Freedom Forever Updates
Lightspeed Portal & Cash and Loan
Go to: All Updates & News
Related: Aurora Design Software Updates
Related: Mosaic Financing Updates
Related: Battery & Storage Updates
Main Page: Freedom Portal
December 2024
Massachusetts NEM Cap - Spring 2025
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued an order expanding access to net metering for solar customers. The order revises regulations to increase the project size threshold for participating in the state’s net metering program without being subject to the net metering cap. Specifically, the updated regulations increase the threshold for facilities to net meter without a cap allocation from 10 kilowatts (kW) to 25 kW, resulting in these facilities’ eligibility for a higher net metering credit value.
For these revisions to be fully implemented, the electric distribution companies (EDCs)--Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil—must submit new tariff filings to the DPU in January 2025. Once the filings have been submitted, the DPU will commence proceedings to update the tariff provisions.
Systems that are submitted for interconnection after the regulations are published in December will not be subject to the cap, however, they will not receive full net metering until the utility tariffs are updated (anticipated between March and May of 2025). Net metering credits will be backdated and granted to these customers upon the release of the updated tariffs.
The new regulations regarding the net metering cap are anticipated to be published on or around December 20th. Freedom Forever will be holding off on submitting any in-progress Massachusetts projects for interconnection until that time to seamlessly enroll customers with systems over 10kW into the net metering program.
More details are expected to be released regarding the reclassification of projects over 10kW that have been submitted for interconnection prior to the publication date of the new regulations. Resources
Secondary Credit Check Backup
Experian Added as Secondary Bureau for TPO Apps
Enfin has added Experian as a secondary credit bureau for TPO applications! This enhancement helps ensure more comprehensive credit checks and smoother processing.
What This Means for You:
● Better Coverage: Applications will now be assessed using an additional credit source.
● Improved Accuracy: Helps reduce the chance of incomplete or inconclusive credit decisions.
Solicitors Permits
When onboarding reps in a new territory or you have sales seems going into a new territory, please make sure that they have the required solicitors permits to sell. It is crucial that they list your dealership as the dealer and not Freedom.
Base Module Adjustment
December 11th, the base module in CT, MI, NH, RI and VA for certain financiers will be changing. For the latest pricing and availability
Tesla Powerwall Supply
Status
● TPW3 supply is expected to be low for the next several months
● We may see install delays on TPW3 jobs
● All depends on supply from Tesla
Plan
● Freedom will not be mandating swaps to other batteries
● Will install as supply permits
● Freedom Forever will open a ticket on all jobs that qualify for the offer.
Offer
● Offering current SolarEdge battery pricing to TPW3 jobs
● Revision fees will not apply
Action
● Select the appropriate resolution option in the ticket.
● Please work through the ticket when possible to minimize confusion
If you would like to get ahead of the upcoming shortage you can select one of the following options
● SolarEdge battery pricing for these swaps will be based on the current adder pricing
● While the Live SOW team will be available to assist with these changes, we ask that you work through the specific ticket whenever possible to minimize confusion and ensure the job is adjusted appropriately.
Baseline Adjustments
Baselines for Cash and Mosaic projects will see a reduction of $.05-$.10/W in many states! Meanwhile, Sunnova non-retail baselines will increase in most markets. Sunnova non-retail baselines will increase in most markets in the near future.
Base Module Change
Effective December 3rd, the base module for Cash and Mosaic projects in all states (except Puerto Rico) will be the Freedom Forever 400W module at no adder! For pricing and availability, check the latest adder sheet linked below
November 2024
Tesla Battery Supply Chain Issues
Lowering cost of solar edge batteries to help offset for the Tesla Powerwall shortage.
If you would like to get ahead of the upcoming shortage you can select one of the following options
SolarEdge battery pricing for these swaps will be based on the current adder pricing
While the Live SOW team will be available to assist with these changes, we ask that you work through the specific ticket whenever possible to minimize confusion and ensure the job is adjusted appropriately.
Base Module Changes
November 7th, Trina modules of various wattages will be the base module in all markets for several financiers.
QCells 410W will still be accepted through the end of today in markets moving to Trina. Only Trina will be able to be submitted starting November 8th.
Now in Kansas
Loan: Mosaic
Lease: Sunnova *Coming Soon
PPA: Not Available
Cash
Kansas has 3 investor-owned utilities (IOUs), with the rest of the state being comprised of municipalities and cooperatives. The average electricity rate in Kansas is about $0.07-$0.15 cents per kWh*.
Freedom Forever will be activating 3 utilities, with additional utilities to be added based on market demand.
Net Energy Metering (NEM)
IOU’s in Kansas are required to offer net metering, and some electric cooperatives have voluntarily created net metering provisions for their customers. NEM is offered through the IOU's until the capacity equals 2% of the utility's peak demand during the previous year.
All Net Excess Generation (NEG) remaining in the customer-generator’s account at the end of each billing period is credited to the customer at a rate of 100% of the utility’s monthly system average cost of energy per kWh.
Beginning on January 1, 2030, all NEG will be carried forward at the utility’s monthly system average cost of energy per kWh, regardless of when the customer began operating the renewable energy resource. NEG remaining in the customer's account expires on March 31 of each year.
Customers on TOU Rates: 2024's H.B. 2527 also integrated netting calculations for TOU customers after July 1, 2024. While the netting calculations will occur per TOU period instead of per billing period, the credit rate will be the same as for non-time-of-use customers across all TOU periods.
Change in Support Email
Our previous email address, dealersupport@freedomforever.com, will officially close on 12/1/24. From 12/1/24 and moving forward, we will only be replying to emails that come into the dealeradmin@freedomforever.com inbox!
Compliance Deadline December 5th
Freedom Forever is launching an updated compliance course to keep our Independent Authorized Dealers aligned with the latest industry regulations and best practices. This course will be added to onboarding for new reps and assigned to all current reps.
The goal is to ensure that everyone is up to date with compliance standards, reinforcing our commitment to being knowledgeable and reputable.
Additionally, sales reps in California will complete a specialized California HIS Compliance course, covering the importance of HIS compliance for all current and future California-based reps.
Existing ProClass Academy Users
If you already have an account in ProClass (Docebo), simply log in and start the course directly from your dashboard.
New ProClass Academy Users
If you’re new to Proclass (Docebo), follow these steps to access the course:
Log in to ProClass using your email associated with LIGHTSPEED and the temporary password: Welcome123
Upon first login, reset your password to something unique.
Review and agree to the terms and conditions.
Set your preferred language.
After setup, navigate to your dashboard to access the compliance course by clicking on “Access My Learning”.
For any questions or assistance, contact the Product Education team via the button below!
October 2024
Domestic Content Webinar
Inflation reduction act leverages USA manufacturing to strengthen the renewable energy industry. A certain percentage of materials used need to be sourced from the United States. Projects meeting these criteria can meet additional tax credits reducing project costs.
You will see this trend helping TPO products.
TPO resources
TPO rate guide found here. You need to choose the correct pre and post solar rates.
This is especially important in Illinois
Enfin Changes Help Guide found here
GoodLeap Help Guide found here
How to understand pricing model for TPO products compared to cash and loan jump to 14:42
September 2024
Base Module Change
Effective September 21st, the QCells 410W are the base module for all finance types in all markets.
For pricing and availability, check the latest adder sheet
August 2024
New Baselines
Baselines for Everbright and Sunnova increased by $.10 across the board effective 8/20/2024.
Check out the latest Adder Sheet.
Illinois will be Tier 1
The entire state will be tier 1 on 9/1/2024
Missouri Tier changes in SW Missouri
If volume does not increase, Freedom will have to close out those zips.
W9 Policy Update
PTO Update
New Training Coming
New Lightspeed Training coming with an exam
30 days to complete, if you don't complete your access will be paused in Lightspeed.
Give Freedom with Give Power
Help a community get power for the first time by adding an adder to help the cause.
Beyond helping someone else, you will also earn points to score you some gear.
You will be given 1 point for every penny per watt each time an adder is selected.
July 2024
New Base Module
Effective immediately, the Silfab 430W will be the base module in most markets. For more information, check out the latest Adder Sheet.
Jinko Module Swaps
Due to supply shortages, a number of jobs sold with Jinko 385s and 390s will be swapped to Silfab modules in the coming weeks.
The good news is on all loan products, the wattage per panel will increase, so system sizes will also likely increase, which will help offset the reduction in net PPW that will result from the system size increase. Net commissions should not change dramatically either direction, at most a couple hundred dollars with some of the panel swaps needed.
Freedom Forever is currently oversold on Jinko 385W and 390W projects, meaning projects in the existing pipeline up to and including the Install stage may be swapped.
Freedom will not be charging additional module adders for these projects beyond any existing pre-change adders and system size-based adders will not be adjusted as a part of the mod swap.
Only in the rare case that the module change pushes the project outside of production tolerance with the financing company or the production guarantee with Freedom will a change order be required. In this event, Freedom Forever will open a ticket and assign it to the Sales Representative.
Freedom Forever will rely on the Sales Rep to review the final equipment and design according to the normal SOW Confirm procedures for any project swapped prior to SOW Confirm.
Projects post-SOW Confirm may require new designs. In the event that projects have had plans created and permits secured, they may require new plans and permits. Freedom’s Design and permitting teams will be working overtime to complete these efforts with as minimal disruption to normal production as possible. Overall, however, it is reasonable to expect some delays in sale to SOW and sale to install timeframes while these swaps are ongoing.
Customers whose project is financed with Cash or Mosaic will be sent a Module Upgrade Notice.
Customers whose project is financed by a lease or PPA will not receive a notification.
A mod swap ticket will be the indicator of whether a mod swap has or will occur
For more on these changes, please refer to the module swap guidance.
See more about the SOW Approval process
Actionable Customer Notifications
Customers can now mark that they've completed an action through the Customer Notifications within Sales tickets.
When that happen, a resolution option "Customer marked resolved" will automatically be selected on the ticketand it will re-assign back to Ops. Users can revew the project and select either "Mark Resolved" or "Send Back to Sales" which will prompt a note field. Use this field to outline why the resolution was rejected and what needs to be changed.
Florida Market Update
Updated Tiers
FL HOI Adders is now $250
NEM Sunsetting | IL & AR
NEM sunsetting in Illinois and Arkansas. Both moving to an "Export rate" / "net billing tarriff"
Illinois
NEM ending 12/31/24; must be granted PTO by that date
Must be submitted for PTO by 12/13/2024
Must be sold by 8/31/2024 to be eligible for NEM
Disclosure Form v1 ("you may not get NEM") was introduced on 7/9/24 and will continue through 8/31/2024
Disclosure Form v2 ("no NEM") will go live on 9/1/24
Incentives post-NEM
$0.30/W solar rebate
$300/kWh storage rebate ($0.30-$0.40/W on average)
Please ensure all required utility documents are provided promptly to avoid delays and prioritize pending sales tickets for customers in the affected market.
See Billing acknowledgement (PDF)
Arkansas
NEW ending 9/30/24; must be submitted PTO by that date
Must be sold by 8/11/2024 to be eligible for NEM
Must be submitted for PTO by 9/30/24 to secure NEM
Disclosure Form v1 ("you may not get NEM") was introduced on 7/9 and will continue through 8/11/24
Disclosure Form v2 ("no NEM") will go live on 8/12/24
Specific details surrounding the requirements for grandfathering under the current Net Metering program are still being confirmed with our active utilities. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
June 2024
SolarEdge Batteries
Effective immediately, the SolarEdge 10kWh battery pricing is being reduced by $950.
Design / Pre-Sale / In-home Support (Co-Pilot)
(951) 528-2100
This should be your first call when you have a problem
Available 7 Days a Week. M-F 6am-7pmPsT Sat-Sun 8am-4:30pm PST
For when you need assistance to help avoid leaving home without a signed and submitted deal.
Platform Access/Software issues
Adder questions during sale
Finance Portal assistance
ABP Disclosure Generation
Ensuring deal meets clean deal requirements
Phone support launch coming in August
Pre-Sale + Post-Sale
Convert to Chat Option
200% Team size increase
Modification of Adders
On 6/26/2024 the majority of adders from our current list for all sales moving forward! This new change will help simplify the Scope of Work process for our teams and give sales more assurance with the price they originally discussed with their customers.
Here are some of the highlights, with the full adder sheet linked below!
NO MORE Post SOW revision fees*
NO MORE Post Install adders*
Small system adder going from 4.5kW to 4kW
Steep Roof adder now at 38° (previously 34°)
*New sales only. Not applicable when requested by rep or customer
Freedom Advantage Changes
Freedom Advantage service will include the following:
Keeping Customers informed
Assisting Customers and Sales Reps resolve project blockers
Closing Resolved Sales Tickets to speed up project moves out of Holding
Proactive SOW Review
Direct Phone line to a Single Point of Contact on each project
Pre-Sale phone support launching in August
Proactively facilitate Live Scope of Work outreach
The best part—Freedom advantage will be FREE for all projects sold by reps above 50% Realization Rate, beginning July 1!
How will Freedom pay for this?
While we are excited about this new direction, it will come at a cost. We have chosen to adjust baselines for several finance companies in most markets.
We believe this shift will have a major impact on your business and will streamline and simplify your processes. Please reach out to your sales leaders for more information.
No Freedom Forever onboarding training to complete in EdApp?
If you do not have any trainings in EdApp for that are still pending, then you are all set! As new trainings become available, we will notify you to enroll for our new LMS, ProClass Academy.
Still have training to complete in EdApp?
Make sure to have them completed by June 30th, 2024, to finalize your onboarding prior to joining us at ProClass Academy. Any training that is incomplete as of July 1st, 2024, will need to be retaken in ProClass Academy.
Project Support Updates
The following Holding Stage updates will help prevent delays with Account Management moving projects out of Holding and helps avoid unnecessary rework and potential delays.
Account Management team will no longer be actioning "At Risk Project Review" tickets in SOW stage and earlier
This will prevent immediate moves to Holding Pre-SOW Confirm Stage
Allows projects to stay active for document collection
Projects will move to Holding Stage after the 6th collection attempt
Contact attempts will be documented in Unified Notes
After 30 Days in Holding the project will move to Retention Stage
If saved by Retention, adder will apply
Current Projects in Holding Stage - Prior to 06/10/24
Projects will remain in Holding
Sales Ticket needs to be resolved to move out of Holding Stage
Live SOW
Live SOW will be completing proactive outbound communication for projects with change orders
March 2024
Mosaic Loan Document Integration
Mosaic Loan Documents will now be added to the DocuSign process when generating a project in LIGHTSPEED!
With this new improvement, once a loan application is approved in Aurora, the loan docs will automatically be added to the sequence of documents sent to the customer’s email via magic link. If you missed last week’s webinar that goes over this process in detail, you can review below.
December 2023
PayKeeper
PayKeeper acts as a secure and transparent financial bridge while your customer’s projects are being completed. The platform aims to greatly improve the cash payment process for our customers.
Check out the webinar below for everything you need to know! Some key topcis covered are:
How to guide customers through account setup and funding milestones
How PayKeeper works as an Escrow for cash projects
How Homeowners can use ACH and Credit Cards to fund their projects
How disbursement milestones are met and funding is released to Freedom
How to add PayKeeper to your cash projects in Aurora
November 2023
New Sales Mode Update Coming in November
Introduces vertical scroll
Updated battery storage visual
Helps tell the story of how energy is produced, consumed and stored throughout the day
Side by side finance comparisons
Downloadable PDF proposal
New Freedom x Vivint Smart Energy Package
There will no longer be an adder for the Vivint smart home basic smart home kit. This new DIY package can be installed by the homeowner with assistance from the Freedom site audit technician, eliminating the need for a separate site visit.
Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro
Vivint Hub Lite
3 Door Sensors
1 Motion Sensor
12 Months Free Service and Professional Monitoring
Vivint App with Solar Production included
Customer Friendly Installation (No Separate Visit Required)
This will be a $1500.
This change became available on August 4th.
Low Income Bonus Federal Incentive
10% bonus credit for certain solar projects in low-income communities or on tribal land, and a 20% bonus credit for projects on qualified affordable housing projects
August 2023
Free Canvasing App
A new Volt app update is now available! Optimizations and bug fixes include:
Lead list filtering
Additional scoreboard metrics
Territory assignment date/time no longer required
Scheduling appointments
Google Calendar Integration (coming soon)
Scoreboard updates (coming soon)
Volt is free to use for all sales reps that use Freedom Forever
October 2023
Puerto Rico is now Live
Freedom Forever is now operating in Puerto Rico.
Sunrun and cash financing will be offered