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Section 4.2: Accounts

M-RETS supports two Account types; Active Accounts and Retirement Accounts. Users can transfer Certificates to specific Accounts manually or automatically upon upload. Each Account has a unique identification number, similar to a banking system. Users may attach aliases to Accounts for ease of reference (e.g., by state, by product name, etc.).

Section 4.2.1: Active Accounts

An Organization can have one or more Active Account(s). An Active Account is the holding place for all active M-RETS Certificates. The Active Account is like a cash checking Account. M-RETS Certificates in Active Accounts are liquid and an Organization---depending on the type---may be able to transfer, retire, or export the Certificates.

If the Account has a Generating Unit(s) associated with it, the Active Account will be the first point of deposit for any M-RETS Certificates created that are associated with the Generating Unit(s) ID number.

Section 4.2.2: Deposits to the Active Account

There are four ways that M-RETS Certificates are deposited in an Active Account.

  1. The Organization can transfer M-RETS Certificates into their Active Account from another of the Organization's Active Accounts.

  2. The Organization can accept a transfer of Certificates from another M-RETS Organization.

  3. The Certificates can be deposited into the Account by M-RETS based on verified generation data from a Generating Unit associated with the Active Account or through an adjustment approved by M-RETS in accordance with the Operating Procedures.

  4. The Certificates can be deposited by M-RETS through the import process. If the Organization has more than one Active Account, the Organization can specify in each case the Active Account in which they want the Certificates deposited.

Section 4.2.3: Transfers from the Active Account

There are four ways to withdraw or remove M-RETS Certificates from an Active Account:

  1. Transfer the M-RETS Certificates to another of one's own Accounts (e.g. retirement), or

  2. Transfer the M-RETS Certificates to multiple of one's own Accounts, or

  3. Transfer the M-RETS Certificates to the Active Account of another M-RETS Organization, or

  4. Export the M-RETS Certificates out of M-RETS to another compatible tracking system.

Section 4.2.4: Functionality of an Active Account

In addition to being able to deposit and withdraw M-RETS Certificates from the Active Account, Organizations may view and sort their Certificates by a number of Certificate fields, generate reports about their Account, create additional Active Accounts, and transfer active M-RETS Certificates between Active Accounts.

Section 4.2.5: Retirement Accounts

An Organization may establish multiple Retirement Accounts at their discretion. A Retirement Account is a repository for M-RETS Certificates that the Organization wants to designate as retired. An Organization may want to retire Certificates for any number of reasons, including, but not limited to demonstrating compliance with a renewable mandate, retiring Certificates on behalf of green power customers, or making claims about the air quality benefits of the renewable Certificates. M-RETS Certificates in a Retirement Account are no longer transferable to another party and serve as an electronic proof of retirement.

Once an M-RETS Certificate is retired to a Retirement Account, those Certificates may not be transferred into any other Account, including another Retirement Account (i.e. if an Organization has multiple Retirement Accounts). The Retirement Account is effectively the last resting place for an M-RETS Certificate.

Section 4.2.6: Deposits to the Retirement Account

See Section 4.5.3: Retirement of Certificates

Section 4.2.7: Functionality of the Retirement Account

Retirement Accounts exist to hold Certificates permanently removed from circulation and serve as proof that the corresponding Certificates are subject to a voluntary or compliance claim or otherwise removed from circulation. Once an Organization completes the retirement, they cannot later change the retirement reason. This prevents the Certificate from being subject to a double claim. If, however, the Organization contacts M-RETS in writing within 24-hours from the time the Organization indicated the reason for retirement, M-RETS may grant a variance.

M-RETS will grant a variance within the 24-hour notice period when there is no likelihood a Certificate was claimed to be retired for multiple reasons and M-RETS does not suspect any nefarious intent or impropriety. If M-RETS believes there is any chance of double counting, they shall deny the request for a variance.

If an Organization notices an error in the selected retirement reason outside the 24-hour window, the Organization may contact M-RETS ([email protected]) in writing and ask that M-RETS grant a variance.[^1] M-RETS shall review all requests made outside of the 24-hour window and may grant a variance if they determine that the request is made in good faith and: that the Organization submitted their request for a variance in writing within a reasonable amount of time after discovering the error, that there is a legitimate reason for the change, and that there is no likelihood a Certificate was claimed to be retired for multiple reasons. M-RETS may submit the variance request---or send an email outlining the circumstances---to a state or provincial regulator should there be concern compliance with the variance request could result in potential double counting.

Section 4.2.8: Account Status

M-RETS classifies Accounts with the following statuses: Open, Closed, Archived, and Frozen.

Section 4.2.8.1: Open

An 'Open' status denotes the Account is ready to use and Users may Transfer or Retire Certificates to this Account. This status applies to both Active and Retirement Accounts.

Section 4.2.8.2: Closed

An Active Account can be set to a status of 'Closed' when no longer needed. Before closing, the Account must contain zero Certificates. Thus, the User must Transfer or Retire all Certificates from the Account prior to closing. An Account with a 'Closed' status denotes the Account can no longer accept Transfers. This status only applies to Active Accounts.

Section 4.2.8.3: Archived

When a Retirement Account is no longer needed, it can be set to a status of 'Archived'. An 'Archived' status denotes the Account cannot accept further Retirements. However, Retired Certificates remain in an 'Archived' Account. This status only applies to Retirement Accounts.

Section 4.2.8.4: Frozen

When a Retirement Account is part of a Program that has closed, it is set to a status of 'Frozen'. A 'Frozen' status denotes the Account cannot accept further Retirements. However, Retired Certificates remain in an 'Frozen' Account. This status only applies to Retirement Accounts.