The person running the company on your roof just got nationally shortlisted

When you’re getting solar quotes, most of the trust signals are about the product. Panel brand. Inverter brand. Battery brand.

The thing that determines whether your system works well in 10 years is a different question: who runs the company that installs it.

That question just got answered at a national level.

Bite

  • Nicole Bilman, CEO of Perth Solar Warehouse, is a 2026 Smart Energy Council Emerging Leader of the Year finalist.
  • For homeowners: the person running the company installing your solar has been independently shortlisted by the national industry for the way she runs it.
  • Nicole started as Administration Manager in July 2020. She became CEO in February 2026. The progression went role by role.

Nicole Bilman, CEO of the company PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse, has been named a finalist for Emerging Leader of the Year at the 2026 Smart Energy Council Awards. The category recognises an individual under 40 shaping the Australian sustainable energy industry. It’s judged by industry peers, not voted in publicly.

How a PSW CEO gets made

Nicole joined the company on 6 July 2020 as Administration Manager. The team was ten people. By 2022, she was overseeing manufacturer relationships. By 2024, she led the ISO certification programme. On 2 February 2026, she became Chief Executive Officer. Five and a half years from the admin desk to the top job, earned step by step.

Under her leadership, the company has held Tesla Premium Certified Installer status every year from 2022 to 2026, opened a second base at Neerabup, and grown from 10 people to over 50. Perth Solar Warehouse is NETCC Approved through to 13 May 2027 and ISO triple certified. EUPD Research has separately noted that her leadership “challenges stereotypes and demonstrates the power of diversity and inclusion in the renewable energy sector.”

The company has also been shortlisted as a finalist for Smart Employer of the Year at the same awards. Two finalist positions at one ceremony. It’s rare for a Perth solar company to land both.

Drum roll...

The awards are in Sydney on 6 May 2026. A finalist position is the recognition.

If you’re comparing quotes and debating which company will be around to back the install five and ten years from now, this is one of the data points worth knowing.

Get a quote from the team that the industry just shortlisted.

Perth Solar Warehouse renews NETCC Approved Seller status, 2026/27

Perth Solar Warehouse holds current certification as a New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) Approved Seller. Our certificate is valid through 8 May 2027 and was issued by the Code Monitoring and Compliance Panel, backed by the ACCC. If you’re buying solar, a battery, or an EV charger, the NETCC status is one of the factors to check with a seller or installer in Australia. Here’s what it covers and why it matters.

Contents

The New Energy Tech Consumer Code is a national set of conduct standards for businesses that sell solar panels, battery storage, EV charging equipment, and related products. It’s authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the body that enforces Australian Consumer Law, and was developed with input from both industry associations and consumer organisations.

The “Approved Seller” designation means Perth Solar Warehouse has committed to a defined standard of conduct throughout the entire customer experience: quoting, contracts, installation, and after-sales support. Certification is independently verified and has to be renewed. It’s not a one-time declaration.

What NETCC certification covers

  • Accurate information. What you're told during the sales process about system size, expected output, applicable rebates, and payback estimates must be accurate and verifiable. NETCC signatories can't make claims they can't substantiate.
  • Contracts and disclosure. You're entitled to clear written contracts and upfront disclosure of any material costs or conditions. Where cooling-off rights apply under Australian Consumer Law, those rights have to be honoured.
  • After-sales accountability. The code covers what happens after the installation: warranty claims, service follow-up, and dispute resolution. There's a formal complaints pathway for buyers who need it.

The important point: the NETCC governs how a business behaves, not just what products it sells. A business can stock reputable brands and still fall short on the sales process, paperwork, or post-install follow-through. The code addresses all of it.

Confirming NETCC certification

NETCC Approved Seller status is publicly verifiable through the code administrator’s register. Only businesses with active, current certification in good standing can display the Approved Seller mark. Find a NETCC Approved Seller ›

Perth Solar Warehouse: ABN 55 332 185 818, certified valid through 8 May 2027. Certificate ›

If you’d like to talk through what this means for a solar or battery purchase, our team is ready to help.

Synergy Midday Saver tariff: what it means for solar homes in Perth

Most Perth households are on Synergy’s Home Plan A1 tariff. It’s straightforward: one flat rate, all day, every day. But it’s not the only option, and for households with solar, a battery, or an electric vehicle, it’s probably not the best one.

TL;DR

  • Perth has three residential Synergy tariffs: the flat Home Plan A1 (32.37 c/kWh all day), the time-of-use Midday Saver (8.62c super off-peak 9am–3pm, 53.84c peak 3pm–9pm), and the EV Add-On which adds a 19.38c overnight window for registered EV owners.
  • Solar-only homes often lose on the Midday Saver. Self-consumed midday solar only offsets the cheap 8.62c rate, while evening grid draw now costs 53.84c instead of 32.37c. Unless evening consumption is under about 28% of total grid draw, A1 usually wins.
  • A battery flips the calculation. Charging from solar during the day and discharging across the 3pm–9pm peak window saves roughly $7 per day, about $2,600 a year versus A1, with payback in the 5–6 year range once WA and federal battery rebates are applied.
  • Battery-only homes (no solar) can still arbitrage the super off-peak to peak gap for around $6 per day, making a battery viable even where panels aren't an option.

Contents

Synergy offers two time-of-use alternatives that reward you for shifting electricity consumption away from the expensive 3pm to 9pm window. The Midday Saver is the most widely applicable. The EV Add-On is for registered EV owners who want an even cheaper overnight rate. Both use the same basic structure: cheap electricity in the middle of the day when solar floods the grid, and a higher rate in the evening when demand peaks.

This article covers how each plan works, what the rates actually are, and how solar panels and a battery change the maths.

Perth’s three residential tariffs compared

Every Synergy residential customer on the SWIS grid (Kalbarri to Albany, east to Kalgoorlie) can access these plans. Switching is free, takes about five days, and you can switch back any time.

Home Plan A1
Midday Saver
EV Add-On
Supply charge
116.05 c/day
129.23 c/day
129.23 c/day
Super Off-Peak (9am–3pm)
—
8.6151 c/kWh
8.6151 c/kWh
Off-Peak
—
23.6916 c/kWh (9pm–9am)
23.6916 c/kWh (6–9am) / (9–11pm)
Overnight (11pm–6am)
—
—
19.3841 c/kWh
Peak (3pm–9pm)
—
53.8446 c/kWh
53.8446 c/kWh
Flat rate (all hours)
32.3719 c/kWh
32.3719 c/—kWh
32.3719 c/—kWh

All rates include GST, effective 1 July 2025. Source: Synergy Standard Electricity Prices brochure.

Home Plan A1: the default

One rate, no time windows to think about. You pay 32.3719 c/kWh whether you run the dishwasher at 11am or 6pm. The daily supply charge is 116.05 cents.

This plan works for households that consume electricity fairly evenly across the day and don’t want to manage when appliances run. There’s no penalty for cooking dinner at 6pm, running the dryer at 7pm, or leaving the air conditioning on through the evening.

The downside: you pay the same rate at 11am (when the grid has more solar than it knows what to do with) as you do at 6pm (when demand peaks and generation costs are highest).

Midday Saver: three time bands

The cheapest electricity available in Perth is between 9 am and 3 pm on the Midday Saver, when rooftop solar across the SWIS pushes wholesale prices down. At 8.6151 c/kWh, that’s roughly a quarter of the A1 flat rate.

The structure is the same every day, including weekends and public holidays. For 18 hours of the day (9am–3pm and 9 pm–9 am), you’re paying less than the A1 flat rate. For six hours (3 pm–9pm), you’re paying significantly more at 53.8446 c/kWh.

Whether you save depends on how much consumption you can keep out of that evening window. For most households that aren’t actively managing their consumption, the Midday Saver and A1 cost roughly the same annually. The Midday Saver only pays off when you shift consumption deliberately or use a battery to avoid the peak rate. 

EV Add-On: a cheaper overnight rate for EV owners

Everything the Midday Saver offers, plus a dedicated overnight band from 11pm to 6am at 19.3841 c/kWh. You need a registered battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle to qualify.

The overnight rate matters because it’s when most EV owners charge. At 19.38 c/kWh, charging a typical EV with a 60kWh battery from 20% to 80% costs about $6.97. That’s roughly $1.50 per 100km for most EVs, compared to $12–15 per 100km for a petrol car.

For households that also have a battery, this plan opens up a second low-cost window overnight to top up your home battery alongside the EV.

Requirement for both time-of-use plans: you need a smart meter (AMI). If you don’t have one, Synergy will arrange installation or reprogramming when you switch. There may be a meter fee (currently around $101).

Person holding an iPad with a Synergy bill displayed identifying Home Plan A1 Synergy Electricity Tariffs

Why the Midday Saver exists

This isn’t Synergy being generous. Western Australia has over 550,000 rooftop solar systems, and on a clear day, the SWIS grid has more solar electricity than it can use between about 10am and 2pm. Wholesale prices go negative. The grid operator (AEMO) sometimes has to curtail rooftop solar to keep the system stable.

Synergy’s super off-peak rate reflects this reality. At 8.62 c/kWh, they’re essentially passing through the low wholesale cost of daytime solar to encourage consumption during oversupply. Run your pool pump, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer between 9am and 3pm and you’re consuming electricity that would otherwise go to waste.

The peak rate is high for the same reason in reverse. The 3pm–9pm window is when solar generation drops off, households ramp up cooking, heating, and entertainment, and the grid switches to more expensive gas-fired generation. The price signal is real: consume during surplus, conserve during scarcity.

What the Midday Saver means if you have solar

Here’s where it gets nuanced. If you already have solar panels and no battery, the Midday Saver can actually cost you more.

Your solar system generates most of its output between 9am and 3pm. On the A1 tariff, every kWh your panels produce and you consume offsets a 32.37 c/kWh grid charge. Switch to the Midday Saver, and that same self-consumed kWh is only offsetting 8.62 c/kWh, because that’s what grid power costs during those hours anyway.

Meanwhile, the electricity you draw from the grid in the evening (when your panels produce nothing) now costs 53.84c instead of 32.37c.

The break-even depends on your evening consumption. If you can keep your 3pm–9pm grid draw below about 28% of your total grid consumption, the Midday Saver still wins because of the cheaper off-peak overnight rate. But most solar-only homes draw a significant share of their grid electricity in the evening.

The solar-only verdict: run the numbers with your actual usage data before switching. Check your Synergy My Account portal for a time-of-day usage breakdown. If your evening consumption is high relative to daytime grid draw, stick with A1.

Tesla App showcased on two mobile phone displays to illustrate the advanced features within the Tesla Energy ecosystem. Perth Solar Warehouse is Perth local Tesla Premium Certified Installer.

Image: Daily solar energy yield between 9 am and 3 pm peak periods.

What changes when you add a battery

A battery fundamentally changes the Midday Saver calculation. It turns the 53.84c peak window from a liability into the primary source of savings.

The strategy is straightforward. Your solar panels charge the battery during the day. From 3pm to 9pm, the battery powers your home instead of the grid. Every kWh the battery displaces during peak hours avoids 53.8446 c/kWh of grid electricity. That’s a 21.47c premium over what you’d avoid on the A1 tariff (32.3719c), per kWh, every day.

Battery savings scenario: solar + battery on the Midday Saver

A 13.5kWh battery (the capacity of a Tesla Powerwall 3) charged from solar during the day and fully discharged across the peak window:

Item
Amount
Peak electricity avoided (13.5kWh × 53.8446c)
$7.27
Cost to charge from solar
$0.00
Additional supply charge vs A1 (13.18c/day)
−$0.13
Net daily saving vs A1 tariff
$7.14
Annual saving (approx.)
$2,606

Assumes full daily cycle and solar recharging. Actual savings vary with consumption patterns and battery round-trip efficiency (~90%).

Without solar, the maths still works. Charging from the grid during super off-peak and discharging during peak creates a daily arbitrage:

Item (no solar, grid charge only)
Amount
Cost to charge 13.5kWh at 8.6151c
$1.16
Peak electricity avoided (13.5kWh × 53.8446c)
$7.27
Additional supply charge vs A1
−$0.13
Net daily saving
$5.98
Annual saving (approx.)
$2,183

Does not account for battery round-trip efficiency losses (typically ~10%).

Against a post-rebate battery cost of $10,000–$12,000 (after the WA Residential Battery Scheme rebate of up to $1,300 and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate), payback sits in the 5–6 year range for the solar+battery scenario. Well within the 10-year warranty period.

Battery rebates make the timing right

Even after the 1 May 2026 federal step-down, the rebate stack holds up. The WA Residential Battery Scheme pays $130 per usable kWh, capped at $1,300 for Synergy customers. That cap applies to the first 10 kWh regardless of battery size. On top, the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program adds roughly $252 per usable kWh from May onwards (down from around $302 pre-May, stepping down annually through 2030). A 10 kWh battery nets around $3,820 combined. Larger batteries keep earning the federal rebate on every kWh above the state cap.
 
Two conditions. The battery has to be on Synergy’s Supported Solutions List (SSL) to qualify for the state rebate and the Plenti no-interest loan. Not every CEC-approved battery makes the SSL, so product choice matters. The Plenti loan covers $2,001–$10,000 over 3–10 years at zero interest for households under $210,000, and can bundle solar panels or inverter upgrades installed alongside the battery. VPP participation is mandatory: Synergy Battery Rewards pays 70c/kWh during activation events (capped at 30 events/year, 6 hours each), with a user-set minimum reserve so you keep backup power. The commitment lasts two years, then ends automatically.

Adding an EV to the equation

If you have solar, a battery, and an electric vehicle (or are planning one), the EV Add-On plan is worth serious attention.

The overnight rate of 19.3841 c/kWh means you can charge your car for roughly a quarter of the cost of petrol per kilometre. And the super off-peak rate of 8.6151 c/kWh during the day means weekend charging from the grid (when your car is at home) is cheaper still. If your solar system has surplus capacity during the day, EV charging from solar is effectively free.

The combination of solar panels, a battery on the Midday Saver or EV Add-On, and an EV creates a household energy profile where your total energy spend (electricity, heating, and transport) drops dramatically. The discussion isn’t just about shaving dollars off an electricity bill. It’s about the total cost of energy across your home and your car.

For households already on the Midday Saver who then buy an EV, switching to the EV Add-On is straightforward. Same peak and super off-peak rates, same supply charge, with an improved overnight rate. Synergy requires proof of EV registration.

Who should switch, and who shouldn’t

Switch to the Midday Saver if you: have a battery (with or without solar), are home during the day and can shift dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer runs to 9am–3pm, run a pool pump that can be scheduled for daytime hours, or are retired or working from home with flexibility over when you run appliances.

Switch to the EV Add-On if you: meet the above criteria and own a registered EV or plug-in hybrid.

Stay on the A1 tariff if you: have solar but no battery and draw most of your grid electricity in the evening, consume less than about 4kWh of grid electricity per day (the higher supply charge erodes the benefit), or don’t want to manage when you use energy. The A1 flat rate is genuinely simpler.

How to switch

Log into your Synergy My Account or call 13 13 53. The switch takes about five business days. If you need a smart meter, Synergy will arrange installation.

Before switching, download your interval data from My Account and review your time-of-day consumption. You want to know your 3pm–9pm consumption as a percentage of total grid draw. If it’s under 30%, the Midday Saver will almost certainly save you money even without a battery.

And if the maths points toward a battery as the missing piece, Perth Solar Warehouse can quote you a system matched to your actual usage and tariff. We’re an approved vendor under the WA Residential Battery Scheme, Tesla Premium Certified Installer five years running, and we’ll tell you honestly whether a battery makes sense for your household or not.

Rates sourced from Synergy Standard Electricity Prices brochure and Synergy plan pages, effective 1 July 2025. Battery rebate information from Energy Policy WA and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Savings are indicative and depend on individual consumption patterns. Perth Solar Warehouse is an approved vendor under the WA Residential Battery Scheme (trading as PSW Energy).

References

Synergy: Energy plans

Interest-free solar & battery: WA’s $10,000 loan changes the calculation

Interest Free Solar Deal Perth WA

The interest-free solar conversation used to begin and end with private finance providers: Brighte, Plenti, HUMM and a repayment plan you arranged through your installer. That model still exists, but it’s no longer the most compelling option for eligible Western Australian households.

Contents

Since 1 July 2025, the WA Residential Battery Scheme has included an optional no-interest loan of up to $10,000, administered by Plenti, as part of the state government’s battery uptake program. For households that qualify, this is a structurally different proposition to a vendor-arranged finance product, and it warrants its own analysis.

What the West Australian scheme offers

The WA Residential Battery Scheme delivers two financial benefits that can be combined:

1. A government rebate on the battery

The rebate is calculated per kWh of usable battery capacity, capped at 10 kWh: 

  • Synergy customers: $130/kWh (up to $1,300)
  • Horizon Power customers: $380/kWh (up to $3,800)

This rebate stacks with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, a separate federal initiative that delivers approximately a 30% upfront discount on eligible batteries (for usable capacity between 5 kWh and 100 kWh, claimable on the first 50 kWh). The combined effect can meaningfully reduce the installed cost before financing is even considered.

2. A no-interest loan (optional, means-tested)

Household gross annual income must be under $210,000. The loan can be used to cover the battery and related equipment, including inverters and solar panels, where installed as part of a battery package under the scheme. 

Loan Amount

$2,001 to $10,000

Term

3 to 10 years

Interest

0% Fixed

Administered by

Plenti

🚨 Important: Participation in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is mandatory to access the rebate and loan. The VPP agreement period is two years, after which households can opt out.

Is this interest-free loan right for you?

The same honest question that applied to private interest-free solar finance applies here, perhaps more so, because the rebate and loan together are more likely to produce a genuine net benefit than a solar-only repayment plan ever was.

The original challenge with solar-only interest-free deals was misalignment between generation and consumption. Solar energy is produced during the day; most households consume energy in the morning and evening. Without a battery, bill savings depend almost entirely on how much daytime load you can shift, an effort that requires behavioural change and, ideally, a consumption monitor to guide decisions.

A battery changes that dynamic. It captures daytime solar generation and makes it available after sundown, when household demand typically peaks and grid energy costs the most. In the Synergy area, the DEBS export rate during peak hours (3pm-9pm) is 10c/kWh, a fraction of what you pay to import at the same time. A battery earning you avoided imports is almost always more valuable than exporting to the grid at 10c and buying back at the retail rate.

This is why the WA scheme’s structure makes sense for many households: it finances the component, a battery, that most directly closes the gap between what solar produces and what you actually save. 

Making the numbers work

Consumption still matters: State financing doesn’t change the physics of a solar-battery system, and the consumption profile logic remains valid.

Load shifting still improves outcomes. Running your dishwasher in the morning rather than after dinner, pre-cooling your home during midday solar production, and timing high-draw appliances to avoid evening peak periods all reduce how much you draw from the battery (and the grid) during expensive hours.

An energy consumption monitor, priced from $390 and included with solar-only systems (accompanies batteries and solar packages), remains one of the highest-value additions to any solar installation. It puts generation, import, and export data in one place, replacing guesswork with actionable information. Perth Solar Warehouse recommends this addition wherever provision allows.

The Synergy Midday Saver tariff is also worth understanding if you’re evaluating load management options, as it offers the lowest cost-per-kWh during daytime hours for eligible customers. 

How to apply through Perth Solar Warehouse

Perth Solar Warehouse, registered under the co-owned PSW Energy brand (McKercher Corporation), is listed by Plenti as an accredited WA Residential Battery Scheme vendor in the Synergy service area. Homeowners don’t lodge rebate applications directly; accredited vendors handle this through the scheme’s approved channel.

  • Confirm your eligibility: Synergy or Horizon Power account, residential property, new battery with at least 5 kWh usable capacity, and willingness to join a VPP. For the loan, the household gross income is under $210,000.
  • Request a quote from PSW: Note whether you're considering the no-interest loan. We'll confirm approved product combinations and itemise the rebate separately in your quote.
  • Loan application (if applicable): Plenti will contact you to complete income verification and credit assessment. Have your most recent tax return accessible, scheme guidance references this, for income verification.
  • Installation and VPP onboarding: Timing constraints apply once approval is confirmed. Book installation promptly; conditional approval is not open-ended.

The scheme is funded for up to 100,000 rebates. Availability is finite.

Comparing your options

Feature
WA Scheme (rebate + loan)
Private finance
No finance
Upfront cost reduction
Govt rebate + federal STC discount
Nil
Nil
Loan interest
0% fixed (scheme-administered)
0% vendor-arranged (merchant fees may apply)
n/a
Income test
Yes (under $210,000 gross)
Generally no
n/a
Battery included
Required
Optional
Your choice
VPP required
Yes (2-year minimum)
No
No
Best suited to
Eligible households wanting battery + govt-backed finance
Solar-only or flexible product preference
Households with capital to deploy outright

💡 Note: Perth Solar Warehouse remains an authorised vendor with Brighte and Plenti for private interest-free finance arrangements, where these better suit a customer’s situation or product preference.

Ready to check eligibility?

Request a battery quote from Perth Solar Warehouse and note whether you’d like to explore the WA scheme’s no-interest loan. We’ll confirm your approved product options, calculate the combined rebate value, and lodge the application through the correct channel.

Request a Quote
Request a Quote
WA Residential Battery Scheme guidance, DEBS pricing schedule (effective 1 July 2025), and federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program information current as of April 2026. Scheme availability and rebate rates are subject to change – verify current program status before proceeding.