(a)  When the state energy office finds that each sale and installation of a renewable energy system can meet the standards adopted under the provisions of this chapter without requiring a system certification, the state energy office may issue a contractor certification to a contractor. A contractor certification may be required for tax credit eligibility of a specific renewable energy system if the office determines that this will improve installation quality and program efficiency. A contractor certification shall apply only to the specific products, plans, specifications, and installations and operation procedures approved by the state energy office in the contractors certification.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 44-57-8

  • Consumer information: means literature that is provided by the state energy office to contractors, solar dealers, and consumers informing them about the tax credit contained in this chapter and general consumer information;

    (8)  "Contractor" means a person or company who sells and/or installs renewable energy systems;

    (9)  "Contractors' certification" means a contractor system certification issued by the state energy office to a contractor for a specific renewable energy system. See Rhode Island General Laws 44-57-2

  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • State energy office: means the Rhode Island state energy office, also known as the governor's office of energy assistance, within the department of administration;

    (28)  "System approval" means an approval given to renewable energy systems that meet all of the requirements of the state energy office;

    (29)  "System certification" means certification that a renewable energy system as described in the application meets criteria for the tax credit;

    (30)  "Used equipment" means any solar tank or collector which previously has been installed or any piece of equipment not under current manufacturers' warranty;

    (31)  "Verification form" means a form filed with the division of taxation (upon request) by an applicant claiming eligibility for the tax credit. See Rhode Island General Laws 44-57-2

(b)  Application for a contractor certification shall be made, in writing, on a form provided by the state energy office. The application shall contain:

(1)  A statement that the solar dealer and/or solar contractor is registered and in good standing with the contractors’ registration board and has any license, bonding insurance, and permit that is required by the contractors’ registration board for the sale, construction, and installation of renewable energy systems;

(2)  A description of the renewable energy system, including at least the material, equipment and mechanism used in the device, operating procedures, freeze protection method, method of indicating flow or temperature, sizing and siting method, and installation procedure;

(3)  The addresses of three (3) installations of the systems installed by the applicant that the state energy office may inspect;

(4)  The range of installed costs of the device;

(5)  Names and addresses of all retail outlets, partners, and investors in the business, officers, licensed plumbers, license;

(6)  Sample copies of sales contracts, including any warranty provisions; and

(7)  Any other information that the state energy office determines is needed.

(c)  The holder of a contractor certification shall notify the state energy office within ten (10) days if changes are made in any of the information in the contractor certification application.

(d)  The holder of a contractor certification shall provide the owner of the renewable energy system with a copy of their contractor’s certification, their building contractor’s registration number, a copy of consumer information published by the state energy office, an operating manual, and a statement of the reasonably expected annual energy savings of the renewable energy system. The contractor shall provide the state energy office with a copy of each signed verification form.

(e)  The state energy office may reject any application if the renewable energy system does not comply with the provisions of this chapter. The state energy office shall explain all rejected applications in writing. Approved requests for lesser costs than claimed by the applicant will also include written reasons.

(f)  Any system that is not the same as the system or systems for which a contractor certification has been issued shall require a system certification application.

(g)  Contractor certificates must be renewed annually. Renewal forms shall be available, upon request, through the state energy office.

History of Section.
P.L. 2000, ch. 145, § 1.