This document outlines the basic reporting process and the information Locus Energy needs to report SREC data for your PV system to the GATS-PJM incentive program.
GATS PJM-EIS Reporting Setup Guide
Thank you for choosing Locus Energy!
This document outlines the basic reporting process and the information Locus Energy needs to report SREC data for your PV system to the GATS-PJM incentive program.
How does Locus Energy report to PJM-EIS?
The LGate™ solar production meter records generation data at 5 minute intervals, which the Locus Energy software platform then aggregates and submits monthly to the GATS PJM-EIS program. This information is then used by GATS in order to award renewable energy certificates to the account holder for a given renewable energy system.
The following 3 steps must be completed for Locus to begin reporting to GATS:
Step 1. Register the system with the GATS PJM program. For more information on how the
registration process works, visit http://www.pjm-eis.com/getting-started.aspx.
Step 2. When registering the system, designate Locus Energy as the Third Party Reporter
Step 3. Fill out the Reporting Setup Form and send to reporting@locusenergy.com
How do I fill out the Reporting Setup Form?
After the GATS-PJM registration is complete and the LGate™ monitoring equipment has been installed, the last step is to submit a reporting setup sheet, which is attached at the end of this article. The sheet will ask for the following information:
1. Partner Name on Monitoring Website: The partner this system is registered under in SolarNOC.
2. Client Name on Monitoring Website: The system owner’s name, as it appears on the GATS registration application and on SolarNOC.
3. System Address: The street address of the PV monitoring system to be reported for.
4. GATS Generator ID: This ID serves as a tracking number for the specific PV system within the GATS database. This five digit numeric ID can be found on the GATS registration approval letter in the form XXXXX or NONXXXXX.
5. GATS Account ID: SRECS earned for the system are paid to this account. This five digit numeric id may be found on the GATS registration approval letter, in the form XXXXX. The Account ID will not be the same as the Generator ID.
6. Monitoring System Comm Device ID: This ID serves as an identifier for the LGate™ device, and allows the LGate™ to communicate with Locus servers to send interval data. The Comm Device ID is composed of the MAC Address and Node ID, and may be found on the ‘system details’ page under the ‘component details’ tab.
7. System size: The nameplate or installed capacity of the system, measured in kW DC.
8. Date of Monitoring Installation: The date this system’s revenue-grade monitoring was installed.
9. Did the system generate power before the installation of monitoring equipment? Circle yes if the PV system produced power before the LGate was installed. Circle no if the PV system did not produce power before the LGate was installed.
10. If yes: The total kWh production before the LGate was installed, taken from a backup dome meter that measures PV production only.
11. Installer Contact Information: This includes your name, your company’s name and department, and a phone number and email. In the event that this system is down for mechanical or networking issues, we need to know who to contact.
After filling out all fields, please sign and date the second page. You may email the scanned PDF to reporting@locusenergy.com.
Final Steps:
When Locus Energy receives the completed reporting setup form, we will run a data check to confirm that the LGate™ is online and sending positive data.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: When does Locus Energy report to GATS?
A: Locus Energy submits production data to GATS between the 1st and 25th of each month. For example, August generation is reported between the 1st and 25th of September.
Q: When do I need to submit the GATS reporting setup form?
A: To report for the current month, Locus Energy needs to receive new setup forms by the last business day of the month.
Q: What happens if I don’t submit the setup form by the deadline?
A: If we do not receive your completed reporting setup form by the cut-off date for submitting data to GATS, you will not lose SRECs for that period. Instead, Locus Energy will submit a report the following month for the previous two periods.
Q: How can clients view production data?
A: Clients may log in to the Locus Energy monitoring website, SolarNOC, at https://SolarNOC.datareadings.com to view real-time generation data, environmental benefits, and alerts for their PV system.
Q: What happens if the system goes offline?
A: If the system goes offline and comes back online within the same month, we will submit production data and there will be no delay in SRECs. If the system goes offline and does not come back online before the reporting deadline, we will not submit the partial data. Instead, we will report all production data from when the system was offline as soon as the system comes back online. The LGate has an internal memory that can store about two months’ worth of production data.
Q: What happens if my LGate is offline for more than two months?
A: Contact a GATS administrator to see if they will accept a backup dome meter reading to account for the lost generation. You will need to de-select Locus as 3rd party reporter, then re-select Locus when GATS accepts the manual reading. We recommend setting component-level alerts so you know when your system goes offline.
Q: How can the client confirm that Locus will report to GATS?
A: Please log into the PJM GATS portal to confirm that Locus has been designated as the Third Party Reporter. If this step is not completed, Locus Energy cannot report for the system.
Q: My client is switching from another System Representative to Locus. What information is required to complete this switch?
A: Please submit a reporting setup form with a baseline generation reading and ensure that the system has designated Locus Energy as Third Party Reporter within the PJM GATS portal. When Locus confirms receipt of the reporting setup form, the system is all set for reporting to GATS.