Title VII, Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition,

is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following sections:

Section [X]. Real Time Approval for Solar and Energy Storage Permit Applications

(a) The Permit Granting Authority shall allow for electronic submission of the permit application and associated documentation for the installation of a solar PV system, solar thermal system, energy storage device, or a solar system combined with an energy storage device. The Permit Granting Authority shall authorize electronic signature for the permit application and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by an applicant. Electronic submission shall be offered through either an online portal available on the website of the Permit Granting Authority or via electronic mail to a dedicated account that shall be capable of receiving permit applications.

(b) Upon submission of required permit application documents and the required permitting fee, the permit shall be deemed granted and the applicant may begin installation.

Section [X]. Solar and Energy Storage Inspections

(a) Applicant shall notify the Permit Granting Authority upon completion of system installation. Permit Granting Authorities shall require no more than one inspection for a solar PV system, solar thermal system, energy storage device, or the solar system combined with an energy storage device in order for the system or device to receive a certificate of completion. The Permit Granting Authority shall issue a certificate of completion no later than 10 business days following the receipt of notice from the applicant that the system, device, or combined system and device, is installed.

(b) An electric distribution company shall not require additional inspections by the electric distribution company or any other entity as a precondition to granting the customer permission to operate.