At CleanCounts, we are committed to providing a trusted, full-featured, and administratively efficient platform for tracking renewable energy certificates (RECs) and renewable thermal certificates (RTCs) — and to doing so in a way that reflects our nonprofit mission and values.
As part of that commitment, we want to share an upcoming adjustment to our pricing structure that will take effect on February 1, 2026.
What’s Changing
We are introducing a $0.004 per certificate fee on transfers of RECs or RTCs between organizations (referred to as “external transfers” within our operating procedures).
- No changes are being made to issuance fees, retirement fees, generator fees, or annual subscription fees.
- This new fee applies only when certificates are transferred out an M-RETS organization account and accepted by another organization with an M-RETS account. The fee will apply on the date the transfer is accepted by the acquiring party.
Why We’re Adding This Fee
This adjustment reflects the value of the external transfer feature and the administrative effort and technology infrastructure involved in supporting it. External transfers allow M-RETS users to move RECs or RTCs out of their account while preserving the integrity and traceability of the certificates. The new fee ensures we can continue to deliver this service reliably and sustainably, while maintaining our commitment to transparent, consistent, and value-based pricing.
We’ve benchmarked this fee against the broader industry and are confident that at $0.004 per certificate, it is equal to or lower than comparable fees elsewhere, while upholding our high standards of service.
Our Pricing Principles
This change also aligns with our Pricing Principles, which guide how we design and adjust fees:
- Transparency & Consistency: Our fees are publicly documented and applied consistently to all customers. We do not negotiate individual deals or offer side arrangements.
- Prompt Notice: We strive to provide at least six months’ notice of fee changes and are publishing this now to give customers time to plan.
- Non-Discriminatory Access: We do not differentiate pricing based on generating technology — our platform and services remain equally available to all account holders at a given subscription level.
- Administrative Efficiency: Our pricing minimizes complexity, supports clear subscription categories, and avoids cherry-picking or piecemeal service arrangements that add overhead.
- Nonprofit Mission: Fees are set at appropriate business levels to support a healthy, enduring service and to maintain access to public-interest data and reports at no additional cost.
What This Means for You
If you use the external transfer feature to move RECs or RTCs out of your organization account, you will see this new fee applied per certificate at the time of transfer being accepted by the receiving party. Other primary account and subscription fees remain unchanged, and your access to the full set of services at your subscription level is not affected.
Thank You
We appreciate your continued partnership as we advance our mission of enabling accurate, reliable, and transparent tracking of renewable energy. If you have any questions about this update, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team at [email protected].
You can also view our full current fee schedule.
Thank you for helping us build a stronger, more sustainable future.
—
CleanCounts Team
