Defined term
Renewable energy certificate ownership
REC ownership gives the owner the exclusive right to the renewable-electricity attributes represented by the certificate. EPA explains that a claim based on a REC may be made by only one party.
Also known as REC title
policy · Concept code GS-CONCEPT-098 · Last verified September 29, 2026
Evidence through 2026-09-21 · 1 source has no source-event date
Content modified 2026-09-29
Definition and boundaries
Definition
REC ownership gives the owner the exclusive right to the renewable-electricity attributes represented by the certificate. EPA explains that a claim based on a REC may be made by only one party.
Review confirmed · Review due October 29, 2026
The previous review deadline was September 19, 2026. The missed interval remains unverified; the current review does not establish historical coverage.
The cited evidence supports this statement within the source’s stated scope. Its jurisdiction and source-event date limit its applicability to a particular project.
Applicable jurisdiction: US; contract, tracking, and program rules vary
Definition claim verification: Verified September 29, 2026
In plain language
Before relying on Renewable energy certificate ownership, verify the current program, jurisdiction, eligibility date, ownership terms, and controlling document for the actual project.
What it is not
It is not established solely by owning the physical solar equipment or consuming electricity generated onsite.
Decision context
Why it matters
For a solar lease or PPA, check the contract to identify who owns the RECs. A system owner that sells its RECs cannot also claim to use the solar attributes represented by those sold certificates.
Review confirmed · Review due October 29, 2026
The previous review deadline was September 19, 2026. The missed interval remains unverified; the current review does not establish historical coverage.
The cited evidence supports this statement within the source’s stated scope. Its jurisdiction and source-event date limit its applicability to a particular project.
Applicable jurisdiction: US; contract, tracking, and program rules vary
Decision-context claim verification: Verified September 29, 2026
Information boundary
This page provides general educational context, not a site design, production guarantee, utility determination, contract interpretation, legal opinion, tax conclusion, or individualized financial advice. Verify property, equipment, utility, jurisdiction, program, and agreement details before acting.
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Learning navigation
Primary topic: Policy
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Primary sources
- California Public Utilities Commission: Solar Consumer Protection Guide
Revision Version4 landing page; linked current simplePDFcoverPublishedOctober2025; snapshot pinned by retainedPDFhash · Source event date not provided · Ontology accessed September 29, 2026 · Ontology verified September 29, 2026
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Solar Power Use Claims
Source event as of September 21, 2026 · Ontology accessed September 29, 2026 · Ontology verified September 29, 2026