OAR 330-070-0025: Application for System Certification

(1) Applicants for a tax credit must obtain a system certification from the department. (2) All applications for a system certification must meet all of the following: (a) Provide all requested information and include a statement that the system and technician or owner-builder will meet all federal, state and local requirements. (b) Include the applicant’s social security number for use as an identification number in maintaining internal records. The applicant’s social security number may be shared with the Department of Revenue to establish the identity of an individual in order to administer state tax law. (c) State: (A) The system cost of the AED; (B) The location of the AED; and (C) That the applicant has received an operating manual for the AED, except that no operating manual is required for sunspaces or direct gain space heating systems. (d) Include an agreement by the tax-credit technician to make any changes required by the department for the system to comply with ORS 469B.100 through 469B.118 and 316.116. (e) Be signed by the applicant and tax-credit technician, if any. Alternatively, a form of electronic signature acceptable to the department may be provided. (f) Include no false or misleading information about an AED. (g) For third-party installations, include a valid reference number as issued to the third-party by the department under OAR 330-070-0029. (h) The contractor’s certification that the AED was installed in accordance with manufacturer’s installation specifications and all applicable codes and standards. (3) System certification applications for solar water heating AEDs must contain: (a) All the data required in section (2); (b) The number of collectors; (c) The manufacturer and/or supplier; (d) The collector dimensions and/or the net area of the collectors; (e) The amount of heat storage; (f) The system type; (g) A declaration of Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) Standard 300 certification status or equivalence, as determined by the department; (h) The system model; (i) A description of the orientation and tilt of the collector; (j) A solar site assessment for the collector location; (k) A consumer disclosure signed by the applicant and technician or supplier, if any. The disclosure must be provided to the applicant and include estimated energy savings of the AED, required conservation items, required maintenance and freeze protection information; and (L) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (4) System certification applications for active solar space heating AEDs must contain: (a) All the data required in sections (2) and (3) of this rule; (b) A heat loss estimate for the home; (c) The type and amount of thermal storage; (d) A solar site assessment for the collector location; and (e) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (5) System certification applications for passive solar space heating AEDs must contain: (a) All the data required in section (2) above; (b) A copy of the building permit plans; (c) A copy of the window specifications used; (d) The type and amount of thermal storage; (e) A solar site assessment taken at the center of the solar glazing; and (f) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (6) System certification applications for photovoltaic AEDs must contain: (a) The data required in section (2); (b) Retail customer pricing information for: (A) Total project labor, and (B) Total project materials; (c) The number of modules; (d) The brand name of the module(s); (e) The rated DC output in watts of the module(s) under Standard Test Conditions (STC); (f) A description of the storage provided if storage is a part of the system; (g) Storage brand and model; (h) Storage capacity in kWh; (i) The brand name of the inverter if an inverter is part of the system; (j) The capacity of the inverter; (k) The Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF); (L) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility; (m) The permit number and date of final inspection from the applicant’s local jurisdiction; and (n) All applications submitted by a tax-credit technician (TCT) after June 1, 2015, must be submitted through PowerClerk and must be initially input into PowerClerk on or before December 31, 2017. (7) System certification applications for geothermal systems must contain: (a) All the data required in section (2) of this rule; (b) For all systems connected to a well, data on the well including: (A) Depth; (B) Diameter (cased); (C) Temperature; (D) Static water level below grade; (E) A copy of the well driller's log, if available; and (F) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (c) For systems connected to a heat pump: (A) Brand name and model number of the heat pump; (B) Rated output at the entering water temperature; (C) Estimated system COP rated by AHRI under ANSI/AHRI/ASHRAE/ISO Standard 13256-1, at an entering water temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit; and (D) Any other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (d) For geothermal systems: (A) All the information in subsection (7)(b) of this rule; (B) Brand name, rated output, estimated COP; (C) Length and depth of the loop; (D) Materials and spacing used; (E) Type of heat transfer fluid; and (F) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (8) System certification applications for energy-efficient appliances must contain: (a) All the data required in section (2) of this rule; (b) The brand name, make, model number, capacity and/or size of the appliance; (c) A signed copy of the sales agreement, which must include all of the following: (A) Verification of applicant’s name and address, (B) Verification of model of appliance, and (C) Verification of actual price paid for appliance; (d) Certification of new equipment warranty; (e) For air source ducted heat pumps systems and furnace systems a description of the distribution system; and (f) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (9) System certification applications for alternative fuel devices must contain: (a) Taxpayer’s name; (b) Taxpayer identification or social security number; (c) Installation location by street address; (d) The name of the licensed and bonded company employing the technician; (e) The employing company’s business location; (f) The brand name, make, model number, or component list of the alternative fuel device; (g) A signed copy of the sales agreement, which will include all of the following: (A) Verification of applicant’s name and address, (B) Verification of model of, or components used for alternative fuel device, and (C) Verification of actual price paid for the alternative fuel device; (h) Certification of new equipment warranty; and (i) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (10) System certification applications for fuel cells must contain: (a) All of the data required in section (2) of this rule; (b) The rated fuel cell stack peak capacity, in kW; (c) The rated fuel cell system peak capacity, in kW (this rating includes peak capacity enhancing devices such as batteries and other storage devices or systems); (d) Whether or not the system is grid connected; (e) The fuel used by the system; (f) The type of fuel stack (PEM, PAFC, SOFC, etc.); (g) An estimate of the average load, in kW, expected to be placed on the system; (h) The thermal energy production rate, in Btu/hour, at peak capacity and at the average load specified in (10)(f) above; (i) Whether or not the system has provisions for thermal heat recovery, and if so, where the thermal energy is designed to be used (domestic hot water, space heating, etc.); and (j) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (11) System certification applications for premium efficiency biomass combustion devices must contain: (a) The manufacturer, model, capacity, serial number of the device; (b) The device characteristics, defined as catalytic, non-catalytic, or pellet stove or boiler; (c) Vendor name and address; (d) Price paid for the device, any parts or installation; (e) Efficiency information, as described in OAR 330-070-0073; (f) For replacement of uncertified woodstoves, the applicant must additionally provide: (A) A signed certification from the applicant verifying that the wood burning device being replaced has been rendered unusable, can no longer be used as a heating device, and will be retired permanently from service; and (B) Documentation, in the form of a disposal receipt from a metal recycler, landfill or licensed contractor, verifying that the wood burning device being replaced is an uncertified woodstove and has been rendered unusable; and (g) Other data the department requires to determine eligibility. (12) A system certification may be transferred by an applicant who does not qualify for tax relief to the first eligible buyer of the dwelling. (13) For a third-party financed system, the application must provide copies of an energy purchase or lease agreement and full service maintenance agreement. (14) An application for a tax credit must be received by the department on or before June 1, 2018. (15) An application required to be submitted in PowerClerk must be initially input on or before December 31, 2017.