he added.

"People don't need to stockpile or hoard fuel. We have enough for everyone. We're asking everyone — the fuel suppliers, business[es], and the community — to just keep purchasing based on your ordinary needs"