Solar Retailers

The Rhode Island General Assembly enacted R.I.Gen. Laws § 5-93-4 entitled “Solar retailer registration.” The statute states, in part, “All solar retailers selling, leasing, and/or soliciting residential solar energy systems for purchase or lease shall register with the department and shall renew such registration annually.”

The definition of a Solar Retailer, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-93-2(9) is a person who:

(i) Sells or proposes to sell a residential solar energy system to a customer under a system purchase agreement;

(ii) Owns the residential solar energy system that is the subject of a system lease agreement or proposed system lease agreement; or

(iii) Sells or proposes to sell electricity to a customer under a power purchase agreement. 

Solar Retailers registration is required by law. 

Requirements for Solar Retailers registration: (Click here for a PDF version)

• A current permit to make sales at retail or confirmation of sales tax exemption from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation.
   
• Evidence of general liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and properly damage not less than $500,000 per occurrence and in the aggregate. 
   
• A copy of the solar retailers standard operating procedures. 
   
• A roster of all employees and third-party sales representatives associated with the solar retailer. The roster MUST be updated quarterly, no later than the last day of each calendar quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31). Please utilize the approved roster template that can be found here. 
   
• State background check(s) (BCIs) from the RI Office of the Attorney General for any owner, member, director, principal officer, manager, or sales representative, including third-party sales representatives, of the solar retailer. In addition to the Rhode Island BCI, all non-residents are required to obtain a criminal history record from their home state law enforcement agency. BCIs older than 3 months will NOT be accepted. In consideration of file size, please upload all record checks as one document, if possible. 
   
• A copy of the identification badge worn by employees and third-party sales representatives.
   
• A copy of all solar agreement forms used by the solar retailer.
   
• A copy of all standardized disclosure forms from the Office of Energy Resources (OER).  

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you have any further questions, or if you would like to be added to our interested parties list and be kept informed of any updates regarding Solar Retailers, please email our Solar Retailer Section at DBR.Solar@dbr.ri.gov.