Information for commercial solar water heating contractors

The following information will help you better serve your commercial customers with their solar water heater project. The major steps that you need to take to qualify your customers for a solar water heater incentive are outlined below.

Step 1 - Review program requirements

Before starting the application process, please review the program requirements to ensure that your customer's business meets the criteria for a solar water heater. You may also want to review the Commercial Solar Water Heater Process Checklists for OG-300 systems as well as for standard and pool solar water heating systems.

Step 2 - Application submittal

Contractors must submit a complete application package to SRP on behalf of their customer prior to system installation in order to secure an incentive reservation from SRP. The application package must include:

• A completed Solar Water Heater Incentive Application.
• A Commercial Solar Water Heater Agreement and Bill of Sale for Environmental Attributes and Environmental Attribute Reporting Rights for:
  • Leased systems
  • Owned systems
• An executed purchase contract that includes:
  1. Customer name;
  2. Installation address;
  3. Collector panel manufacturer, model number, and quantity; and
  4. Unbundled cost from other improvement projects.
• A copy of the warranty information as outlined in the program requirements.
• A completed Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Form W-9) for the SRP customer of record.

Application packages can be submitted to SRP in several ways:

• Email: SRPSolarBiz@srpnet.com
• Fax: (602) 629-7985
• Mail:
  • SRP Commercial Solar Water Heater Program
    PAB 355
    P.O. Box 52025
    Phoenix, AZ 85072

SRP will review the application package for completeness. If additional information is needed, SRP will notify the applicant prior to reserving the incentive. If everything is in order, SRP will reserve an incentive within 7-10 business days following receipt of the application. An email will be sent notifying the applicant that the incentive has been reserved.

For standard and pool solar water heating systems, the following additional information must be received by SRP no later than 90 days from the date the incentive is reserved in order to complete the application process:

• Energy Savings and Design Output Report (ES&D)

If you make changes to any portion of the application at a later date, you must submit to SRP a completed Application Addendum form.

Step 3 - Design review

After the ES&D report has been received, the system will be reviewed by SRP and a third party entity to ensure the proposed design will comply with program requirements. The contractor will be notified if they have approval to proceed with installation or if additional changes are required.

Step 4 - Installation

Upon receiving approval to proceed from SRP, the contractor must obtain all applicable building permits as required by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Once all building permits are obtained, the contractor can then install the equipment according to the specifications approved by SRP and the AHJ.

Step 5 - AHJ inspection

After installation, the contractor will need to request an inspection from the AHJ. If the applicable AHJ does not require building permits or inspections, the contractor must submit an SRP Certificate In-Lieu of Plumbing Clearance for Solar Thermal Projects (CILC) to SRP. The customer must sign the CILC and the installer's signature must be notarized.

Step 6 - Complete and submit necessary paperwork

SRP requires the following documents be submitted before the application can continue through the process:

• A copy of the building permit that includes:
  1. Customer name;
  2. Installation address;
  3. Permit number;
  4. Description of work; and
  5. Fees paid.
• A copy of the clearance that matches the information on the building permit or a CILC if the AHJ does not require an inspection.
• For OG-300 systems, a final invoice from the listed dealer or installer that includes:
  1. Customer name;
  2. Installation address;
  3. System manufacturer, OG-300 model number and quantity;
  4. Actual installation date; and
  5. Unbundled cost from other improvement projects.
• For pool solar water heating systems, a copy of the Maricopa County Environmental Services Bathing Inspection Report (for systems in Maricopa County) or a copy of the Pinal County Public and Semipublic Bathing Place Inspection Form (for systems located in Pinal County).

Step 7 - SRP performance audit

Once SRP has received and processed all necessary paperwork, an SRP performance audit must be performed. The purpose of the performance audit is to ensure the actual installation matches the design provided in the application and ES&D, which was approved by SRP under Step 3. The customer or contractor can contact a solar representative at (602) 236-4664 to schedule the audit.

For applications accepted as of May 1, 2012, an SRP standard fee will be charged for each additional audit beyond the second audit. The SRP standard fee is currently $203. This fee will be deducted from the SRP incentive being paid to the contractor on the customer's behalf. The contractor shall not seek reimbursement from the customer for the cost of any re-audit. This fee is subject to change on an annual fiscal year basis.

Step 8 - Performance verification

After receiving a passed performance audit, SRP will begin a 12-month performance verification test for all standard solar water heaters and pool solar water heaters. OG-300 systems do not undergo a 12-month performance verification test. During the SRP 12-Month Performance Verification Test, the installer must report monthly the metered data to include the energy value, date of reading and contact information of the individual submitting the data. This information must be emailed to SRPSolarBiz@srpnet.com. A final meter read will be taken at the beginning and the end of the 12-month period and the information from the meter reads will be used in calculating the final incentive. The customer should contact a solar representative at (602) 236-4664 at the end of the 12-month period to have SRP conduct a final meter read.

Step 9 - Incentive payment

Upon receipt and verification of all required documentation, SRP will issue 40% of the reserved incentive to the contractor on behalf of the customer after the system passes an SRP performance audit. The balance of the incentive will be issued at the end of the 12-month performance verification test. The incentive check will be issued to the contractor on behalf of the customer.

Contact us

If you have questions about SRP's Commercial Solar Water Heater Program, please contact a solar representative at (602) 236-4664.