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⚓ Rhode Island⚡ REG vs REF — Cannot Combine

Rhode Island
Solar Permit Plans.
NEC 2023. REG or REF.
One Choice. Fifteen to Twenty Years.

Rhode Island carries the strongest solar incentive stack in New England — but every new customer faces a once-at-interconnection decision that cannot be undone. REG pays $0.2723/kWh on all production for 15-20 years as a separate check. REF delivers a $0.65/W cash grant plus net metering bill credits. They cannot be combined. The right answer depends on system size and household load, and every Rhode Island proposal should model both paths.

NEC 2023 — eff. December 1, 2025 REG: $0.2723/kWh · 15-20 years REF: $0.65/W grant — cannot combine with REG Statewide solar permit (300-RICR-00-00-3) 39 Municipalities
Order RI Plan Set →See REG vs REF ↓
NEC 2023510-RICR-00-00-5 — eff. Dec 1, 2025
REG: $0.2723/kWhFixed 15-20 yr production payment
REF: $0.65/WUp to $5K grant + net metering
Statewide Permit300-RICR-00-00-3 — all 39 towns
NEC 2023Effective Dec 1, 2025
IBC + IRC 2021+ IECC 2024
REG or REFChoose once — cannot combine
Statewide Permit300-RICR-00-00-3
39 MunicipalitiesOne permit application
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AHJ-ReadyStatewide permit format — all 39 towns
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24–48 HrsTypical residential turnaround
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Free RevisionsFor AHJ-requested corrections
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150+ PartnersSolar installers, EPCs & roofers
Rhode Island Solar Permits — 2026

New England's Strongest Incentive Stack. One Program Choice That Locks for 15-20 Years.

Permit Design builds Rhode Island solar permit plan sets for solar installers, EPCs, and roofing companies across all 39 municipalities. Rhode Island's electrical code is NEC 2023, adopted as 510-RICR-00-00-5, effective December 1, 2025 — updating from NEC 2020 as part of a full building code overhaul that also brought IBC 2021, IRC 2021, and IECC 2024. Rhode Island is one of a handful of states already on the 2024 energy code, having bypassed 2021 IECC by statutory directive. Rhode Island also operates a statewide solar energy permit application under 300-RICR-00-00-3 — a single standardized document covering both building and electrical permits that all 39 municipalities are required to accept.

The defining Rhode Island installer decision is the incentive path. The Renewable Energy Growth (REG) program pays a fixed $0.2723 per kilowatt-hour of total solar production as a separate Rhode Island Energy check for 15 or 20 years — regardless of how much the household self-consumes versus exports. The Renewable Energy Fund (REF) delivers a cash grant of $0.65 per watt capped at $5,000, plus a $2,000 battery adder, and the customer then earns net metering bill credits at approximately 80% of the retail rate. Enrolling in REG and REF simultaneously is not permitted — the choice is made once at interconnection and governs the system's financial structure for the full agreement term.

Last updated: June 2026 · NEC 2023 effective date, REG PY2026 rate, REF grant amount, and statewide solar permit application confirmed as of June 2026.

Rhode Island Solar Programs

REG or REF. One Decision at Interconnection. Irrevocable for the Agreement Term.

Rhode Island's Office of Energy Resources administers both programs under RIPUC regulation. The payment mechanics, financial structure, and long-term outcomes differ enough that the choice should always be modeled for the specific customer's system size and load profile.

REG — Renewable Energy Growth
Fixed Production Payment · Separate Check · 15-20 Years
$0.2723/kWh
PY2026 ceiling price · locked at enrollment for full term

REG credits every kilowatt-hour of total solar production at a fixed rate — $0.2723 for PY2026 — paid as a separate check from Rhode Island Energy rather than as a bill credit offset. Self-consumed and exported kilowatt-hours both count. The rate is locked at enrollment and applies for 15 or 20 years, providing predictable income regardless of future retail rate changes or net metering policy shifts. Annual April 1 open enrollment with limited program capacity — enrollment fills quickly each year. Pre-approval must be obtained before installation. The rate is updated annually; the rate in effect at enrollment governs the full agreement term.

REF — Renewable Energy Fund Grant + Net Metering
Upfront Cash Grant · Then Net Metering Bill Credits
$0.65/W · $5K cap
+ $2,000 battery adder · paid after installation

REF delivers a cash grant of $0.65 per watt of installed capacity, capped at $5,000 for residential systems, plus a $2,000 adder for qualifying battery storage. The grant is disbursed after the system is installed and interconnected. REF customers are enrolled in net metering at the standard post-April 2023 tariff — approximately 80% of the retail rate, roughly $0.232/kWh, with monthly credit rollover for 12 months and annual surplus reconciled at a lower wholesale rate. Commerce Rhode Island administers REF pre-approval, which must be secured before installation begins.

When REG outperforms vs when REF wins. For larger systems that export meaningful generation, REG typically delivers more total value — $0.2723/kWh on every kilowatt-hour produced beats the ~$0.232/kWh net metering credit, and the payment is on all production not just exports. For smaller, consumption-matched systems where the REF upfront grant creates strong immediate payback and self-consumption is high, REF plus net metering can deliver better net-of-grant returns. Model both for every Rhode Island customer before recommending a path.
Statewide Solar Permit — 300-RICR-00-00-3

One Application for All 39 Municipalities. Building and Electrical in a Single Document.

Rhode Island law under R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-68-1 requires all municipalities to accept the standardized solar energy permit application for rooftop, ground-mount, and canopy systems. Permit Design formats every Rhode Island plan set to this specification.

What the Statewide Application Covers
Building + Electrical — One Document
The 300-RICR-00-00-3 application specifies the documentation requirements for all Rhode Island solar permits: interconnection location relative to the existing meter, mounting structure type, existing roofing material and condition, weatherproofing method for roof penetrations, electrical diagram, and structural documentation. All 39 municipalities must accept this form — reducing the per-town variation that exists in states such as Connecticut, where 169 independently governed municipalities each set their own requirements.
What Still Varies by Municipality
Fees · Inspectors · Processing Times
The statewide application standardizes the documentation format, not the administrative process. Permit fees, inspection scheduling, and processing timelines are set locally. Rhode Island's smaller municipalities may have part-time building officials who accept applications only on set days. Coastal communities may apply additional hurricane wind load review. The documentation format is consistent across all 39 towns — the bureaucratic speed is not.
Coastal wind and northern snow are the key structural variables in Rhode Island. Shoreline municipalities — Narragansett, South Kingstown, Charlestown, Westerly, and Newport — face ASCE 7 wind design values above inland Providence County communities. Block Island carries its own exposure category. Northern Rhode Island towns including Woonsocket, Cumberland, and North Smithfield carry higher ground snow loads than the southern coast. Both factors are applied municipality-specifically on every Permit Design Rhode Island structural sheet.
Rhode Island Code Structure — December 2025 Cycle

NEC 2023 · IBC 2021 + IRC 2021 · IECC 2024 — Entire Code Stack Updated December 1, 2025

Rhode Island's December 2025 code update was comprehensive — every major building standard advanced simultaneously. The IECC 2024 adoption is nationally unusual: Rhode Island bypassed the 2021 edition entirely by statute.

Electrical
NEC 2023 (510-RICR-00-00-5)
✓ Effective December 1, 2025
✓ Replaces NEC 2020
✓ §690.12: single RSD device
✓ UL 3741 PVHCS path recognized
Structural
IBC 2021 + IRC 2021
✓ Effective December 1, 2025
✓ Rhode Island amendments apply
✓ ASCE 7 tabulated per municipality
✓ Coastal: wind exposure elevated
Energy Code — Nationally Rare
IECC 2024 — Skipped 2021 by Statute
✓ Effective December 1, 2025
✓ Legislative mandate bypassed 2021
✓ Electric-Ready residential provisions
✓ Among very few IECC 2024 states
All Rhode Island permits submitted after December 1, 2025 reference NEC 2023. Any plan set using NEC 2020 rapid shutdown format — multi-device initiation, §690.56(C) labeling — is outdated for Rhode Island permits filed after December 1, 2025. Permit Design builds every Rhode Island plan set to NEC 2023 single-device §690.12(D) format.
What's Included

Rhode Island Solar Permit Plan Set Contents

Every Rhode Island plan set is formatted per 300-RICR-00-00-3, references NEC 2023 under 510-RICR-00-00-5, applies municipality-level ASCE 7 structural values, and includes Rhode Island Energy interconnection documentation with the REG or net metering program path designated.

Sheet 01
Cover Sheet
NEC 2023 citation under 510-RICR-00-00-5 with December 1, 2025 effective date. IRC 2021 (residential) or IBC 2021 (commercial) structural reference with Rhode Island amendments. Utility confirmed — Rhode Island Energy, Pascoag Utility District, or Block Island Power. Program path noted: REG (fixed production payment) or REF + net metering (grant plus bill credits). Municipality identified. Statewide permit application 300-RICR-00-00-3 referenced on cover.
Sheet 02
Site Plan
Property plan per 300-RICR-00-00-3 requirements: interconnection location relative to the existing meter, mounting structure type, emergency access routes, and wiring path from array through inverter to panel. Municipality noted for ASCE 7 wind and snow lookup — coastal Narragansett Bay towns carry elevated wind design values; northern Rhode Island municipalities carry higher snow loads than the southern shoreline.
Sheet 03
Roof Layout
Module placement drawn to scale with roof pitch, azimuth, setbacks, and attachment spacing per IRC 2021 framing chapters. Existing roofing material and weatherproofing method documented per 300-RICR-00-00-3. Fire setbacks per local AHJ. ASCE 7 snow conversion applied per municipality — Block Island and coastal south Rhode Island differ materially from northern Rhode Island communities such as Woonsocket or Cumberland.
Sheet 04
Single-Line Diagram
NEC 2023 Article 690 circuit diagram — shutdown per §690.12 with one initiator, §690.12(D) label, PVHCS alternate path confirmed where the inverter architecture supports it. For REF + net metering path: bidirectional net meter shown per Rhode Island Energy tariff. For REG path: production meter configuration shown per Rhode Island Energy REG interconnection agreement. Program designation noted on diagram.
Sheet 05
Structural Calculations
Rhode Island-licensed PE engineering stamp for roof structure or racking adequacy review. IRC 2021 for residential; IBC 2021 for commercial. ASCE 7 wind and snow values applied per the project municipality — not averaged across the state. Coastal municipalities receive confirmed wind exposure category; northern Rhode Island municipalities receive confirmed snow load figures. Block Island is treated as a distinct exposure category given its ocean-surrounded position.
Sheet 06
Rapid Shutdown
NEC 2023 §690.12 — single initiation device, one-foot array boundary, §690.12(D) label format. UL 3741 PVHCS alternate path noted where used. Rhode Island updated from NEC 2020 on December 1, 2025 — plan sets using NEC 2020 multi-device format are no longer current for Rhode Island permits filed in 2026. Battery-equipped systems include battery management interaction with the shutdown device, confirmed and documented.
Sheet 07
Equipment Datasheets
Manufacturer cut sheets for modules, inverter, racking, and MLPE — organized per 300-RICR-00-00-3 documentation requirements. For REG-track projects: Rhode Island Energy production meter specification and REG enrollment confirmation reference. For REF-track projects: Commerce Rhode Island REF grant approval reference and net metering tariff designation. Battery documentation for systems claiming the REF $2,000 storage adder. ConnectedSolutions demand response program eligibility noted where the battery qualifies for Rhode Island Energy's grid program.
🏗️ Commercial Solar in Rhode Island

Also doing commercial rooftop, canopy, or ground-mount in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island commercial solar packages reference IBC 2021 with Rhode Island amendments, NEC 2023 Article 690, and Rhode Island Energy commercial REG or net metering interconnection documentation. The statewide solar permit application (300-RICR-00-00-3) covers commercial systems. ASCE 7 municipality-specific wind and snow values applied — coastal Narragansett Bay commercial projects carry different structural exposure than inland Providence County installations. Engineering covers membrane and TPO flat rooftops, parking canopy steelwork, and ground-mount arrays in fixed-tilt or single-axis tracker configurations. Custom scope and turnaround quoted per project.

NEC 2023 (510-RICR-00-00-5) IBC 2021 RI REG or Net Metering 300-RICR-00-00-3
Commercial Quote →
Scope + turnaround quoted per project
Process

How Rhode Island Solar Permit Plan Sets Work

01

Submit Your Rhode Island Project

Give us the municipality and address. We confirm whether Rhode Island Energy, Pascoag Utility District, or Block Island Power serves the address, note the REG or REF + net metering program path from the order, and pull ASCE 7 wind and snow tabulated values for the municipality — coastal versus inland versus Block Island.

02

Built to NEC 2023 + Statewide Permit Format

NEC 2023 Article 690 under 510-RICR-00-00-5 — single shutdown device per §690.12, §690.12(D) labeling, PVHCS path available. IRC 2021 or IBC 2021 structural with municipality ASCE 7 values. Rhode Island-licensed PE stamp. Formatted per statewide solar permit application 300-RICR-00-00-3 with Rhode Island Energy REG or net metering interconnection documentation.

03

Delivered in 24–48 Hours

The full 7-sheet Rhode Island package is ready in 24–48 hours, formatted to the statewide permit application that all 39 municipalities are required to accept. REG or net metering program path is shown on the interconnection sheet. Free revisions until the Rhode Island AHJ approves.

First-Time Rhode Island Clients

Try Us on Your First Rhode Island Project. Free.

New to Permit Design? Hand us your first Rhode Island residential project and we will produce the complete 7-sheet deliverable at no cost — NEC 2023 electrical citing 510-RICR-00-00-5, IRC 2021 structural with municipality-level ASCE 7 loads, formatted per the statewide solar permit application 300-RICR-00-00-3, and Rhode Island Energy interconnection documentation for the program path noted on the order.

⚠️ For licensed solar installers, EPCs, and roofing companies only. Individual homeowners and residential end customers are not eligible. One free residential plan set per company.

Claim Your Free RI Plan Set →
✓ NEC 2023 — eff. December 1, 2025
✓ IRC 2021 structural + PE stamp
✓ 300-RICR-00-00-3 statewide permit format
✓ REG or REF + NEM documented
✓ Free revisions until AHJ approval
FAQ

Rhode Island Solar Permit Design — Frequently Asked Questions

NEC 2023. Rhode Island adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code as 510-RICR-00-00-5, effective December 1, 2025, updating from NEC 2020. Rhode Island law under R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-100.1.5 requires the State Building Commission to adopt the latest NEC edition — the December 2025 code cycle updated to NEC 2023 simultaneously with IBC 2021, IRC 2021, and IECC 2024. Plan sets using NEC 2020 rapid shutdown formatting are outdated for Rhode Island permits submitted after December 1, 2025.
The Renewable Energy Growth (REG) program pays a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour of total solar production — $0.2723/kWh for PY2026 — as a separate Rhode Island Energy check for 15 or 20 years. Every kilowatt-hour generated earns this rate, regardless of self-consumption versus grid export. Net metering credits are applied to the electricity bill at approximately 80% of the retail rate for post-April 2023 customers. Customers choose REG or REF (with net metering) at interconnection — these programs cannot be combined. Annual April 1 enrollment with limited capacity.
No, REF and REG cannot be combined. The Renewable Energy Fund (REF) is a cash grant of approximately $0.65 per watt capped at $5,000, with a $2,000 adder for qualifying battery storage, paid after installation and interconnection. REF customers are enrolled in net metering at the standard tariff — ~80% of retail. The REG vs REF choice is made once at interconnection and is not reversible. Commerce Rhode Island administers REF pre-approval, which must be secured before installation.
Approximately 80% of the retail rate — roughly $0.232 per kWh — for customers who interconnected after April 2023. Credits roll over monthly for 12 months; annual surplus is reconciled at a lower wholesale rate. Customers who interconnected before April 2023 retain the prior 1:1 retail rate. Rhode Island's net metering program operates under a capacity cap and is protected by state law through 2039.
Rhode Island enacted a statewide solar energy permit application under 300-RICR-00-00-3, providing a single document that covers both building and electrical permits for solar PV systems. All 39 Rhode Island municipalities must accept this standardized form. Required documentation includes interconnection location relative to the existing meter, mounting structure type, existing roofing material and weatherproofing method, electrical schematic, and structural calculations. Permit Design formats every Rhode Island plan set to this specification.
Rhode Island Energy (formerly National Grid Rhode Island) serves approximately 95% of Rhode Island customers and administers both REG and net metering under RIPUC oversight. Pascoag Utility District serves Burrillville in northern Rhode Island. Block Island Power Company serves Block Island with its own tariff. Pascoag and Block Island customers operate outside Rhode Island Energy's REG and standard net metering programs.
Rhode Island adopted IBC 2021 and IRC 2021, both effective December 1, 2025. Rhode Island's energy code is IECC 2024 — the state bypassed the 2021 edition by statute and mandated direct adoption of the 2024 edition, placing Rhode Island among very few states already on IECC 2024. ASCE 7 wind and snow values are applied per the specific municipality. Coastal communities face elevated wind design values; northern Rhode Island carries higher snow loads than the southern shore.
Yes. Rhode Island offers the REG program ($0.2723/kWh for 15-20 years), the REF grant ($0.65/W up to $5,000 plus $2,000 battery adder combined with net metering), net metering at ~80% retail through 2039, a sales tax exemption on eligible solar hardware, a property tax exemption that prevents solar from increasing a home's assessed value, and the ConnectedSolutions battery demand response program through Rhode Island Energy. The federal Section 25D clean energy credit is no longer available for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. See DSIRE Rhode Island for the current full listing.
Significantly. For larger systems with meaningful export, REG typically delivers more total value — $0.2723/kWh on every kilowatt-hour produced exceeds the ~$0.232/kWh net metering credit and applies to all production. For smaller systems where the REF upfront grant creates strong immediate payback and most production is self-consumed, REF plus net metering can deliver better net-of-grant returns. The choice depends on system size, household load, and the customer's financial priorities — model both before recommending one path.
Permit Design delivers Rhode Island solar permit plan sets within 24-48 hours. Every plan set references NEC 2023 under 510-RICR-00-00-5, IBC or IRC 2021 with Rhode Island amendments, ASCE 7 municipality-level values, and is formatted per the statewide solar permit application 300-RICR-00-00-3. Rhode Island Energy interconnection documentation includes the REG or net metering program designation. Free revisions until the Rhode Island AHJ approves.
Rhode Island Solar Market — 2026

Rhode Island Solar by the Numbers

$0.2723/kWh
REG Rate — PY2026
Rhode Island's REG program pays $0.2723 per kilowatt-hour of total solar production — described as the most valuable solar incentive in New England. The rate is fixed for 15 or 20 years at enrollment. Annual April 1 open enrollment with limited program capacity means delays risk a lower future rate or a full additional year of waiting.
26–28¢/kWh
Rhode Island Energy Retail Rate
Rhode Island's residential electricity rates average 26 to 28 cents per kilowatt-hour — well above the national average. High retail rates make every kilowatt-hour of self-consumed solar worth substantially more than in low-rate states, strengthening both the REG and REF financial models.
NEC 2023
Effective December 1, 2025
Rhode Island's December 2025 code cycle brought NEC 2023, IBC 2021, IRC 2021, and IECC 2024 into effect simultaneously. Plan sets using NEC 2020 rapid shutdown format are outdated for permits submitted after December 1, 2025. Rhode Island is among a small number of states now on IECC 2024.
Through 2039
Net Metering — Protected by Law
Rhode Island's net metering program is protected by state statute through 2039. While the credit rate dropped from 1:1 retail to approximately 80% for new post-April 2023 customers, the legal protection provides one of the longest guaranteed net metering runways in the Northeast — a useful data point for customer financing conversations.
600 MW
State Energy Storage Goal by 2033
Rhode Island's Energy Storage Act targets 90 MW by 2026, 195 MW by 2028, and 600 MW by 2033. The REF $2,000 battery adder and ConnectedSolutions demand response program are designed to accelerate residential storage deployment toward these goals. As of late 2025, approximately 18.7 MW of interconnected residential battery storage existed across more than 1,400 systems.
39 Municipalities
Statewide Permit — One Form
All 39 Rhode Island municipalities accept the standardized 300-RICR-00-00-3 solar permit application. This is a meaningful installation efficiency advantage — installers covering multiple Rhode Island towns work with one documentation format rather than navigating the per-town variation common in neighboring states.
Rhode Island AHJ Rejections

Top 3 Reasons Rhode Island Solar Permits Get Rejected

Three issues generate most Rhode Island permit corrections across the state's 39 municipal building departments.

01
NEC 2020 Format on Post-December 2025 Permits
Rhode Island moved to NEC 2023 on December 1, 2025. Plan sets using NEC 2020 multi-device rapid shutdown format — up to six initiators, §690.56(C) labeling — are incorrect for permits filed after that date. NEC 2023 mandates a single initiation device and §690.12(D) label layout. Installers operating across multiple states who don't update templates for Rhode Island's code transition generate this correction reliably.
510-RICR-00-00-5 · NEC 2023 §690.12 · eff. Dec 1, 2025
How we prevent it: All Rhode Island plan sets submitted after December 1, 2025 use NEC 2023 §690.12(D) single-device formatting. NEC 2020 template language is not carried into Rhode Island documents.
02
REG and Net Metering Both Shown on Same Application
A plan set or interconnection package that shows both REG production metering and net metering bill credit configuration will be rejected during Rhode Island Energy's technical review. REG and net metering are mutually exclusive — they use different meter configurations, different grid agreements, and different payment structures. Showing both, or using the wrong meter type for the chosen program, stalls the interconnection application and requires resubmission.
REG vs net metering · Rhode Island Energy Grid Interconnection Agreement
How we prevent it: The program path — REG or net metering — is confirmed at order entry and the interconnection sheet is built for only the correct meter configuration and agreement type.
03
Coastal Wind Exposure Underspecified
Rhode Island's shoreline municipalities — Narragansett, South Kingstown, Charlestown, Westerly — and Block Island carry ASCE 7 wind design values above what applies in inland Providence County communities. Structural calculations using statewide averages or inland values for coastal Rhode Island installations are flagged by structural plan reviewers and local building officials. Block Island's ocean-surrounded exposure is a category unto itself.
ASCE 7 · IRC 2021 Chapter 3 · coastal wind exposure
How we prevent it: ASCE 7 wind exposure category and design wind speed are confirmed per the specific municipality from the published tables — coastal and inland Rhode Island communities receive distinct values, never averaged.
More on permit requirements → Residential Solar Permit Design →
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The Permit Design Commitment

What installers, EPCs, and roofing partners can expect from Permit Design on every Rhode Island project.

✅ 24–48 Hour Turnaround on Standard Residential Solar Projects
✅ No-Cost Revisions for AHJ Corrections Related to Our Design
✅ Code-Compliant Plans Built to Current NEC, Utility & Local Requirements
✅ Support Through Permit Approval — We Don't Disappear After Delivery
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Reviewed & Verified By PE-stamped plan sets spanning all 50 states · NEC 2023 RI adoption confirmed via 510-RICR-00-00-5 effective December 1, 2025 · REG PY2026 rate and REF grant amounts verified via RI Office of Energy Resources · statewide permit application 300-RICR-00-00-3 confirmed
AHJ-ReadyNEC 2023 confirmed
150+Installer partners
50US states covered
39 TownsOne permit format
Permit SupportThrough AHJ approval
Last reviewed: June 2026·About Permit Design →
NEC 2023 (Dec 2025)REG $0.2723/kWhREF Grant + NEMStatewide Solar Permit
Neighbouring States

Solar Permit Plan Sets — New England States

🦞MassachusettsNEC 2020 🏛️ConnecticutNEC 2020 🌲MaineNEC 2023 🍁VermontNEC 2020 🏔️New HampshireNEC 2020

Rhode Island Solar Permits —
REG or REF. Statewide Permit. NEC 2023.

NEC 2023 · IRC 2021 · REG $0.2723/kWh or REF $5K Grant
300-RICR-00-00-3 · 39 Municipalities · 24–48 Hours

Order RI Plan Set →Contact Us
First-time Rhode Island client? Your first residential plan set is on us. Mention "free trial" in your order notes.