Disclaimer:
The Illinois Shines / ABP Program has strict compliance requirements. Selling in Illinois demands diligence on the part of all Certified Installers to ensure strict adherence to all compliance requirements in order to maintain selling eligibility with LightReach. There are two compliance processes, detailed below, applicable to all Certified Installers prior to operating in the state.
Our Ask to Certified Installers: Protect your business & brand! Ensure all compliance requirements are completed in full and strictly enforced prior to conducting business.
LightReach maintains a zero tolerance policy for breaches of compliance processes, regardless of the circumstance. Failure to comply with program regulations or guidelines will result in access termination from the LightReach portal.
Process Overview:
New or existing partners indicate their intent to sell a LightReach product in the Illinois market by notifying the Compliance Team via email [email protected].
Our Compliance Team will send a link to complete the Compliance Process.
The Compliance Process consists of two primary steps:
Compliance Process A (for company owner/ Executive)
Compliance Process B (for sales representatives)
Result of Compliance Process A = a Designee ID number for the organization + organization can proceed with onboarding
Result of Compliance Process B = a Sales Member ID number for each representative + ability to generate LR Agreements
Process A: For Certified Installers and Sales Organizations Company Owner/Executive
The functional steps to navigate the compliance process will be prompted by LightReach via a platform called Moxo, which you will be invited to join and complete. This step by step process is completed by partners at onboarding. Our onboarding process includes links and instructions for completing each step.
Once you complete the compliance process, the last step to being allowed entry into the market on the LightReach platform will be communication from a LightReach Relationship Manager that you are now live on the platform for Illinois and you can begin selling and installing the LightReach Product.
Compliance Process A consists of six (6) sections for company owners.
A1: Complete & return the Minimum Equity Standard (MES): E-Form Submission
MES Acknowledgement
In event the company does not meet minimum standards, contact LightReach compliance for potential waiver avenues (subject to IL ABP approval).
A2: Complete & return the Demographic Installer Data E-Form
A3: Complete, sign and return Designee Request E-Form Submission
A4: Designee Request E-Form Acknowledgement
Requires 3-5 biz day minimum wait time from Illinois ABP for processing. Compliance processes can continue concurrently during this wait period, however, deals cannot be input into LightReach prior to receiving a successful Designee ID from Illinois ABP.
A5: Provide IL Secretary of State Statement of Good Standing
A6: Process A Acknowledgement
Process B: For Sales Representatives
Compliance Process B consists of (4) sections for sales representatives
B1: Sales Rep E-Form Submission, inclusive of:
Background check completion proof
Download & Review of Program documents & training (IE Consumer Protection handbook, IL Sines Brochure, market slide deck)
Sign & Return Market Compliance Acknowledgement Form
Confirm ID badge creation and attestation that ID will be work during all appointments
B2: Sales Rep Acknowledgement
LightReach Compliance Team will submit submit Designee application to Shines Admin
7-10 business day turnaround to receive Designee ID#
LightReach will share a Partner-facing Live-G-sheet and instructions regarding ongoing management of approved Sales Member ID# required to quote and generate contracts.
Disclosure Form Process
At point of sale, all IL sales must first complete the IL Shines disclosure prior to the LightReach Contract. Sending the IL Disclosure is easy; It is 'bundled' into the standard contract section within the LightReach portal.
Quote is generated on the file
Click 'SEND' to issue the disclosure
Disclosure is sent and signed first (via API with Illinois Shines)
Once signed, the LightReach contract is automatically sent
Timing on Disclosure Sending
Due to IL Shines portal limitations, some delays in status refresh should be expected. After Disclosure signature, 5-15 minutes may be expected for the signature status to update. Sales reps should expect this small delay during the sales process.
Resending Disclosure (PreInstall Only)
The disclosure can only be sent 1x per email address. If the homeowner has not received
Void the disclosure & quote
Requote and resend the package
Re-Signing / Change Orders
The IL Shines program requires a new disclosure to be signed in the event that the System Size changes more than 1kW (ac or dc). This requirement supersedes Lightreach standard change order requirements in IL.
Parameters: If system size changed more than 1kW (ac or dc)= a new disclosure form needs to be sent
How to: Execute a change order via LR portal - details here
1) Is this process required to sell a LightReach PPA?
A: Yes, for the Illinois market only. At onboarding, the company owner or an Executive will be required to complete Compliance Process A. Further, every individual sales representative will need to complete Compliance Process B to generate a LightReach Agreement.
2) Why does LightReach require Compliance Process A and B?
A: Compliance Process A and B was established to ensure that all partners are compliant with Program requirements at onboarding. Program requirements became increasingly complex following the passage of Public Act 102-0662. LightReach has created a step-by-step process to make it as easy as possible to comply.
3) What is the Designee Request Form?
A: This form is used to register an organization with the Illinois Shines/ ABP Program and associate the Organization with our LightReach account. Once the form is completed, LightReach staff will send it to the Program Administrator to complete the registration.
4) What is the Installer Demographic Information Form?
A: This form is used to compile the demographic information of the installation staff physically completing customer installations in Illinois. This information became required as part of Public Act 102-0662 and is submitted by LightReach staff per project in the Illinois Shines/ ABP application.
5) What is the Minimum Equity Standard (MES) Form?
A: The MES Form is used to help the Program determine if participants are meeting the equity standards included as part of Public Act 102-0662. This form must be completed in order for an Organization to be registered under the Illinois Shines/ ABP Program.
6) Why is a background check required for each sales representative?
A: Section III. (2) of the Consumer Protection Handbook requires a criminal background check for all agents conducting solar sales. Non- compliance would be considered a Program violation. LightReach only requires proof of the completed background check, not the results.
7) Why is an ID badge required for each sales representative?
A: Section III. (1) of the Consumer Protection Handbook requires sales representative identification be worn at all times during solicitation. Non- compliance would be considered a Program violation. LightReach requires proof of the ID and an acknowledgement that it is required to be worn at all times during solicitation.
8) String Inverters & Change Orders?
A: String inverter installers: Beware of reducing the system dc size <1kW BUT changing the inverter size as this will require a new disclosure form via change order
9) Inverter Error?
Third party sales platforms (IE Solo, Enerflo, etc) must send the exact inverter equipment name as our system (each platform has been provided with this information).
Example: Our system says Solaredge10000WABC. If the third party platform reads "Solaredge10000WDEF" an error will occur.
10) Why does the disclosure form say "Roof Mount" when I've selected a Ground Mount?
The disclosure form will automatically generate a roof mount, even if ground mount is selected. Homeowner should feel comfortable to proceed forward with signature on the disclosure form, as this will not impact LightReach M0/M1/M2 approval.