Green-e Energy Verification

The Green-e Energy verification process consists of two main elements:

• An annual Verification Process Audit of renewable energy sales and supply
• Verification process audit documents: instructions, protocols, attestations and timelines
• Generators that have Submitted Tracking Attestations, which are documents used to streamline the verification of certain facilities' RECs for Green-e Energy purposes
• Auditors that have performed previous satisfactory audits
• Twice-annual Marketing Compliance Reviews of marketing materials

Reporting Year 2009 Annual Verification Submission Timeline & Deadlines

Below is a summary of deadlines for verification reporting for 2009 Green-e Energy Certified sales. Download the full version.

• Monday, February 15, 2010: Unaudited Reporting Forms from each Green-e Energy participant in 2009 are due at Center for Resource Solutions.


• March, 2010: Conference Call for sellers of certified products and for their auditors.


• Tuesday, April 1, 2010: Last day to submit repowering or co-firing applications.


• Friday, May 14, 2010: Last day to request an extension to any Green-e Energy rule that affects the supply used toward 2009 sales.


• Tuesday, June 1, 2010: All required verfication materials are due at CRS by 5pm PDT. After this time, late penalties begin to accrue.


• Wednesday, July 1, 2009: Last day for participants that received a full one-month extensions to submit their Verification Submission without penalty. Participants that were granted an extension of less than one month must submit their Verification Submission by the deadline provided by Green-e Energy staff.


• Late submissions are subject to penalties and decertification. See the full Timeline for details.

Verification Process Audit

The Verification Process Audit requires providers of retail and wholesale Green-e certified renewable energy products to complete an annual third-party verification audit of their renewable energy purchases and sales.

The Verification Process Audit is designed by the Center for Resource Solutions and conducted by an independent certified public accounting firm. The Verification Process Audit uses company contracts, invoices, and billing statements to verify the following:

• that the provider purchased enough renewable electricity or RECs in quantity and type to meet its customer demand for each product;
• that the electricity or RECs were purchased from eligible renewable generators, as defined in the Green-e National Standard;
• that the information provided to customers on the product's annual Product Content Label is accurate;
• that the company did not make any specific purchases of nuclear power;
• that the renewable electricity or RECs purchased and sold by the provider were not sold to more than one customer;
• that the provider has purchased no electricity or RECs from fuel sources for which negative marketing claims were made; and
• that any non-renewable portion of the product meets the emissions requirements set by the Green-e National Standard.

Verification Process Audit Documents, Generators in Tracking Systems, and Auditors

Click here for Green-e Energy verification instructions, protocols, atteststions, timelines and other verification documents.

Click here for a list of renewable energy generation facilities that have submitted Tracking Attestations. Tracking Attestations are signed by generators to streamline the verification of certain facilities' RECs for Green-e Energy purposes. The form is available on the Verification Documents page.

Click here for a list of auditors that have completed at least one satisfactory Verification Process Audit and have agreed to appear on this Web site. Green-e Energy verification protocols are designed so that any licensed Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor can perform the audit.


Green-e Energy Annual Verification Report
to see Green-e Verification Reports since 1998, please see the Publications page.

Marketing Compliance Review

The Marketing Compliance Review, conducted by Green-e staff, ensures that the marketers and utilities offering a renewable energy option are abiding by the Green-e Code of Conduct and Customer Disclosure Requirements.

During the Marketing Compliance Review, staff confirms that the renewable energy provider is not making false or misleading statements about their product and that they have made pricing, power, and contract disclosure to customers in a standardized format. This review occurs twice a year, in February and August. The Green-e Customer Disclosure Requirements outlines Green-e Program requirements with regards to Compliance Review, consumer information disclosure, and logo use and language.

Download the February 2010 Marketing Compliance Review materials packet (zip file).