Direct Pay Installer Guide

Direct Pay is a LightReach program that funds equipment for installations by paying distributors directly on a per-job basis. Equipment costs are netted from EPC payments, thereby reducing the Installer's cash flow burden. EPCs can use this program for partial (Inverter+Rail) or full equipment financing.

Installers can opt into Direct Pay on a whole pipeline basis. This means that all future LightReach jobs will be under Direct Pay.

LightReach currently partners with several direct pay distributors:

Available Vendors: CED Greentech | Baywa | Sunrgy | Soligent | Sonepar
Vendors Coming Soon: Wesco

To opt-in to Direct Pay, partners can:

	Opt-In Step	Details
1	Installer Requests Opt-In & Provides Information	Existing LightReach Installer Sign Up: Opt in via support chat. Select "Installer: Organization Settings" -> "C) Direct Pay Opt In" and follow prompts to submit your request. Click for Visual New Installers: can also sign up at onboarding. Opt In By Program: Installers participating in multiple LightReach programs must opt in to each program individually.
2	LightReach Relays the Request to the Vendor	The equipment vendor will review the partner Opt-In request from LightReach. The vendor reviews installer history for eligibility. This may include industry standard checks such as organization credit profiles, order history, account balances, etc.
3	Vendor Paperwork w/ LightReach	All paperwork, including credit files, are executed between the vendor and LightReach. Timing: Within approx. ~7 days.
4	LightReach Paperwork w/ Installer	If approved by vendor, LightReach issues the installer a docusign agreement, if approved. Upon completion, LightReach will enable Direct Pay on the installer's account. Timing: Within approx. ~2 biz days of installer signature
5	Account-level Opt out (Optional)	Installers may proactively remove individual accounts from Direct Pay at any time prior to the vendor shipping equipment if necessary for pipeline/operational reasons. 1. Go to the project's account page and click on Opt Out under Direct Pay details. Click for Visual 2. Opting Out unblocks payment on accounts held up for Direct Pay invoices that will never come because the EPC isn't using a Direct Pay vendor for that account. That blocked list is on the Payments "Invoice Needed" tab If partner clicks opt-out or opt-in, the vendor will be notified and the status will change on CEDs side. If Opt-ed out, the vendor will bill EPC's account with the vendor, not LightReach.

Installers will continue buying pre-approved material at their established vendor pricing.

Choose from any AVL approved manufacturer. Domestic Content may also be offered (optional program).
Option to select full or partial (Inverter+Rail) equipment.

Example: Below is for illustrative purposes

Direct Pay covers all major components of the solar installation. Items not included should be purchased directly by the Installer via their distributor shop account. To see LightReach eligible manufacturers, please view our AVL article here.

Modules	Eligible
Inverters*	Eligible
Racking (Rail)*	Eligible
Batteries (Device)	Eligible
Balance of System	Eligible
Other Items Not Listed	Not Eligible

*Equipment is eligible as a partial kit for Direct Pay funding.

There are two key triggers installers should be aware of. These triggers are designed to reduce risk to LightReach on outstanding equipment invoices.

Trigger #1	14 Days to M1 Submitted	Installers have 14 days from the vendor's shipment date or invoice date to complete installation and submit the Installation Milestone (M1) package. This means that installers should move quickly (14 days or less) to get ordered equipment onto the roof, and have submissions done in the LightReach portal. When this trigger is met, the equipment cost will be immediately net funded from the installer.
Trigger #2	30 Days to M1 Approved	Installers have 30 days from the vendor's shipment date or invoice date to gain an approved Installation Milestone (M1) status. This means that any issues or rejections with the Installation Milestone must be corrected and resubmitted in order to gain approval within a reasonable period (30 days). When this trigger is met, the equipment cost will be immediately net funded from the installer.

Here are some core concepts to understand when it comes to Direct Pay:

LightReach is the receiver of information. We receive shipment/invoice dates from vendors, via designated APIs only.
Vendors are the senders of information. They send shipment/invoice dates for equipment to LightReach, and are responsible for the accurate execution of this.
This means that in the event of any issues-- order adjustments, discrepancies, or net funding situations-- that installers must contact their vendor directly. LightReach does not directly coordinate any equipment orders, and does not offer special funding adjustments/reimbursements based on individual account discrepancies.

1	Is Direct Pay mandatory?	No, the program is optional.
2	Can I request additions to the Lightreach AVL?	Our request queue for equipment additions is full for the foreseeable future. Reference our AVL article for details.
3	How to Opt In	See section B, above.
4	Will Direct Pay apply to accounts created prior to opting in?	No, Direct Pay will only apply to accounts created after opting in, and is not retroactive.
5	My vendor sent me the wrong panel on accident. What do I do?	Contact your vendor. LightReach does not directly coordinate any equipment orders, and does not offer special funding adjustments/reimbursements based on individual account discrepancies.
6	I ended up returning 2 extra panels from an order. What do I do?	Contact your vendor. LightReach does not directly coordinate any equipment orders, and does not offer special funding adjustments/reimbursements based on individual account discrepancies. In most situations such as this, vendors will simply give the installer a credit. This method of a vendor providing a credit to the installer is the most common, and simplest, way to reconcile any discrepancies.
7	My vendor forgot to issue LightReach an invoice date. My funding is held. What do I do?	Contact your vendor. Vendors are the senders of information. They send shipment/invoice dates for equipment to LightReach, and are responsible for the accurate execution of this. This means that if a vendor fails to invoice LightReach in a timely fashion, LightReach does not know how much to pay for equipment, and therefore cannot accurately calculate funding to the installer.
8	My vendor forgot to issue LightReach an invoice date. Their API doesn't seem to be working. What do I do?	Contact your vendor. LightReach is the receiver of information. We receive shipment/invoice dates from vendors, via designated APIs only. There are not any manual workarounds or special exceptions to this. Vendors are the senders of information. They send shipment/invoice dates for equipment to LightReach, and are responsible for the accurate execution of this.
9	I use another vendor. Can you guys sign them up for your program?	No, unfortunately we are not accepting vendor applications. If LightReach adds available vendors to our program, we will formally announce them.

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