PJM Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS) is the credit registry selected by the State of Pennsylvania to issue alternative energy credits (AECs). A GATS account may be created by using the certification number assigned to a system once it is approved. Facility meter readings for registered facilities are reported in the GATS system. Each megawatt-hour (1 MWh = 1,000 kWh) of generation from a qualified alternative energy system corresponds to a number of AECs issued. Once issued by PJM-GATS, the AECs become available to transfer to buyers.
The energy year runs from June 1st through May 31st.
Applications for alternative energy systems are reviewed by the Program Administrator within 30 days of submission. In this time you will receive either an approval email containing the assigned state certification number, or an email requesting additional information. Upon resolution of errant or missing information, the program administrator will approve or deny certification and the applicant will be notified via email.
Currently, there is no limit to how long a system can earn AECs in Pennsylvania. Future legislation may change how long systems have to earn AECs in the program.
For systems with multiple fuel sources, you will provide quarterly fuel reports showing the monthly generation and allocation between the various fuel types. We will review the report to confirm only eligible generation was reported to the GATS.
AECs are expected to remain with the home. Any arrangement made between the buyer and the seller will be at the risk of both parties. In order to update AEC ownership, both parties must complete and sign the PJM-GATS system change form and submit it to the Administrator via email to [email protected].
A settlement statement, closing statement or deed may be requested by the Program Administrator. If submitting the settlement or closing statement, all information on the documents may be redacted except for the buyers’ and sellers’ names, signatures, and the closing date.
Net metering is a billing mechanism in which the net meter reads excess energy that is exported to the grid and credits the alternative energy system owner for that electricity added to the grid. For example, if a residential solar PV system produces more electricity than the home uses during daylight hours, the system owner will receive credit that allows them to be billed for only the net energy use when electricity use exceeds the system’s output.
The Program Administrator will notify applicants of any missing or additional information needed via email. There will also be a note within the pending application, and visible on the applicant dashboard, indicating what information is needed for approval of the system. Per PUC guidelines, system owners have 180 days from the submission date of the application to complete the missing or additional information request. If the Program Administrator does not receive a response from the system owner within the 180 day time period, the application may be rejected and any production over the past 180 days will not be eligible for credits.
An application may be submitted once the interconnecting utility grants final approval to operate as indicated by an official approval notice, the system is placed online, and production is recorded. Eligible generation begins the date a fully completed application is submitted to the PA AEPS Program Administrator or the date of interconnection approval, whichever is later. Any generation prior to the later of the two dates is not eligible to earn credits.
A Final Approval to Operate may also be called a “Certificate of Completion” (CoC) or “Permission to Operate” (PTO) and is issued by the interconnecting utility company. The final approval to operate date is indicated on the CoC or PTO as the date in which the utility grants final approval to turn on and operate the system. Applications may not be submitted until final approval to operate the system has been granted by the interconnecting utility. The approval to operate date must match the date on the CoC or PTO uploaded on Step 4 of the application.
In accordance with PA AEPS requirements, a random sample of solar generators registered in the PA AEPS program to earn alternative energy credits are selected for inspection by the program administrator or its contractor, Renewable Reviews, each year.
If you have received an inspection notice email, it is because you are listed as the main point of contact for the referenced generator. The inspection serves to verify unit output and compliance with program requirements.
If you have any questions about the inspection process or the notice you received, please reach out to our team via email or phone.
EE projects are evaluated on a project-by-project basis based on the energy saving calculations provided in the PUC Technical Reference Manual (TRM). The PA AEPS Administrator evaluates the project and outlines the number of AECs the project qualifies for, details how/when the AECs are earned, and calculates credit depreciation for each energy year.
The PA AEPS Administrator also determines whether to issue the AECs in one batch. If so, the certification number issued for the project would only be used once.
Generators do not “bank” their AECs. AECs can be used for AEPS compliance for three years from their generation date.
AECs remain the property of the facility owner until they are voluntarily transferred. Currently, there is no limit to the number of years that credits can be generated. Generators are eligible to create AECs as long as they maintain certification and environmental compliance.
To be eligible to participate in the PA AEPS program, a Solar PV system may be any size and must be located in the PJM regional transmission organization (RTO) footprint.
Eligible facilities located in the PJM footprint can qualify for PA AEPS Tier I certification. Facilities may be certified in multiple state RPS programs, but credits can only be retired to one RPS program and registered in one tracking registry. For example, a facility cannot be registered in both MRETS and PJM-GATS.
For all new systems, photos showing all modules within each array listed are required. The photo(s) must be clear enough to allow counting of each individual module. An Interconnection Approval Agreement, Certificate of Completion (CoC), or Permission to Operate (PTO) document is required for all systems. The Certificate of Completion (CoC) or the Permission to Operate (PTO) must confirm the date the utility granted final approval to operate the system.
If an application is submitted more than 30 days after utility interconnection approval is issued, a meter photo is required. This may be taken from a solar-dedicated meter showing the reading or from an online monitoring portal, if applicable. Photos from bi-directional meters are not allowed for verification purposes as they reflect both production and consumption of a system.
If you have selected an aggregator to manage your system, either a Recognition of Assignment (ROA) or a Schedule A is required. An ROA is required for leased/PPA systems while a Schedule A is required for non-leased/PPA aggregated systems. Please thoroughly review the document and ensure that all required signatures are present.
If your system contains a battery, a site-specific electrical diagram showing the location of the battery is required.
For facilities > 250 kW DC, a site plan showing the layout of all installed modules is required. Please see Qualification for specific facility type requirements.
If your system received utility interconnection approval on or later than May 18, 2017 and has a solar-dedicated revenue-grade meter (RGM), please use the total kWh produced, entered as a whole number, to report your production.
If you do not have a solar-dedicated RGM, it is likely that your meter is incorporated into your inverter and is accessed by the display on the device or through an online monitoring portal.
A bi-directional utility meter may not be used to report production as this records the combined production and consumption. If your system received utility interconnection approval on or before May 17, 2017, is less than 15 kW DC, and does not have a solar-dedicated revenue grade meter for recording kWh production, the facility may earn Solar AECs based on PV Watts estimates.
If this is an expansion or second system at the same address, please check that you have selected “Yes” for “Aspect of an Existing Facility.”
If you are the homeowner and this is the first system being submitted for registration at this installation address, please confirm with your installer or your aggregator, if you have selected one, as they may have submitted an application on your behalf. If not, please contact the PA AEPS Program Administrators at [email protected].
If you are an aggregator, please contact the PA AEPS Program Administrators at [email protected].
A new application must be submitted for the addition as an “aspect of an existing facility.” This is available in Step 1 of the application.
If the new system is metered with the original system, please provide information for only the additional equipment installed. This includes the additional array(s) details such as the number of modules, orientation, and module power rating as well as additional (not preexisting) inverter(s) installed. You will also need to provide the existing PA Certification Number and a new Certificate of Completion/Permission to Operate issued by the utility if there are changes to the AC size.
If the new system is separately metered, please provide proof that production is recorded and monitored separately (a screenshot of the monitoring portal or photo(s) of the solar dedicated meters will suffice). Separately metered applications will require all new supporting documentation. Please include “(second system)” or “(addition)” after the street name to avoid a duplicate address error..
No. When adding a new system, alternative energy generators must apply for the second facility within the same account. Please note that this is not considered an “aspect” of an existing system, but rather a new facility with a new certification number.
Please email [email protected] the facility address, owner’s name, date of decommission, and the reason for decommission.
In accordance with the PA AEPS Alternative Energy Credit Program requirements, each year several registered generators are selected for a physical inspection to verify unit output and compliance with program requirements. During the inspection of the generator we request a walkthrough of the facility and the generation plant along with an explanation of the on-site technology and how generation is recorded and reported to PJM-GATS for the generation of Pennsylvania AECs.
Renewable Reviews, LLC has been contracted by the PA AEPS Program Administrator to perform the required site inspections. To verify the validity of this request, please feel free to reach out to the PA AEPS Program Administrator. If you have received an inspection notice email, it is because you are listed as the main point of contact for the referenced generator. If you have any questions about the inspection process or the notice you received, please reach out to our team via email or phone.
AECs must be retired in your GATS sub-accounts proportionally to the territories where you served load. We provide the breakdown of Tier I non-solar, Tier II, and Solar AECs by EDC territory on your PA AEPS portal and on your obligation letter.
Tier I credits exclusively apply to Tier I compliance and Tier II credits exclusively apply to Tier II compliance; Solar AECs may be used to meet both solar and Tier I requirements.
The accurate price paid for each credit must be provided through the PJM-GATS system unless the credits were self-generated or bundled with energy. Please make sure that your suppliers are transferring credits to you with pricing included.
No, you may only retire the number of credits on your obligation letter by load zone. You can retire the additional expiring credits to meet voluntary compliance, if applicable. The PJM-GATS Administrator can assist in making voluntary retirements.
In accordance with the implementation of Act 40, all solar facilities located outside of the state of Pennsylvania are assigned a Tier I non-solar certification number in the format of PA-XXXXXX-NSTI-I (“NSTI”).
Out-of-state solar credits from generation prior to and through the month of October 2017 will remain eligible for PA AEPS solar compliance until those credits are retired or expire. These certificates will maintain their certification of PA-XXXXXX-SUN-I (“SUN”). Credits are valid the year they are generated through the subsequent two years.
EDCs/EGSs with contracts for out-of-state solar PV credits should follow the guidelines issued in the May 16, 2018 Secretarial Letter to file a petition with the PUC. If you will be retiring out-of-state (NSTI) credits with an approved order from the PUC, please provide a copy of the order and a spreadsheet of credits that you will be retiring via email so we can confirm their approval for retirement by the PUC.
