§ 62-126.6 — Electric customer generator leasing requirements; disclosures; records

North Carolina § 62-126.6

• Jurisdiction: North Carolina
• Ch. 62: Public Utilities
• Art. 6B: Distributed Resources Access Act

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(a) A lease agreement offered by an electric generator lessor must meet the following requirements:
(1) Be signed and dated by the retail electric customer. Any agreement that contains blank spaces when signed by the retail electric customer is voidable at the option of the retail electric customer until the solar energy facility is installed.
(2) Be in at least 12-point type.
(3) Include a provision granting the retail electric customer the right to rescind the agreement for a period of not less than three business days after the agreement is signed by the retail electric customer.
(4) Provide a description of the solar energy facility, including the make and model of the solar energy facility's major components, and a guarantee concerning energy production output that the solar energy facility will provide over the expected life of the agreement.
(5) Separately set forth the following items, as applicable:
a. The total cost to the retail electric customer under the lease agreement for the solar energy facility over the life of the agreement.
b. Any interest, installation fees, document preparation fees, service fees, or other costs to be paid by the retail electric customer.
c. The total number of payments, including the interest, the payment frequency, the estimated amount of the payment expressed in dollars, and the payment due date over the leased term.
(6) Identify any State or federal tax incentives that are included in the calculation of lease payments.
(7) Disclose whether the warranty or maintenance obligations related to the solar energy facility may be sold or transferred to a third party.
(8) Include a disclosure, the receipt of which shall be separately acknowledged by the retail electric customer, if a transfer of the lease agreement is subject to any restrictions pursuant to the agreement on the retail electric customer's ability to modify or transfer ownership of a solar energy facility, including whether any modification or transfer is subject to review or approval by a third party. If the modification or transfer of the solar energy facility is subject to review or approval by a third party, the agreement must identify the name, address, and telephone number of, and provide for updating any change in, the entity responsible for approving the modification or transfer.
(9) Include a disclosure, the receipt of which shall be separately acknowledged by the retail electric customer, if a modification or transfer of ownership of the real property to which the solar energy facility is or will be affixed is subject to any restrictions pursuant to the agreement on the retail electric customer's ability to modify or transfer ownership of the real property to which the solar energy facility is installed or affixed, including whether any modification or transfer is subject to review or approval by a third party. If the modification or transfer of the real property to which the solar energy facility is affixed or installed is subject to review or approval by a third party, the agreement must identify the name, address, and telephone number of, and provide for updating any change in, the entity responsible for approving the modification or transfer.
(10) Provide a full and accurate summary of the total costs under the agreement for maintaining and operating the solar energy facility over the life of the solar energy facility, including financing, maintenance, and construction costs related to the solar energy facility.
(11) If the agreement contains an estimate of the retail electric customer's future utility charges based on projected utility rates after the installation of a solar energy facility, provide an estimate of the retail electric customer's estimated utility charges during the same period as impacted by potential utility rate changes ranging from at least a five percent (5%) annual decrease to at least a five percent (5%) annual increase from current utility costs. The comparative estimates must be calculated based on the same utility rates.
(12) Include a disclosure, the receipt of which shall be separately acknowledged by the retail electric customer that states: "Utility rates and utility rate structures are subject to change. These changes cannot be accurately predicted and projected savings from your solar energy facility are therefore subject to change. Tax incentives are subject to change or termination by executive, legislative, or regulatory action."
(b) Before the maintenance or warranty obligations of a solar energy facility under an existing lease agreement are transferred, the person who is currently obligated to maintain or warrant the solar energy facility must disclose the name, address, and telephone number of the person who will be assuming the maintenance or warranty of the solar energy facility.
(c) If the electric generator lessor's marketing materials contain an estimate of the retail electric customer's future utility charges based on projected utility rates after the installation of a solar energy facility, the marketing materials must contain an estimate of the retail electric customer's estimated utility charges during the same period as impacted by potential utility rate changes ranging from at least a five percent (5%) annual decrease to at least a five percent (5%) annual increase from current utility costs. (2017-192, s. 6(a).)