CSI Project Review 85

It is the intent of the CSI Program to provide incentives for reliable, permanent, and safe solar energy systems that are professionally installed in compliance with all CSI Program Handbook rules, as well as all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

California Solar Initiative Program

Program Administrators will conduct a CSI Project Review to verify that each project is installed as represented in the Incentive Claim Documentation and to ensure that the Host Customer and Applicant have complied with all CSI Program Handbook requirements.

Among the components of the CSI Project Review are:

 Onsite field inspections, including verification of CSI application information and/or metering inspections (if applicable)

 Application process review, including:

o Review of all project application documentation o Review of interconnection information

o Review of any other information about the Applicant's project that has been

received by the Program Administrators

o Review of PBI payment documentation (if applicable)

The results of the CSI Project Review process may affect project incentive payments and eligibility for future program participation.

First, the CSI Project Review process will determine whether a specific project should be paid incentives under the CSI program. The incentive payment will be contingent on and may be adjusted based on any aspect of the CSI Project Review, including applicable onsite field inspections. If an issue arises during the CSI Project Review, the Applicant, Solar Contractor, System Owner, Seller, and/or Host Customer may have the opportunity to correct the problem. However, if an issue arises during the onsite field inspection, the project is subject to the results of the inspection.

Second, the CSI Project Review process may also determine whether an Applicant, Solar Contractor, System Owner, Seller, and/or Host Customer are subject to the consequences for failures and/or immediate disqualification from participating in the CSI Program as provided in Sections 4.10.1 and 4.10.2.

The Program Administrator will notify the Applicant, Solar Contractor, System Owner, Seller, and/or Host Customer if the CSI Project Review will result in a change in system size and/or incentive amount due to failure or immediate disqualification as provided in Section 4.10.3.

4.9.1

Onsite Field Inspections

A portion of all CSI general market projects (EPBB and PBI) and SASH projects are subject to onsite field inspections or may be inspected at the Program Administrator's discretion. All MASH systems will receive an onsite field inspection. The Program Administrators will perform onsite field inspection for the first two Incentive Claim Forms submitted by each new Applicant and/or Solar Contractor. After the completion of two successful field inspections, each Applicant will have a minimum one in twelve projects inspected in the program overall, but each Program Administrator may inspect more projects from any particular Applicant or Solar Contractor. The Program Administrators may determine whether to conduct an onsite field inspection randomly and/or based on Applicant or Solar Contractors’ participation in the CSI Program. Parameters that may affect frequency or incidence of onsite field inspection include: Applicant or Solar

California Solar Initiative Program

Contractor being new to the CSI program, frequency of new applications in the program, and results of prior CSI onsite field inspections, or results of prior CSI Project Reviews.

It is recommended, but not required, that the Applicant attend the inspection. If neither the Applicant nor the Host Customer will be present during the inspection, the inspector must obtain permission from the Applicant or Host Customer to perform the inspection.

4.9.1.1 Key Project Components Reviewed During Onsite Field Inspection

The inspectors will verify the System is installed in accordance with information provided on the Incentive Claim documentation, and in compliance with CSI handbook rules.

The following are some examples of what will be inspected and verified: Modules and Inverter(s)

 Manufacturer

 Model Number (if model nameplate is not visible, invoice is necessary for verification)

 Quantity Installation Parameters  Tilt  Azimuth  Standoff Height  Shading of Array(s)

o The Program Administrators reserve the right to ask for a shading study from an

Applicant. Shading studies will generally be requested for projects that do not meet the minimal shading requirements

Operation

 System is operational, and output is reasonable for conditions at the time of the inspection

PBI or PMRS Meter or Metering Related Equipment

 The metering equipment must meet the requirements as outlined in Sections 5.1 and 5.2.

4.9.1.2 Acceptable Range of Parameters for Key Project Components Reviewed During Inspection

The onsite field inspector will review and record key project components found at the installation site. The Program Administrators will evaluate and compare the results of the inspection to the Incentive Claim documentation.

California Solar Initiative Program

The inspection results must fall within the following tolerances to pass inspection:

 Tilt ± 3º

 Azimuth ± 5º

 Summer Shading (May-October) ± 5%

A new EPBB Calculator will be run and the project incentive modified accordingly if:

 The onsite field inspection results are outside of the above tolerances, or

 The onsite field inspection reveals other discrepancies between key project components and the project's Incentive Claim documentation.

If applicable, an infraction or failure as defined in Sections 4.9.2.1 and 4.9.2.2 will be issued to the appropriate party if the incentive identified on the original Incentive Claim Form is 5% greater or below the incentive amount resulting from the onsite field inspection. All project incentives are subject to the results of the onsite field inspection.

The Program Administrator will notify the Applicant, Solar Contractor, System Owner, Seller, and/or Host Customer if an onsite field inspection will result in a change in system size and/or incentive amount.

4.9.2

Infractions and Failures

A project can receive an infraction or failure based on the CSI Project Review or the onsite field inspection.

4.9.2.1 Issuance of Infractions

An infraction can be issued to the Applicant, Solar Contractor, System Owner, and/or Host Customer for the following reasons but are not limited to:

 The incentive amount submitted in the incentive claim documentation differs from that of the onsite inspection incentive results between 5-10%

 Neglecting to provide required documentation on a consistent basis, such as Host Customer contact information

 Neglecting to respond to requested information within the 14 day time period on a consistent basis

 Failure to include System Owner on high-level service notification alerts indicating a non- functioning or poorly functioning system related to PBI system performance.

4.9.2.2 Issuance of Failures

A failure can be issued to the Applicant, Solar Contractor, System Owner, and/or Host Customer for the following reasons but are not limited to:

California Solar Initiative Program

 The incentive amount submitted in the incentive claim documentation differs from that of the onsite inspection incentive results greater than 10%

 3 Infractions as defined in section 4.9.2.1

 Re-inspections (due to contested result) found to have adjustments made to match the original submission following the initial inspection

 Re-inspections (due to contested result) found to have the same results as the original inspection

 System is found non-operational at the time of inspection due to equipment failure

 Installation of PV modules, invertersand/or performance meters not on the CEC’s list of eligible equipment or otherwise ineligible for incentives

 Failing to disclose the actual contractor performing work on Installation Contract

 Failure to notify the Program Administrator of a system addition of any size after an incentive has been issued.