More Time Bought: California's C-10 Solar + Storage Licensing Requirement is on Hold

Earlier this year, California’s solar contractors were made the subject of hostile legislation. The Contractor State License Board (CSLB) moved to bar C-46 contractors from installing projects combining solar panels with energy storage equipment.

CSLB’s decision requires all crew members working on a solar + storage project to be licensed as a C-10 electrical contractor, or a state-approved electrical apprentice (subject to stipulations). This is true even for workers that do not handle the electrical part of the installation in any way. 

Countless Contractors Ineligible for a Growing Market

Understandably, California’s contractors have greatly protested against the ruling. These limitations would cut many off from the ability to take on solar + storage projects, eliminating a huge source of income. The potential losses will grow exponentially as the demand for solar storage steadily rises.

 

To demonstrate the impact further, consider this statistic: only 22% of all the state’s recent solar installations were performed by contractors that met the new requirements. Getting a C-10 license entails 4 years of on-the-job journeyman level experience (or higher), passing an electrical exam, and completing a CA apprenticeship program.

 

As such, it is not realistic or feasible for many contractors to meet the new licensing requirement for years after it goes into effect, let alone before. Citing this unfairness has prompted postponement and reconsideration of the ruling, buying contractors more time.

Pausing & Re-evaluating the C-10 Requirements

In response to the uproar, the board of the CSLB has voted to put the rule change on hold. They have also agreed to consider a new legislative languation that satisfies both solar contractors and union electricians, drafted by the parties themselves. This new version of the rule must be agreed upon, written, and proposed by the next CSLB hearing in March 2022.

 

After that, CSLB will either assess the newly-proposed terms or go about processing the original version of the ruling. Legal requirements will stretch the timeline for activation by about a year or a year and a half, giving C-46 contractors much more time to continue legally earning via solar + storage projects.

A Solar Marketing Company Can Help Contractors Prepare

Whether the licensing requirements update according to CSLB’s original terms, or a proposed compromise, change is coming for California’s solar contractors. They will need to make the most of the next 12-18 months in order to gain a better footing by the time a new rule is made official.

 

This means generating more income for greater financial security, building a safety net in case the new terms seriously handicap their ability to take on new projects. Working with a solar marketing company like Grid Freedom can simplify this effort, giving contractors direct access to qualified leads rather than requiring them to hunt them down themselves.

 

Grid Freedom pre-screens leads via in-depth phone conversations designed to identify only the most capable buyers. Interested customers are set up with their first consultation appointment, available to the contractor who purchases the lead. Customers are never shared with competition, ensuring a pressure-free experience for both contractors and homeowners. These conditions create the best chances for a sale that’s much needed in these uncertain times.

Grow Your Income Now with Verified Customer Bookings - Visit www.GridFreedom.com