LightReach has released a guide for Battery Settings and Operational Modes Guide. Installers must ensure that all customer battery settings accurately reflect the customer’s contract type, utility rate plan, and intended operation. Proper configuration is critical for system performance and compliance.

Current Setting Requirements:

Effective September 15, 2025:

• Customers with Full Services (Backup) Batteries must have:
• A 20% minimum Battery Reserve level.
• ‘Storm Guard’ settings enabled.

Upcoming Changes – Q1 2026

California (CA):

• Time-of-Use (TOU) modes will become mandatory for Arbitrage contracts only.
• The utility's NEM 3 rate plan must be selected.
• Installers should begin preparing now for this requirement.

Arizona (AZ):

• Self-Consumption mode is the recommended setting.
• TOU mode is also acceptable, however, is a risk if buy and sell rates are not accurate.

All Other States and Non-Arbitrage Contracts:

• Operational modes remain recommendations; please refer to the guide for details.

Next Steps

• All installers are encouraged to use this information to educate both their teams and customers on optimizing battery system performance. HERE
• LightReach will continue to provide training and resources to support this transition.

Battery Update:

Contracts with Backup Batteries require:

• 20% minimum backup reserve
• Storm Guard enabled

These settings are already standard in most installations.

SolarEdge Batteries

• Battery Reserve and Weather Guard can only be set via SetApp.
• Starting 10/13/25: commissioning photos required with all M2 submissions.
• Until then, M1 projects will have a Stip flag requiring screenshots at M2.

QCells Combiner Requirements:

Follow manufacturer rules: [Full Article HERE]

• Do Not Drill zones must be respected.
• Conduit entry allowed only at the bottom.

Noncompliance will require a combiner replacement before M1 approval.
​

The Background: New Jersey has temporarily updated it’s ADI guidelines in an effort to help more consumers get solar installed before the end of 2025.

The Change: New Jersey’s ADI Conditional Approval, a submission requirement for Installation (M1), is temporarily changing to Proof of Submittal, rather than the approval itself.

• Changing from: Must submit formal approval
• Changing to: Temporarily changing to Proof of Submission only.

The Details: We will accept any reasonable format of Proof of Submission:

• Recommended: Screenshot of ADI portal submission
• What we’re looking for: Reasonable proof of submission clearly identifying the customer account

The Fine Print:

• When: Effective immediately, for all new installation submissions from Friday 9/26/26 (until further notice)
• Big Picture: This change is temporary, and PLR will revisit the requirement later in 2025.

The Update: Beginning October 1, Palmetto LightReach will be making the appropriate adjustments to our consumer PPA agreements, consumer protection standards, and partner milestone requirements as part of Compliance with NV Senate Bill's 440 & 379. These consumer protection focused changes build on Senate Bill 293's requirements that were implemented across the market last year. We will communicate and post additional details for all those active and compliant Nevada installation partners next week and thank you for your patience and dialogue as we've worked to implement these changes in the best interests of consumers and partners under the new laws.

The Impact: All changes to Partner processes will be weaved into standard practices and milestone deliverables that exist today.

The Update: Three new updates have been made to our Solar Program AVL, from 9/26/25.

• Inverter: Solaredge SKU USE11400H-USSKBEZ8 added to AVL.
• Panel: Wattages expanded on the SEG Yukon N SEG-xxx-BTD-BG up to 445W
• Panel: Trina Vertex S+ TSM-xxxNEG9R.25 (430-455W) added to AVL.

The Fine Print: These AVL additions are eligible for new installations from 9/26/25.

Two new articles have been updated and published to provide additional installation guidance and documentation:

1. QCells AC Module – Design, Install & Commissioning
   Installers should reference the technical installation documents.
   [Full Article HERE]
2. Domestic Content – (M1) Submittal & Photo Requirements
   This article compiles module manufacturer details, now including Elin/Sirius, Qcells, and Silfab solar modules, along with photos.
   [Full Article HERE]

An important program clarification has been published:

• IL Shines – Small DG Segment Incentive
  System Pre-Requisites must not exceed 25 kW AC to qualify.
  ​[Full Article HERE]​

The Update: Our standard NTP requirement, the "Customer Agreement Confirmation", has been renamed to "Clear Facts Disclosure".
​

• This is a naming refresh. There are no additional changes to process or disclosure content at this time
• Partners will have seen this name change on new accounts starting September 2nd.

Market Update

Update: Illinois Electricity Consumption Data required for Contract Send: As part of the Illinois Shine program, disclosure documents will include customer electricity consumption starting on Oct. 15th.

Details:

-LightReach will begin enforcing consumption data as a Contract Send Requirement.

-A new Electricity Consumption field will be added to the PV System tab in the LightReach Portal.

-Not new: previously averages were used, now full consumption data is required.

-Users can enter all 12 months of usage or input one month and use the Building Energy Modeler (BEM) tool to estimate the rest.

The Update: As of 10/1/25, battery attachment will be required for all new solar sales in Arizona.

The Background: Increasingly low utility export rates make battery storage a critical component to maximize solar production value. Attachment rates are already high-- this change will help us establish a unified approach to the market.

This will apply to all utilities in AZ except for ED4 which we will be closing on 10/1

The Fine Print: Full details and parameters will be posted here and at news.golightreach.com in this month ahead of the cutover date. If a partner needs to get battery certified/set up, please direct them to review our process here.

The Fine Print: Full details and parameters will be posted here at news.golightreach.com in September. If your organization needs to get Battery certified, please review our process here.