Palmetto Finance Newsfeed

The Update: Beginning 10/13/2026, all backup batteries installed in Arizona must have 'storm guard' settings disabled.

The Details: Removing automatic 'storm guard' prevents false storm alerts from locking the battery during peak hours, while still maintaining the essential 20% backup power requirement.

All other battery settings and state level specifications remain unchanged. More info here.

[ADVANCED NOTICE] Illinois Market Update

Illinois Shines Annual Designee Registration opens soon, and Illinois Partners are required to renew-including sales orgs, installers, and anyone touching our projects.

Key Details:

• Renewal Window: Opens October 18 and closes November 30.

• Partners will receive an email from the Illinois Shines Program on Monday, October 19, 2026, containing a link to their renewal form and unique login credentials

• Mandatory Requirement: All designees must complete their renewal before the deadline.

• Non-Compliance: Designees who do not renew will receive a Notice of Potential Violation (NOPV).

In observance of the upcoming holiday, Palmetto LightReach will operate under modified hours on Monday, October 12, 2026. Please see below for updated support hours and funding schedule details.

​PLR Support Hours Monday 10/12:

• Sales & Underwriting Support - 11-6 EST
• Install & Activation Support - 11-4 EST
• Normal Hours Resume Tuesday (10/13).

Funding Schedule:

• Payment will be issued Wednesday (10/14) instead of Tuesday (10/13), one day later.
• Normal Funding Schedule resumes thereafter.

The Headline: How and when a Safe Harbor deduction applies is changing.

What's New: Payout deductions for Safe Harbor material will occur at the sooner of:

• Install Submission, or
• 14 Days from Equipment Delivery Date

What's Changed: Previously, payout deductions were applied at install approval and commissioning. This new trigger is earlier than the previous deduction trigger.

What's Staying the Same: No change to our Safe Harbor assignment, forecasting, cost, or distribution system. This new deduction trigger is earlier than previous--that's it.

The Timing This change applies to equipment pulled from distributor on or after October 15th. Equipment your organization already received is not impacted.

The Update: We’ve rolled out an update that gives you more flexibility.

• ​Previously, Direct Pay was applied at the organization level across all eligible markets.

• Today, You can now enable or disable Direct Pay separately for each market/state.

The Details:

• Partners can turn on Direct Pay in select states without it being applied in all of their other states.
• You can add or remove a market at any time without affecting your other markets.
• Direct Pay availability may vary by market based on vendor coverage and program requirements.

Sales & Underwriting support chat support has adjusted its weekend hours from 10/3.

• Saturdays: now 11am-7pm EST
• Sundays: now 11am-4pm EST
• Weekday hours are unchanged.

View our full support queue hours here. Partners can expect expanded weekend hours ahead of peak season 2027.

The Update: Palmetto is backing the launch of Recheck Certified, a new industry credential built on the existing Recheck ID system. Recheck Certification is now required in Arizona, Florida, and Puerto Rico for all new sales from October 1st, 2026.

The Deets: To get Certified, reps must sign a universal code of conduct, pass an industry specific background check, and complete a sales ethics course. Reps looking to get certified must be in good standing with Recheck.

The Timing: Recheck Certified is available now through their website. Partners selling in AZ, FL, and PR must be Certified starting October 1st, 2026.

Additional Headlines: An additional compliance & quality tool, VoiceVerify, is also live and regularly sampling across multiple markets. Our compliance guidelines remain the same, VoiceVerify offers a new option to complete verification calls.

Great News: Energy Backup will soon be available in the Aurora platform.

• Launching Nov 2nd
• Once live, reach out to your Aurora admin to get your account enabled

We heard the requests, and we made it happen. Palmetto is always working to build tools that help your business grow, and this is one more example of that.

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The Update: Palmetto is backing the launch of Recheck Certified, a new industry credential built on the existing Recheck ID system. Recheck Certification will be required in Arizona, Florida, and Puerto Rico for all new sales from October 1st, 2026.

The Deets: To get Certified, reps must sign a universal code of conduct, pass an industry specific background check, and complete a sales ethics course. Most importantly, reps looking to get certified must be in good standing with Recheck.

The Impact:

• Sales reps gain a unique leave behind backing their credibility to homeowners.
• Installers gain a new vetting tool to keep high risk actors from getting in to your platform
• Everyone gains long run opportunity from stronger trust & industry reputation w/ consumers.

The Timing: Recheck Certified is available now through their website. Partners selling in AZ, FL, and PR must be Certified starting October 1st, 2026.

What's Changing: All QCells AC Modules have been removed from our AVL for all new contracts signed 9/21/26 or beyond. Any accounts signed prior to this date will remain eligible.

What's the Timing:

• Contract signed before 9/21 = Good to install w/ QCells AC modules.
• Contract signed on/after 9/21 = Installs will not be accepted w/ QCells AC modules.

What Installers Should Know: This change is effective for all programs, including Solar, New Homes, New Communities. This change reflects portfolio concentration adjustments. Questions? Give us a holler in the portal chat.
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