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Commission · the transparent version

Exactly what we earn, in dollars, on your contract.

We're paid by the energy retailer when you switch, never by you. Here's the dollar-figure version of that promise: what Smarta actually makes per contract type, how the retailer pays us, and why it doesn't affect your rate.

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The short version

You pay $0. Ever. Even if you don't switch.

Smarta Switch is paid by the winning energy retailer when a customer switches contract through us. The commission is built into the contract pricing, the same way it would be if you'd negotiated direct with the retailer, because retailers price in customer-acquisition cost either way.

If you decide your current contract is already at market and you don't switch, we don't get paid. That's fine. We've done it many times. We're not interested in chasing every job.

The actual numbers

What Smarta typically earns per contract.

Real ranges from real contracts. Exact dollar amount on your specific deal is disclosed on every comparison sheet we send, ask any time.

Site type Typical annual usage Typical commission % of bill
Small cafe / salon ~25 MWh/year $15 – $40 / year ~0.5%
Medium cafe / restaurant / gym ~60 MWh/year $30 – $90 / year ~0.6%
Pub / multi-site cafe group / small medical ~120 MWh/year $60 – $180 / year ~0.7%
Warehouse / manufacturing (SME-large) ~300 MWh/year $150 – $450 / year ~0.6%
Multi-site portfolio (C&I tender) ~1,000 MWh/year $300 – $1,000 / year ~0.4%
Large C&I single-site or aggregated portfolio 5,000+ MWh/year $1,500 – $5,000 / year ~0.3%

Ranges based on standard 24-month SME panel contracts and typical C&I tender outcomes in 2026. Commission is paid monthly by the retailer over the contract life, not as an upfront fee.

The honest objection

"Doesn't the commission inflate my rate?"

Short answer: marginally, and the broker's value usually outweighs that marginal cost many times over.

Long answer: retailers build customer-acquisition cost into their pricing whether you arrive via a broker, a comparison site, a Google ad, or a cold call. The broker channel costs them ~$0.50–$1.50/MWh in commission. The Google-ad channel costs them ~$30–$80 per qualified lead, often more. The cold-call channel is the most expensive of all. The retailer's commercial team prices to cover whichever channel you came in through.

What the broker gets you in return: a comparison across 7+ retailers in 24 hours, the right tariff for your load shape, demand-rate negotiation you'd never know to push for, and a 60–90 day pre-renewal trigger so you don't auto-roll onto default rates. On most SME sites, the saving from those four things is 5–15% of the annual bill, far more than the ~0.5% commission cost.

If we can't beat your current contract by meaningfully more than the commission would otherwise add: we tell you to stay put. That's the bar.

The Smarta pledge

What we'll always tell you, before you sign anything.

  1. The dollar amount of commission on your specific deal, for each retailer we recommend, not just the winner.
  2. The retailer paying the commission, by name. Not "retailer panel" or "supplier network".
  3. Whether a sharper retailer would pay us less, and if so, we still recommend the sharper retailer.
  4. If your current contract is at market, we say so and walk away. No switch, no commission. Fine by us.
  5. The renewal date and our diary process, so you know when to expect the rebid trigger from us.
  6. The full Letter of Authority text, what it does and doesn't authorise. Available here.

If any other broker, including us, can't do all 6 in writing before you sign: that's a signal.

Common questions about commission

The bits people ask before they trust a broker.

How much commission does Smarta actually earn on my contract?
Typically $0.50–$1.50 per MWh contracted for SME sites, and $0.30–$1.00 per MWh for C&I (above 100 MWh/year). On a 100 MWh/year cafe contract that's $50–$150/year to Smarta. On a 1 GWh/year multi-site portfolio it's $300–$1,000/year. The exact dollar amount is disclosed on every comparison sheet, ask any time.
Why is the retailer paying you, not me?
Retailers pay brokers as a customer-acquisition cost. From their side, it's cheaper to pay a broker to bring a verified customer than to run their own outbound sales. From your side, the commission is built into the contract pricing the same way as if you'd contracted with the retailer directly, except the broker shopped the panel for you and recommended the best fit.
Does the commission affect the rate I'm quoted?
Marginally. Different retailers pay slightly different commissions, but the spread is small (typically 5–15% of the total commission pool). What moves your rate much more is the retailer's own margin position and how aggressively they want your specific load shape that month. We rebid the panel to surface that, not the commission spread.
What happens if I don't switch?
Nothing. Smarta doesn't charge for the comparison itself, only for the actual switch. If you read our comparison sheet and decide your current contract is at market, we walk away. We've done this many times.
How is this different from a savings-share broker?
A savings-share broker (like Termina) charges a percentage of the savings they find, typically 10–20% of the annual saving. Smarta is paid by the retailer, not by you. Both models align with the customer in the sense that we only get paid when a switch happens. The difference is who pays: retailer (us) or customer (savings-share). Full disclosure either way is the gold standard. Ask any broker what their dollar amount on your deal is, honest answer = honest broker.
What does "voluntary code" mean?
Australia has a voluntary National Customer Code for Energy Brokers, Consultants and Retailers, covering commission disclosure, fair dealing, complaint handling, customer information. Brokers signed up to the code commit to transparency standards. Smarta operates to the code's transparency standards regardless of formal sign-up status.

Want the commission amount on a specific deal?

Upload your last bill. We'll quote the panel + send the comparison sheet + tell you the dollar amount of commission for each option. Within 24 hours.

Upload your bill Call us, 0435 642 592
Upload your bill Call, 0435 642 592