Disclosure
How WattMate makes money — in plain numbers. We think you deserve to know exactly who pays us and why before you trust a recommendation.
How WattMate makes money
WattMate is free for every WA homeowner. Comparing options, checking a quote, and requesting installers never costs you a cent. We make money through a single, flat referral fee, paid by the installer who takes on a qualified enquiry.
That fee is how we keep the platform free, independent, and free of manufacturer advertising. It is the only way WattMate earns from your enquiry.
The exact fee
$30 inc GST per lead, paid by the installer, never added to your quote.
That works out to $27.27 ex GST. It is a flat fee per qualified enquiry, not a percentage of your system price, and not a commission on the sale. The installer pays the same $30 whether your job is a 6.6 kW solar system or a full solar-plus-battery package, so there is no incentive for anyone to push you toward a bigger spend. You pay exactly the same price you would by approaching the installer directly.
Why this keeps us independent
We're paid whether or not you go ahead with an installer — so our recommendations are never skewed by who pays us.
Because the fee is the same flat $30 for every installer in our network, no installer can pay to rank higher, be recommended more often, or jump the queue. We earn the referral fee once an installer takes on your enquiry, not when (or if) you go on to sign a contract with them. Our policy is that an installer who releases the lead back to us inside their decline window is not charged for it. Either way, what you decide never changes what we earn, so we have no reason to steer you toward a particular installer, product, or outcome. Our job is to match you with WattMate Members and give you honest information; what you decide after that is entirely yours.
What we do NOT do
- We do not prioritise installers by referral fee — every installer pays the same flat $30.
- We do not accept commissions, kickbacks, or sponsored placements from any solar panel, battery, or inverter manufacturer.
- We do not sell your personal data to third parties — your details go only to WattMate Members, and only when you ask for quotes or for your full energy audit report.
- We do not inflate savings estimates, rebate figures, or payback periods to encourage a purchase.
- We do not charge homeowners — comparing, quote-checking, and requesting installers is free, with no obligation to proceed.
Who we connect you with
Your enquiry goes only to WattMate Members. Every installer on WattMate is in one of two states:
- WattMate Member — has joined WattMate’s installer network and can receive quote requests through us. Membership is granted by WattMate and can be removed.
- Public listing — a public record of the business. A listing is not a recommendation.
WattMate’s relationship with a WattMate Member is commercial: they pay us the flat referral fee described above. We have no commercial relationship with any other listed business. Membership is not an endorsement, a recommendation or a quality rating, and we do not endorse any installer or their work. Where we hold an installer's ABN, we may check it against the Australian Business Register. What we’ve checked about each WattMate Member is shown under Credentials on their profile. We do not guarantee the quality of any installer's work — always compare multiple quotes and check reviews before you decide, and see our compliance page for what to check yourself.
Data sources
Every calculator, quote check, and rebate estimate on WattMate draws on the same published, official sources:
- Electricity tariffs and export rates: Synergy's published rate card (SWIS network)
- Solar generation: Bureau of Meteorology solar irradiance data for Perth and WA
- Product eligibility: Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved product lists
- STC pricing: Clean Energy Regulator clearing-house spot prices, Zone 3 deeming
- WA Battery Scheme: Synergy's published per-kWh rebate rate and eligibility rules
We update these figures when the relevant authority announces a change. If you spot anything that looks out of date, let us know.
Estimates and accuracy
Savings estimates, payback calculations, and quote checks across WattMate are indicative only. Actual results depend on your roof orientation and shading, real electricity usage, installer pricing (which varies), year-to-year weather, and future tariff or rebate changes. Always confirm rebate eligibility and current tariff details with the relevant authority before making a financial decision. See our terms of service for the full disclaimer.
Learn more
Want to browse installers, the fuller picture of how we stay independent, or the detail on how we handle your data?