                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

 LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME SOLAR LOAN AND REBATE PILOT PROGRAM (§ 45.2-1917)

A. The Board, with the approval of the Director, shall develop and establish a
Low-to-Moderate Income Solar Loan and Rebate Pilot Program and rules for the
loan or rebate application process. The Program shall be open to any Virginia
resident whose household income is at or below 80 percent of the state median
income or regional median income, whichever is greater. The Program shall allow
only one loan per residence, irrespective of the ownership of the solar energy
system that is installed. Such loan shall be available only for a solar
installation or energy efficiency improvements pursuant to the provisions of
Chapter 1.2 (&#xA7; 36-55.24 et seq.) of Title 36.

B. The Board shall accept an application only from the installer of the solar
installation or the agent of the customer.
			Each application shall include (i) 12 months of the customer&#8217;s utility
bills prior to installation of the solar energy system and an agreement to
provide 12 months of utility bills to the Board following the installation; (ii)
the customer&#8217;s permission for the Director to (a) create a customer
profile for the customer if he becomes an eligible loan or rebate customer, (b)
aggregate the data provided by such eligible loan or rebate customers, and (c)
use such aggregate data for the purpose of lowering energy costs and
implementing effective programs; (iii) evidence of the completion of a home
performance audit, conducted by a qualified local weatherization service
provider, before and after installation of energy efficiency services such as
lighting or insulation improvements, attic tents, weatherization, air sealing of
openings in the building envelope, sealing of ducts, or thermostat upgrades, to
demonstrate that such energy efficiency services were completed and resulted in
a reduction in consumption of at least 12 percent; and (iv) an affidavit
attesting to the receipt of a public benefit at the time the solar energy system
is to be installed.

C. The Board shall review each application submitted to it on a first-come,
first-served basis and shall recommend to the Director the approval or denial of
each such application within 30 days of receipt. If the Director approves an
application, he shall hold a reservation of funds for as long as 180 days for
final loan or rebate claim and disbursement.

D. A customer whose application is approved may install an energy system that is
interconnected pursuant to the provisions of &#xA7; 56-594 or any section in
Title 56 that addresses net energy metering provisions for electric cooperative
service territories.

E. All of the work of installing the energy system shall be completed by a
licensed contractor that (i) possesses an Alternative Energy System (AES)
Contracting specialty as defined by the Board for Contractors pursuant to the
provisions of Chapter 11 (&#xA7; 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1; (ii)
possesses certification for solar installation from the North American Board of
Certified Energy Practitioners, Solar Energy International, Roof Integrated
Solar Energy, or a similar installer certification program; (iii) possesses a
rating of &#8220;A&#8221; or higher from the local Better Business Bureau; and
(iv) has installed a minimum of 150 net-metered residential solar systems in the
Commonwealth. If the work of installing the solar energy system requires
electrical work, such work shall be completed by an electrical contractor
licensed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. All
photovoltaic panels, inverters, and other electrical apparatus used in the solar
energy system shall be tested and certified by a federal Occupational Safety and
Health Administration Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL LLC
and installed in compliance with manufacturer specifications and all applicable
building and electrical codes.

F. The customer or the installer, acting on behalf of the customer, shall submit
any loan or rebate claim within 90 days of completion of the installation of the
solar energy system, with completion deemed to have occurred once the solar
energy system&#8217;s bi-directional meter or net meter, or the respective
utility&#8217;s revenue grade meter, has been installed and the system has been
electrified. Each rebate claim shall include, at a minimum, a date of system
electrification and a time-stamped and date-stamped verification of (i)
bi-directional net meter delivery or (ii) the operation of a compatible
programmed smart meter capable of tracking net metering activity.

G. The Director shall review and approve or deny a loan or rebate claim within
60 days of receipt and shall provide a written explanation of each denial to the
respective claimant. The Director shall disburse from the Fund created pursuant
to &#xA7; 45.2-1916 the loan or rebate for each approved claim within 60 days of
its receipt of the claim and according to the order in which its respective
application was approved. Any rebate or grant shall be in the amount of no more
than $2 per DC watt for up to six kilowatts of solar capacity installed. The
customer may use a rebate in addition to any federal tax credits or state
incentives or enhancements earned for the same solar installation.

HISTORY: 2019, c. 554, § 45.1-399; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.