Page 186 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

162 CALIFORNIA SOLAR INITIATIVE PROGRAM

On approval of reservation, the host customer is considered as the system owner and
retains sole rights to the reservation. The reservation is a payment guarantee by CSI that
cannot be transferred by the owner, although the system installer can be designated to
act on behalf of the owner.
To proceed with the solar power program, the applicant or owner must receive a
written confirmation letter from the administrating agency and then apply for authoriza-
tion for grid connectivity. In the event of project delays beyond the permitted period of
fund reservation, the customer must reapply for another rebate to obtain authorization.
According to CSI regulations, there are a several categories of customers who do not
qualify to receive the incentive. Customers exempted from the program are organiza-
tions that are in the business of power generation and distribution, publicly owned gas
and electricity distribution utilities, or any entity that purchases electricity or natural
gas for wholesale or retail purposes. As a rule, the customer assumes full ownership
on reception of the incentive payment and technically becomes responsible for the
operation and maintenance of the overall solar power system.
It should be noted that a CSI applicant is recognized as the entity that completes
and submits the reservation forms and becomes the main contact person to commu-
nicate with the program administrator throughout the duration of the project.
However, the applicant also may designate an engineering organization, a system
integrator, an equipment distributor, or even an equipment lessor to act as the designated
applicant.

Solar Power Contractors
and Equipment Sellers

State of California contractors who specialize in solar power installation must hold an
appropriate California contractors’state license. In order to qualify as an installer by the CSI
administrator, the solar power system integrator must provide the following information:

■ Business name and address
■ Principal name or contact
■ Business registration or license number
■ Contractor’s license number
■ Contractor’s bond (if applicable) and corporate limited-liability entities
■ Reseller’s license number (if applicable)

All equipment, such as PV modules, inverters, and meters, sold by equipment
sellers must be Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) approved and certified by the CEC. All
equipment provided must be new and have been tested for at least a period of 1 year.
Use of refurbished equipment is not permitted. It should be noted that experimental,
field-demonstrated, or proof-of-concept operation-type equipment and materials are
not approved and do not qualify for rebate incentives. All equipment used therefore