Version 5.0
4/14/2026
Welcome to the Daylight Portal
This guide provides installer administrators with a comprehensive overview of the Daylight portal workflow, from project origination through PTO. Understanding these processes will help you manage projects efficiently and ensure smooth approval timelines.
Quick Reference Guide
Key Thresholds
Metric | Threshold |
Production Factor | ≥ 0.80 |
Offset | 67-120% |
System Size & Production Tolerance (negative) | Within 5% of PPA value |
System Size & Production Tolerance (positive) | Within 10% of PPA value |
Important Platform Notes
System Origination Requirements: Projects that do not meet Daylight's thresholds for production factor, offset, or customer savings will be blocked from origination in the portal.
Documentation Match: Customer name, address, and utility provider should match across all documents.
Production Accuracy: Year 1 production must match exactly across Production Model, PPA Exhibit 1, and Portal; a true-up will occur to resolve any discrepancy in production across the contract and the final design.
No Change Order Function: The Daylight portal does not support frequent change orders. All project details must be as accurate as possible at the time of submission. A True-Up Amendment for system size and production occurs at the CAD Review and As-Built stages.
Work Order Issuance: A work order is automatically issued after CAD approval or True-Up is complete.
Milestone Payments are disbursed in two installments based on project completion: M1 (80% of E&C) is released upon substantial completion, defined as passing installation review and inspection approval. M2 (the remaining 20% of E&C) is released upon confirmation of Permission to Operate (PTO) and system production.
Project Lifecycle Overview
Every project moves through six main stages in the Daylight portal. Below is an overview with expected timelines:
Stage | Key Milestone | Timeline |
1. Origination | Customer Contract Signed | Day 0 |
2. Document Verification | Document Verification Complete; begin site survey | Day 2 |
3. CAD Review & True Up | Site Survey Scheduled: Day 3 Site Survey Completed: Day 7 CAD Design Uploaded: Day 9 CAD Design Approved: Day 11 PPA True-Up Complete: Day 13 | Day 3-13 |
4. Permit and Interconnection Submission | Interconnection Application Submitted: Day 20 Permit Application Submitted: Day 20 Submissions Verified: Day 21 | Day 20-21 |
5. Installation | Install Scheduled: Day 50 Install Complete (Photos Uploaded): Day 60 Install Photos Approved: Day 62 Inspection Scheduled: Day 63 Inspection Complete: Day 70-72 | Day 50-72 |
6. Permission to Operate | PTO Complete: Day 89 PTO Validation Complete: Day 90 Incentive Applications Submitted: Day 91 | Day 89-91 |
Stage 1: Origination
Timeline: Day 0
Overview
Origination is where your project begins. This stage involves generating and executing the PPA contract with the customer and uploading all initial project documentation.
Required Actions
Generate and Execute PPA Contract
Generate the PPA after creating a job through the Daylight Portal
Please follow the Daylight Design Guidelines for your state throughout origination
Present and execute the PPA contract with the customer at their property
For detailed instructions, see: Origination Walkthrough
Please ensure the customer name is the full legal name on title. If the title does not match the customer name, you have the option to add a co-applicant or upload additional documentation at this stage.
Acceptable additional documentation includes:
Acceptable Title Verification Documents: (Must show the Primary Applicant being attached to the subject address)
Deed within 12 months
Current year tax bill/land records
Mortgage statement within 3 months
Trust documents (if in a trust) showing Primary Applicant
LLC documents (if owned by LLC/Corp) showing applicant with greater than 50% ownership in the LLC/Corp
Upload Required Documents for Document Verification
After contract signing and customer identity verification, upload the following documents to the Daylight portal:
Signed PPA Contract: This will auto-populate after contract signing.
Customer Proposal: the solar proposal the customer viewed in-home.
Customer Utility Bill: Must include monthly consumption information (found in the bar graph on the bill).
Shade Report: From your design tool (Aurora, OpenSolar, etc.). Ensure irradiance and the entire home are visible.
Production Report: From your design tool. Ensure the system and entire home are visible.
If operating in a market other than Illinois, skip to Stage 2.
Generate IL Shines Purchase Disclosure Form (Part 1)
CRITICAL: Must be signed from the customer's device (IP address tracked for compliance)
Target: Auto-generate and send within 10 seconds of proposal approval
Submit for Document Verification
After all documents are uploaded, submit the project for document verification.
After project review and approval, please proceed to the CAD Design & True Up phase.
System Origination Requirements
TSRF (Total Solar Resource Fraction): Design target: ≥75%
Solar Access: Design target: ≥85%
System Offset: Ideal offset values are between 90-110%. Offset above 120% or below 67% is not accepted, unless the customer has signed an offset exception/overproduction waiver.
Stage 2: Document Verification
Timeline: Day 0-2
Overview
During this stage, Daylight's project operations team reviews all submitted documentation for completeness and accuracy. This validation ensures that all customer information, system specifications, and production estimates are correct before progressing the project.
What Happens During Validation
The reviewer will verify:
System offset meets Daylight thresholds (67%–120%)
All title and ID verification issues are resolved
All required documents are present and readable
Customer name, address, and utility provider match across all documents
Annual energy consumption is consistent between utility bill and customer details
System production values match across production model, PPA contract, and portal
System size is consistent across all documents
Expected Timeline
Target approval: Within 24 hours of submission
Nest steps: On Day 2 (after validation approval) schedule site survey.
If Your Project is Rejected
You will receive detailed feedback on what needs to be corrected. Address all issues and resubmit. Common rejection reasons include:
Missing or unreadable documents
Title issues
ID Verification missing
Address mismatches between documents
Production value discrepancies
System size inconsistencies
Utility Bill inconsistencies
Too old (must be within 90 days)
Wrong address
Stage 3: CAD Review & True Up
Timeline: Day 3-13
Overview
This stage involves conducting a site survey, uploading a detailed CAD, and completing any necessary production true-ups. A work order is issued after both site survey and CAD are approved.
Step 1: Site Survey (Day 3-7)
Schedule: Day 3 - Schedule the site survey
Complete: Day 7 - Upload site survey images and details using the SiteCapture flow
Ensure all relevant site conditions are documented (roof conditions, obstructions, electrical panel, tree removal if applicable, etc.)
Step 2: CAD Design Upload (Day 9)
Upload Date: Day 9
Include any flags from the site survey or requested updates to the original system size/design
Note if any trees are no longer being removed or other significant design changes
CAD Design Requirements
Your CAD design must meet the following standards for approval:
Accuracy Requirements
Address Match: address must match utility bill, PPA contract, and portal
System Size & Year 1 Production: Must match or be within -5% to +10% of PPA values. Otherwise, a true-up is required (see Step 4).
Solar Access: Ideally 85%+
TSRF: Ideally 75%+
Production Factor: Minimum 0.80
Note: If TSRF or Solar Access fall below the thresholds above, your reviewer will flag this in approval notes for the installer to address rather than outright rejecting the CAD. Design to these targets from the start to avoid delays.
Equipment & Design Standards: Your CAD must use Daylight’s approved equipment stack and design guidelines for your market. Refer to the Daylight Design Guidelines & Equipment Knowledge Base (portal-support.godaylight.com → Design Guidelines & Equipment) for approved panels, inverters, batteries, and full design standards for your state.
Step 3: CAD Design Review (Day 11)
Review Date: Day 11
Daylight's reviewer will verify design quality, accuracy, and compliance
You will receive notification of approval or requests for revisions
Step 4: PPA True-Up (Day 13)
Completion Date: Day 13
If the CAD design resulted in significant changes to system size or production, a PPA amendment will be required to true-up the production guarantee and/or system size with the customer.
The portal will prompt your team’s admin to revise pricing and send the amendment to the customer for signing.
Range of Tolerance: 5% on the negative side, 10% on the positive side
REMINDER: There is no change order function. Ensure accuracy before submission.
Stage 4: Permit and Interconnection Submission
Timeline: Day 20-21
Overview
After CAD design approval, you can proceed with submitting permit and interconnection applications to the relevant authorities. Permit and interconnection submission proofs and approvals are uploaded once both approvals are received, and Daylight verifies the full package in a single review.
Required Actions
Step 1: Initial Permit Submission (Day 20)
Submit permit application to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
Upload to Daylight portal:
Permit submission package: at minimum, the stamped CAD submitted to the AHJ should be uploaded
Any additional required paperwork
AHJ name
Permit submission number
Expected permit approval date
Step 2: Interconnection Application (Day 20)
Submit interconnection application to the utility
Upload to Daylight portal:
Interconnection application or proof of application
Utility-assigned project number
Step 3: Receive Approvals & Upload (Day 30-45)
As the permit and the interconnection approval are received from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), upload the full package to the Daylight portal:
Final issued permit
Interconnection approval letter / documentation
Final utility-assigned project number
Interconnection approval date
Submit for review in the Daylight Portal
Step 4: Daylight Verification (Day 41-42)
Daylight’s project operations team will verify the full permit and interconnection package in a single review
You will receive notification of verification or requests for additional information
Upon approval, installation phase unlocks
Installer receives notification that the project is ready to schedule
Stage 5: Installation
Timeline: Day 50-72
Overview
Once permits and interconnection approvals are received, you can schedule and complete the installation.
Installation Milestones
Step 1: Schedule Installation (Day 45)
Coordinate with the customer to schedule the installation
Update the installation date in the Daylight portal
Install should be a minimum of 2 weeks out from date of scheduling: this is critical for our equipment delivery coordination
Scheduling will generate the associated project and Sitecapture template, assigned to your vendor in Sitecapture. Please work with your Daylight admin to connect your Sitecapture vendor account to the Daylight portal for site survey or install photo package automation and connectivity.
Step 2: Complete Installation (Day 60)
On the date of installation, click the link to the Sitecapture job for the project in the portal under the installation phase
Complete the solar + battery storage installation
Upload installation photos to the template, including:
Pre-Installation Photos
Completed array (full roof view)
Inverter installation
Electrical connections
Battery storage
Commissioning details - Daylight Commissioning Checklist followed, system must show production in the OEM portal
Other relevant installation details as outlined in the install picture package requirements
Upload As-Built Stamped CAD Design, reflecting the system as installed
If the system was installed as shown on the approved permit set, reupload the stamped permit drawings
If there was a deviation from the permitted design, upload the updated drawings with the engineer's stamp
Register equipment by entering serial numbers for installed components:
Solar panels & RSD: image of serial numbers taken on-site in Sitecapture
Inverters, Batteries & iTap cloud number: serial numbers entered into the Daylight portal at installation stage
Step 3: Photo Approval & Final Production Validation (Day 62)
Daylight's project operations team will review installation photos, the as-built design, and submitted project details to determine if a secondary true-up is required based on the as-built production model
Approval typically occurs within 3 days of photo upload/Sitecapture finalization and install review submission in the portal
Step 4: Schedule Inspection & Sign Change Order (Day 63)
Schedule inspection with the AHJ & update inspection completion date in the portal
Sign the final Change Order documenting any as-installed deviations from the originally approved CAD (system size, equipment substitutions, panel count, production) and confirming final E&C
If as-built production triggers a PPA true-up, submit a final true-up amendment to the customer for signature (per Stage 3 tolerances: -5% / +10%)
Step 5: Complete Inspection (Day 70-72)
Day 70: Upload inspection report to the portal
Inspection Report: full report if provided by the AHJ
Proof of Inspection Validation: a permitting portal screenshot or email confirmation from the AHJ showing that inspection passed is sufficient
Proof of Interconnection Submission: Certificate of Approval or proof of utility portal submission for final interconnection/PTO
Day 71: Inspection report approved by Daylight, M1 milestone payment (80% of E&C) is released
Day 72: Submit paperwork to utility for PTO processing
Commissioning requirement: at installation, the system should be commissioned per the Daylight Commissioning Checklist (mySolArk + Tigo EI showing green status/system live). Leave the inverter ON with the settings at Grid Sell OFF.
Note: No installer action is required after Step 2 above. You will be notified separately if any post-PTO information is needed from your team (for example, an as-built clarification or a serial-number correction).
Stage 6: Permission to Operate
Timeline: Day 89-91
Overview
The final stage covers receiving Permission to Operate (PTO) from the utility, generating the project closeout documents, and Daylight’s validation of system energization. Once the Daylight portal issues the greenlight, the M2 milestone payment is released.
PTO Milestones
Step 1: PTO Received (Day 89)
Receive PTO approval from the utility.
Upload the PTO approval letter to the Daylight portal
Generate the Final Completion Certificate and the Release of Claims - portal will route via PandaDoc for installer signature on both documents
Send the customer invite - sends an invitation to the customer payments portal. Customer onboarding will show as completed once the customer opens the invite and completes setup.
Submit PTO confirmation
Step 2: PTO Validation, Greenlight & M2 Release (Day 90)
Upon PTO documentation validation, the module to confirm the system is live and producing opens up in the portal.
Confirm the system is on and producing through this portal module while on site. If all checks pass in the OEM portal and there are no blocking equipment or connectivity issues, the portal will display this confirmation and automatically release the M2 invoice for signing.
If the system is not commissioned through an installer [email protected] OEM portal login, please make sure to transfer the system over to [email protected] in the Solark portal so that the M2 milestone payment can be released.
If these steps have been followed, the system has been turned on, and the confirmation is still not appearing in the portal, please investigate for any equipment issues on-site that could be interfering with production reporting. Contact your Daylight admin if no issues can be identified.
The M2 milestone payment (remaining 20% of E&C) is released
Note: No installer action is required after Step 2 above.
Quick Reference Guide
Key Thresholds
Metric | Threshold |
Production Factor | ≥ 0.80 |
Offset | 67-120% |
System Size & Production Tolerance (negative) | Within 5% of PPA value |
System Size & Production Tolerance (positive) | Within 10% of PPA value |
Critical Reminders
No Change Orders: Ensure all information is accurate before submission. The portal does not support frequent change orders.
Work Order Issued After: Project Validation approval & CAD approval
Blocked Origination: Projects not meeting customer savings, production factor, offset, or financing thresholds will be blocked
Documentation Match: Customer name, address, and utility provider must match across all documents
Production Accuracy: Year 1 production must match exactly across Production Model, PPA Exhibit 1, and Portal; a true-up will occur to resolve any discrepancy in production across the contract and the final design
Support & Resources
Helpful Links
Origination Walkthrough: https://portal-support.godaylight.com/en/articles/12788821-project-creation-agreement-sent
Daylight Knowledge Base: https://portal-support.godaylight.com/en/
Daylight Equipment & Design Guidelines: https://portal-support.godaylight.com/en/collections/17595960-equipment
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 844-668-0974
Portal Technical Issues: Send a message using the Daylight portal support feature on the Sales Dashboard