Program Requirements and Other Provisions

(1) Reporting Requirements. (a) Generator Account Registration. An asset shall be established for individual STGUs within a generator account at NEPOOL GIS. For Non-NEPOOL Generators, as that term is defined under Rule 2.1(a)(vi) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules, multiple STGUs may be registered under a single asset. (b) Settlement Market System Assets. The electrical energy output from an STGU registered as a NEPOOL Generator, as that term is defined under Rule 2.1(a)(i) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules, shall be verified by the ISO-NE. (c) Non-NEPOOL Market Assets. The electrical energy output from an STGU registered as a Non-NEPOOL Generator, as that term is defined under Rule 2.1(a)(ii) of the NEPOOL GIS Operating Rules, shall be reported to the Independent Verifier, as approved by the Department, for all such assets. (d) Duration of Distribution Company Asset Ownership. A Distribution Company shall retain the asset ownership and rights to all RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attributes associated with an STGU registered in a Distribution Company's NEPOOL GIS generator account for as long as the STGU is eligible to receive payment for such RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attributes and any Environmental Attributes as prescribed in 225 CMR 28.07(1). Following this period, ownership rights to assets and the RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attributes and any other Environmental Attributes that an STGU generates will be owned by the STGU Owner. (2) Capacity Expansions. Both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) capacity expansions to the capacity listed in an STGU's Statement of Qualification are not permitted except under the following circumstances: (a) a direct current capacity expansion to an STGU's rated capacity is permitted if the expansion occurs within an STGU's Reservation Period; and (b) direct current and alternating current capacity expansions following an STGU's Commercial Operation Date may be allowed if the STGU can demonstrate to the Department's satisfaction that the expansion is de minimis and is required for equipment replacement or reconfiguration necessary to ensure the continued operation of the STGU. (3) Special Provisions for Relocated and Replacement Generation Units. The Department may provide a Statement of Qualification to a solar photovoltaic Generation Unit that meets one of the following categories and criteria, as well as all other relevant provisions of 225 CMR 28.00: (a) Relocated STGU. A solar photovoltaic Generation Unit whose equipment was used before June 20, 2025 to generate electrical energy outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that is interconnected with the electric grid in the service territory of a Distribution Company on or after June 20, 2025 may qualify as an STGU, provided that no components of the Power Conversion Technology were used in a Generation Unit located in the Commonwealth prior to June 20, 2025. No components from a Generation Unit previously qualified as an RPS Class I Renewable Generation Unit, Solar Carve-out Renewable Generation Unit, Solar Carve-out II Renewable Generation Unit, Solar Tariff Generation Unit under 225 CMR 20.00, or STGU under 225 CMR 28.00 shall be eligible to qualify as part of an STGU. (b) Replacement STGU. A solar photovoltaic Generation Unit that replaces an inactive or decommissioned solar photovoltaic Generation Unit that had operated on the same site for at least 15 years prior to the Statement of Qualification Application submission date, may submit a Statement of Qualification Application under 225 CMR 28.00 and qualify for a Base Compensation Rate and Compensation Rate Adders equal to half of the applicable incentive rates for the Program Year in which the Statement of Qualification Application is submitted. (4) Maintenance of Contact Information. The Owner or Authorized Agent of an STGU shall maintain up to date contact information for the STGU and shall respond in a timely manner, not to exceed ten Business Days, to communications from the Department necessary for the administration and enforcement of 225 CMR 28.00. (5) Notification Requirements for Change in Eligibility Status. The Owner or Authorized Agent of an STGU shall notify the Solar Program Administrator of any changes that may affect the continued eligibility of the Generation Unit as an STGU. The Owner or Authorized Agent shall submit the notification to the Solar Program Administrator no later than five days following the end of the month during which such changes were implemented. The notice shall state the date the changes were made to the STGU and describe the changes in sufficient detail to enable the Solar Program Administrator and the Department to determine if a change in eligibility is warranted. (6) Notification Requirements for Change in Ownership, Generation Capacity, or Contact Information. The Owner or Authorized Agent of an STGU shall notify the Solar Program Administrator of any changes in the ownership, capacity, or contact information for the STGU. The Owner or Authorized Agent shall submit the notification to the Solar Program Administrator no later than five days following the end of the month during which such changes were implemented. (7) Compliance with the SMART Tariffs. STGUs shall remain in compliance with the provisions set forth in the SMART Tariffs as approved by the DPU. STGUs determined to be non-compliant with the SMART Tariff may be notified by the Department that they are found to be non-compliant pursuant to 225 CMR 28.17, which may result in the suspension or revocation of a Statement of Qualification.