OAR 330-070-0026
Tax-Credit Technician
(1)
Technicians may apply for the department’s tax-credit technician (TCT) status for a technology listed in section (2) of this section. Tax-credit technician status is intended to assist consumers with the state tax credit program, ensure that the systems are installed according to department rules, and verify system installation quality and performance. Technician status is valid for two years and must be renewed to remain in effect.(2)
A tax-credit technician status applies only to the following products:(a)
Solar water heating systems;(b)
Geothermal systems; and(c)
Photovoltaic systems.(3)
The tax-credit technician’s status is based on the following:(a)
Knowledge and understanding of the tax credit program requirements and expectations;(b)
Ability to provide systems that are designed and installed consistent with the manufacturer’s warranty and department rules; and(c)
Employment by a company with a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license.(4)
Those who do not maintain the competencies in section (3) are subject to revocation of the status.(5)
Tax-credit technician status entitles a technician to:(a)
Inform the AED system owner that he or she has attended the department’s online training and is familiar with the rules and requirements of the Residential Energy Tax Credit Program.(b)
Verify that installation of tax-credit qualified equipment and systems meets department standards for performance and longevity.(6)
Tax-credit technician status requires that the technicians must follow department requirements including:(a)
Solar technicians must show at least one of the following, a valid and current:(A)
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification,(B)
Limited Renewable Energy Technician (LRT) license for solar electric,(C)
Solar Thermal License (STL) for solar thermal,(D)
Successful passage of the NABCEP Entry-Level Exam for the appropriate AED, or(E)
Other certification approved by the Director to maintain their tax-credit solar technician status with the department.(b)
First-time geothermal technician applicants must show proof of successful completion of International Ground Source Heat Pump Association training (IGSHPA) or IGSHPA certified manufacturer’s installer training program or other training approved by the Director.(c)
Solar and geothermal tax-credit technician applicants must complete the department’s online training at least once every three years unless otherwise specified in department rule.(d)
Technicians must verify the AED owner has a user manual for the equipment/system.(e)
Technicians must provide the AED owner with a completed application and a copy of the final, itemized and dated invoice for the system that is marked “inspected,” And they must verify the owner has a written full warranty for the system that lasts no less than 24 months after the system is installed.(f)
Technicians must maintain tax-credit technician status by completing the following technology-specific requirements during the period between awarding initial status and the renewal period or between renewal periods:(A)
For solar technology:(i)
Technicians must:(I)
Submit and have approved two (2) Residential or Energy Incentives Program applications for systems in a technology in which the tax-credit technician is listed and complete four (4) hours of related technical continuing education;(II)
Submit and have approved one (1) Residential or Energy Incentives Program application for a system in a technology in which the tax-credit technician is listed and complete six (6) hours of related technical continuing education; or(III)
Complete eight (8) hours of related technical education.(ii)
Technicians must provide information on the number of job hours directly associated with the installation of RETC qualified photovoltaic systems within the prior two years. Job estimates should be submitted in hours.(iii)
Technicians are subject to the renewal period on the second year from the year of initial status or renewal year.(iv)
The two month renewal period begins every year on June 1st and ends prior to August 1st.(v)
Proof of related technical continuing education must be provided during the renewal period.(vi)
Failure to complete requalification during the renewal period will result in the revocation of TCT status for one year. TCT status may be reinstated during the following year’s renewal period.(B)
For geothermal systems, technicians must submit and have approved a minimum of one (1) tax credit application or provide proof of having completed at least two hours of relevant installer training, community college HVAC course, or other training approved by the Director.(7)
Tax credits for installation of geothermal systems, solar electric and solar thermal systems must be verified by a tax-credit technician.(8)
A tax-credit technician must notify the department within 30 days if changes are made in any of the information in the TCT application.(9)
Tax-credit technicians inspect owner-built systems to verify that the system appears to be installed in a workman-like manner. As part of an owner-built inspection, a tax-credit technician is not required to provide a warranty or guarantee of the owner-built system.
Source:
Rule 330-070-0026 — Tax-Credit Technician, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=330-070-0026.