The short version: Six of the 49 residential solar companies in our database come back clean on the public record. The other 43 have a problem. Your installer is probably one of them. Find out where yours ranks in five seconds.

Six of the 49 residential solar companies in our database come back with a solid grade. That is 13%. The other 43 have a problem on the public record. The odds say your installer is one of them.

Here is what shows up when you look. And what to do about it.

The 13%

A solid grade means no state attorney general action, no federal CFPB or FTC complaint, and no bankruptcy filing on the records we search. Six companies clear that bar.

We give those six a B. The label is "Verify Your Standing." Because no enforcement on the public record is not the same as a clean bill of health. Public records lag the kitchen table by years. Pull your contract anyway.

If your installer is not one of those six, the question is which kind of not-one-of-them you are holding.

The other 87%

We grade every company on five categories of public-record data. State attorney general filings. Federal CFPB and FTC actions. Bankruptcy and market-exit filings. Statutes cited in any of those actions. The recency of all of it.

When a company has something on the record, it lands somewhere between C+ and F. Here is what each tier means in plain English.

C+ (5 companies) - Cause for concern. Documented exposure on record, but every action is at least three years old and resolved with no recurrence since. Worth knowing about. Not an alarm.

C (29 companies) - You Are At Risk. Active or recent documented exposure. State attorney general lawsuits. Federal class actions. Settlements running into the millions. Your contract may be tied to one of these patterns and you may already be paying for it without knowing.

D (5 companies) - Take Action Today. Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on record. Once a company files for Chapter 11, the warranty becomes a creditor claim in federal court. The loan does not. The roof stays your problem.

F (4 companies) - Get Immediate Help! The floor. Chapter 7 liquidation, market exit, or multi-state attorney general defendant. The company you signed with may no longer exist. The financing still does.

Almost nine of every ten residential solar companies on our list have either documented exposure or have already failed structurally.

Sal says: The cheapest way to find out something is wrong is before the next bankruptcy filing. Before the next press release. Before the next homeowner like you wonders why their bill went up and the company stopped picking up the phone. The report card is free. Five seconds. No login. No sales call.

Why your installer is probably not one of the 13%

Math. Six clean out of 49 is roughly one in eight. Spread across hundreds of thousands of solar contracts signed in the last five years, the odds are simply against your installer being in that small slice. It is not a personal failure. It is industry shape.

Some of the names in our C tier will surprise you. They are not fringe operators. They are brands you have heard of. Brands that knocked on your door. Brands that had a booth at the home show. Brands that closed deals on smartphones at your kitchen table. Their record on the public docket is the part you did not see when you signed.

You will see it in five seconds when you pull the grade.

Sal says: A B grade from us does not mean a company is good. It means we could not find documented enforcement against them in the records we searched. That is the most a company can earn from us until we can verify positive operating history independently. We do not grade what we cannot source.

The first step

Pull your installer's name. Five seconds. No login. No sales call. The report card tells you which tier you are in, what is on the record, and what it means.

If you are in the 13%, peace of mind costs nothing. If you are in the other 87%, you have answers. And you have time to do something about it before the next press release hits.

Pull your grade at solarhomeadvocate.com/eagle-eye.solarhomeadvocate.com/eagle-eye.**

Because the cheapest moment to learn your company's record is the moment you have it in front of you.

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The Eagle's Eye grades residential solar installers, finance companies, and dealer networks on five categories of public-record data. Full methodology and challenge process at solarhomeadvocate.com/eagle-eye/methodology.solarhomeadvocate.com/eagle-eye/methodology.*

The short version: Three numbers decide if your solar deal is fair. A hidden dealer fee. The escalator clause. Panel wear. Your salesperson skips all three. Add them up yourself with our free Solar Reality Check in about three minutes.

A solar salesperson shows you the nice numbers. The low monthly bill. The big savings. The clean roof.

But the real deal lives in the numbers they don't show you. Here are three. Add them up. Then you understand your own deal better than your salesperson does.

Number one: 25 percent

About that much of your system price may go to the salesperson. It is a hidden dealer fee.

Here is how it works. The lender pays the solar company a fee to sign you up. The solar company rolls that fee into your loan. So the price you finance is higher than the system is worth. And you pay interest on the gap for years.

How big is the fee? State records show it runs 15 to 30 percent of the price. We use 25 percent as the middle. Attorneys general in Minnesota and New York have both acted on fees like these.

On a $30,000 system, 25 percent is about $7,500. You finance it. You pay interest on it. And no one tells you it is there. Because if they did, you might walk away.

That is the whole point of hiding it.

Number two: 2.9 percent

That is a common escalator on a solar lease or PPA. Your payment goes up that much every year, for the life of the contract.

It feels harmless when you sign. But it keeps climbing. A $130 payment grows past $230 by year 22. Your savings do not climb with it. So every year, you keep a little less.

Here is the twist. They sell the escalator as protection from rising power prices. But power prices rise about 3 percent a year on average. Many escalators rise just as fast, or faster. So the clause they sell as protection is the clause raising your cost.

The escalator is buried on page 14. Most people never see it. Not until the payment is already big.

Not sure if your contract has one? That is exactly what the free Solar Reality Check looks for. Because the clause you can't find is the one that costs you most.

Number three: 0.5 percent

That is how much power your panels lose each year as they age. Half a percent sounds tiny. But it adds up.

After 20 years, your panels make about 10 percent less than on day one. You were sold the day-one number. You live with the lower numbers that come after.

It gets worse if a tree grows over the roof. Or the panels were sized wrong. Or the roof faces the wrong way. A real shortfall is hard to spot without an audit. Your bill just sits a little higher than promised, year after year. And you never learn why.

They show you year one. You live with year fifteen.

Why you never added them up

These three numbers live in three different places. The dealer fee hides in your loan. The escalator hides in your lease. The panel wear hides in a spec sheet you probably never read.

No one ever puts them in one place. Because together, they tell a story the salesperson does not want you to hear.

So we built a tool that puts them together. Our free Solar Reality Check asks for your real numbers. Then it runs the full math in about three minutes. No login. No sales call.

Run yours at solarhomeadvocate.com/reality-check.

Because a deal you can check is a deal you can trust. And the deal you cannot check is the one to worry about.

The short version: A lower power bill feels like savings. It is not. You still have a solar payment. Add it back in, plus a hidden fee, a yearly price hike, and slow panel wear, and some "great" deals lose money. The only way to know is to check your own numbers. Our free Solar Reality Check does it in about three minutes. No login. No sales call.

Your electric bill used to be $200. Now it is $65. That feels great. It feels like solar is paying off.

But a lower bill is not the same as saving money.

You still pay for the solar. Maybe a loan. Maybe a lease that goes up each year. Add that payment back in. Then look at the total. Sometimes it still looks good. Sometimes it does not.

The bill drop is the part you see. Here are four things it can hide.

1. A fee you never saw

Most solar loans have a hidden dealer fee. That is money the lender paid the salesperson to close your deal. They added it to your loan. So you pay interest on it too.

How big is it? State records show it runs about 15 to 30 percent of the price. Call it 25 percent. On a $30,000 system, that is about $7,500. You paid it. You got nothing real for it.

It is not labeled on your contract. Because it was never meant to be easy to find.

2. A payment that goes up

Do you have a lease or a PPA? Look for the escalator. That is a small raise on your payment every year. Often about 2.9 percent.

That sounds small. Over time it is not. A $130 payment can grow past $230 by year 22. But your savings do not grow with it. So each year the deal gets a little worse.

3. A scary number that was never real

Salesmen like to say your bill would have doubled. So solar sounds like a rescue.

The real number is much smaller. Over the last 25 years, power prices went up about 3 percent a year. That is the government's own number. Not 6. Not 10.

So that scary number was never real. The "you would have paid a fortune" line was built on it.

4. Panels that slow down

Solar panels make a little less power each year. About half a percent. You were shown the power for year one. But you live with year ten and year fifteen too. Over 20 years, it adds up.

Two deals. Two very different endings.

Here is a good one. A $28,000 loan. 3.99 percent. 15 years. The bill went from $200 to $65. Two years in. Do the real math and this one comes out ahead by about $16,678. Good deals are real. This is one.

Here is a bad one. A lease with a 2.9 percent escalator. The bill did not drop as much as promised. The payment keeps rising. The savings keep shrinking. In the later years, the homeowner pays the solar company. And the power company too. And still ends up behind.

Both started the same way. The bill went down. They did not end the same way.

How to know for sure

You do not have to guess. And do not trust the salesperson's math. He was paid to make it look good.

We built a free tool. It is called the Solar Reality Check. You type in your real numbers. The price. Your payment. Your old bill and your new bill. It does the math the salesperson skipped.

It takes about three minutes. No login. No sales call. You get a grade. And a plain answer about where your deal stands.

If your deal is good, the tool says so. We like to give good news. If it is not, you will see why. And you will see what to do next.

Run your free Solar Reality Check at solarhomeadvocate.com/reality-check.

Because the best time to check is now. While you still have choices.

By Solar Home Advocate

Yesterday we said 9 of the most recognized solar brands didn't make the grade. Today we're going to show you exactly why.

Here's the thing about a failed solar company. You don't see it coming. The salesman who came to your door looked clean cut. The contract had a 25-year warranty. The company had a website with smiling families on the homepage.

Then your bill goes up. The production app stops updating. The phone number stops working.

By the time you notice, the failure is already on public record. It's been there for years. You just didn't know where to look.

The Eagle's Eye looks in five places. Five small ways a solar company shows you it's coming undone before the lights go out for good.

Here's the first one.

Reason 1: They Went Bankrupt.

Picture it. It's year three of your solar contract. The roof springs a leak right where the panels are mounted. You pull out the warranty paperwork and dial the number.

The number rings out.

You try the website. The website now redirects to a different company's sales page. You call the finance company. They tell you the loan still has 22 years left to run.

That's bankruptcy from the homeowner's seat. The warranty you bought becomes a creditor claim in federal court. The loan you signed does not. The roof stays your problem.

Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 on April 15, 2026 in Delaware. They owe between $500 million and $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. They operated in 26 states.

That earned them a D in The Eagle's Eye. Bankruptcy puts a structural cap on the grade. A bankrupt company can't go higher than a D. Because if you can't reach the company, the rest of the record doesn't matter.

Reason 2: A State Attorney General Already Sued Them.

Quick test. Pull your last solar bill. Read the company name at the top. Now go to your state attorney general's website and type that name into the search bar.

If something comes back, you have your answer. If nothing comes back, that's also an answer for now.

Sunrun is the largest residential solar installer in the country. The Connecticut Attorney General sued them in July 2024. The complaint listed forged signatures. Customer impersonation. Solar systems that didn't work.

The Texas Attorney General has an open investigation. Texas solar complaints went from 154 in 2020 to 696 in 2024. A 352 percent jump in four years.

That earned them a B-minus. Honestly, that's generous. The C tier was right there.

Sal Says: A press release in one state usually means complaints building in five. Pull your installer's name in your AG's database first. Then pull it in three neighboring states. Patterns travel.

State AG records are the most reliable signal of long-running consumer harm. Because what shows up in court today was happening at homeowners' kitchen tables three years ago.

Reason 3: A Federal Agency Has Their File Open.

Quick question. Who is your finance company?

Most homeowners can't name them. They paid the salesman. The salesman handled the paperwork. The bill goes to a company you'd recognize. The loan goes to a company you wouldn't.

That's the gap. And that's where the federal agencies live.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau watches the lending side of solar. Hidden dealer fees. Truth in Lending violations. The Federal Trade Commission watches the sales side. False savings claims. Inflated tax credit promises.

Solar Mosaic is one of the biggest solar lenders in the country. The New York Attorney General named them in a March 2026 lawsuit. The complaint alleges $275 million in solar fraud across the state. Their lending partner, Attyx LLC, is named alongside them. A federal class action followed.

That earned Solar Mosaic a C-plus.

The dealer fee is what makes the math stop working. It's the silent 20 to 30 percent markup buried in your loan that nobody mentioned at the kitchen table. You're paying it every month. Most homeowners don't know it exists.

Reason 4: Their Sales Tactics Are On the Public Record.

Remember the salesman.

Maybe he came to your door. Maybe he caught you at a Costco kiosk. Maybe he showed up at a senior community event. Whoever he was, he had a tablet. He had a quote. And he had a deadline.

If you signed that day, the rebate would expire. The price would go up. The panels would pay for themselves in seven years. The company was working with your utility to lock in pricing.

Some of those statements were true. Many were not. The false ones are the same false ones state attorneys general are now suing solar companies over.

Vision Solar got sued by the Florida Attorney General for high-pressure sales and misrepresented savings. Sued by the Connecticut Attorney General. Ordered to pay $5 million in October 2024. Sued by the Arizona Attorney General. Inflated savings claims. Illegal telemarketing.

Then New Jersey. Massachusetts. Pennsylvania. A handful of other states. More than 60 pending legal actions before the company filed for Chapter 11.

That earned them an F.

Sal Says: If your salesman pressured you to sign that day. If they said the rebate would expire. If they told you the panels would pay for themselves. Those are the exact phrases AGs are suing solar companies over right now. Your contract is the receipt.

Reason 5: The Trouble Is Recent. Or It Is Right Now.

Mark your calendar. On March 17, 2026, the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Attyx LLC, formerly known as SUNco. The complaint alleges $275 million in solar fraud. The targets named in the complaint were low-income New Yorkers and seniors on fixed incomes.

The case is six weeks old. Attyx is still operating. They're still on doorsteps somewhere this week.

Six weeks. That's all it takes for a solar company to go from clean record on paper to facing a $275 million state lawsuit.

Here's the part that matters most for you. The 60 days after a major AG filing is when homeowners have the strongest legal options. It's when documents are still findable. When timelines are still provable. When statutes haven't run out.

Wait two years and many of those options are gone.

What All Five Reasons Have in Common.

They are all on the public record. None require a private investigator. None require a lawyer. They just require knowing where to look.

That's what The Eagle's Eye does. It looks in all five places at once. It gives you the result in five seconds. Court records. Bankruptcy filings. Federal complaints. State AG press releases. Dates.

Pull your company's name. See what shows up. That's the whole game.

Pull Your Grade Today.

How do you know if your installer is the next one to flunk?

You don't. You pull the grade.

You read the five category scores. You see what the public record shows. A B-plus with no concerning items in any category is a different story than a B-minus with two AG actions and an open Texas investigation. The grade tells you which one you're holding.

It takes five seconds. It costs nothing. It tells you what kind of company is on the other end of your contract. And what kind of leverage you still have.

Pull it today. Because the cheapest time to find out something is wrong is before the next bankruptcy filing. Before the next attorney general press release. Before the next homeowner like you wonders why their bill went up and the company stopped picking up.

**→ Look up your solar company at SolarHomeAdvocate.com/eagle-eye**

This is piece #2 of Week 1 on The Eagle's Eye. Tomorrow we look at the other side of the wall. We'll show you what an A-graded solar company actually looks like, and why those report cards still earn a free second opinion on your contract.

By Solar Home Advocate · May 5, 2026

Your solar company has a record. Most homeowners have never seen it.

We pulled the records for 50 of the biggest names in solar. State attorney general filings. Federal complaints. Court bankruptcy filings. Sales practice findings. Hidden dealer fees. Door knocking warnings. The patterns we found are not what most homeowners expect.

Some of these companies have already filed for bankruptcy and stopped picking up the phone. Some have been sued in five states at once for misleading customers about savings. Some are still ringing the bell at your front door this week. With no public record at all. That is a different kind of warning sign.

So we built something.

Meet The Eagle's Eye.

Type your solar installer, finance company, or salesperson's company. We'll show you their grade in five seconds. Free.

We built it. Because the time to find out something is wrong is before you need them to fix it.

**→ Look up your solar company at SolarHomeAdvocate.com/eagle-eye**

What We Found When We Looked.

We weren't going to ship this tool until the data demanded it. Here are the four numbers that earned its place on your screen:

• 50 companies graded. Installers, finance companies, dealer networks. The names on the contract you signed are likely on the list.

• 9 of them are already bankrupt or gone. Their workmanship warranties went with them. The financing did not.

• 29 states have brought public action against solar companies. Lawsuits, investigations, consumer warnings on file at the attorney general's office.

• $0 to look any of them up. No email signup. No call. No obligation.

Take a moment with those numbers. Each one comes from a court docket, a bankruptcy filing, or an attorney general press release. We did not invent them. We only found them and counted.

Sal Says: Run your installer first. Then your finance company - they're often a different name on a different page of your contract.

How We Grade.

Every report card scores the same five categories. The math is the same for every company.

State AG record is what your state attorney general has on file. Lawsuits, settlements, public consumer warnings.

Federal compliance is what the CFPB and FTC have filed. Federal cases against the company.

Financial stability is whether the company is operating, restructuring, or gone. A bankrupt company cannot honor a warranty.

Sales practices is what statutes the company has been cited under. Deceptive sales acts. Home solicitation rules. Senior protection laws.

Recency of concerns is when the most recent action hit. Old news is different from a case filed last month.

An A means we found nothing concerning across all five. An F means we found something concerning in most of them. We do not weigh one company more than another. We do not soften results because a brand is a household name.

Sal Says: A grade isn't an opinion. It's what shows up in court records, BBB files, and bankruptcy filings. We just put it in one place.

9 of the Most Recognized Solar Brands Didn't Make the Grade.

We graded 50 companies. 4 of them earned an F. 5 more earned a D.

An F means a company that has been sued by an attorney general, named in federal complaints, or went bankrupt and left customers behind. A D means a company that filed for Chapter 11 and is restructuring or winding down. Either way, the warranty on your roof is at risk.

Here is what that looks like in real life. The roof leaks in year three. You call the number on the contract. The number is dead. The website redirects to a sales page for a different company. You call the finance company. They tell you the loan still has 22 years on it. The roof is still your problem.

Some of the names on the F and D list are household names. Some have national TV ads running this week. Some are still selling door to door.

We don't list them here. Pull your own report card and find out who you're dealing with.

**→ Look up your solar company at SolarHomeAdvocate.com/eagle-eye**

Sal Says: If your company is on the F or D list, document everything - bills, warranty paperwork, original contract. Do it before you call anyone.

If You Don't See Your Company, That's Also a Flag.

We track companies with public records. State filings, federal cases, bankruptcy dockets, business registrations.

If your installer has no AG history, no bankruptcy filing, no BBB profile, and no business registration we can pull, that is a separate concern. Because small operators vanish on homeowners every year and leave nothing behind to track.

The salesman who shook your hand in 2022 may already be gone. The phone may already be disconnected. The website may already redirect to nowhere. Tell us in the comments. We'll add what we can find.

Pull Your Grade Right Now.

How do you actually use it?

Type the name on your contract. The exact one. Hit search. You'll see the grade, the five category scores, and what we found in each.

Takes five seconds. Takes longer than that to find your contract in the kitchen drawer. And it tells you something the salesman never did: who you are actually doing business with.

Pull it today. Because the moment something goes wrong with your panels is the moment your contract becomes the only thing standing between you and losing money. A bill spike. A leak. A company you can't reach. A finance company that still wants its payment. Find out what kind of company is on the other end of it. Find out before you need to know.

**→ Look up your solar company at SolarHomeAdvocate.com/eagle-eye**

This is Week 1 of a deeper look at The Eagle's Eye. Tomorrow: a closer look at the patterns we found in the bankruptcy zone, and what to do if your installer is on either list.

By Solar Home Advocate · Last updated April 27, 2026

The short version: Freedom Forever LLC filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 15, 2026 in Delaware. They were one of the biggest U.S. residential solar installers. They put in about 2 gigawatts of solar across 35 states and Puerto Rico. They owe $500 million to $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. The company owes $114 million to Mosaic, a solar loan company. The California Contractors State License Board had already put Freedom Forever on probation in October 2024. If Freedom Forever is on your contract, your payments don't stop. Your workmanship warranty is gone. Your production guarantee is worth nothing. The only thing you can act on today is the contract itself. If your loan has hidden dealer fees, federal Truth in Lending Act rules may give you a legal path forward.

The Filing

On April 15, 2026, one of the biggest residential solar installers in the country walked into a Delaware bankruptcy court and filed for Chapter 11.

Freedom Forever LLC. Temecula, California. Operating in more than 30 states and Puerto Rico. More than $500 million in debt.

If the name on your solar contract is Freedom Forever, the company that installed your panels and promised you 25 years of worry-free savings is now fighting for its own survival. And whatever your salesperson told you about the "bumper to bumper" warranty, the production guarantee, and the lifetime support? That conversation just got a lot more complicated.

Here's what actually happens next, what it means for your payments, and what you can do about it.

What the filing actually says

Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 on April 15, 2026 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The filing lists:

• $500 million to $1 billion in total liabilities

• $100 million to $500 million in assets

• $114 million owed to Mosaic, the residential solar loan financing company

• A notice that "no funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors" after administrative expenses are paid

That last line is the one that matters most for homeowners. Unsecured creditors is a legal term that includes customers holding warranty claims, homeowners with pending repairs, and anyone who paid a deposit and is still waiting for service. If you're in that group, the filing is telling you in plain court language that there is nothing left for you.

Who Freedom Forever is (and why this is a big one)

Freedom Forever isn't a small regional installer. It's one of the largest residential solar companies in the country, reportedly operating in 30+ states plus Puerto Rico. The company was founded and led by Brett Bouchy, a former stockbroker who built Freedom Forever into a national installation footprint over the last decade.

If you live in California, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Utah, Nevada, Florida, or any of the other states where Freedom Forever operated, there is a real chance your panels or your neighbor's panels were installed by this company or one of its subcontractors.

This is not the first solar giant to fall, and it will not be the last. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. Sunnova filed in June 2025. Pink Energy collapsed before them. SolarInsure has tracked more than 100 solar company bankruptcies and closures over the last three years. Freedom Forever is the latest name on that list, and it's one of the biggest.

The California warning that came 18 months ago

Here's the part most news coverage is leaving out.

In October 2024, the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) placed Freedom Forever on probation after a long investigation into consumer complaints. California is the most regulated solar market in the country, and the CSLB doesn't put a company on probation over a handful of bad reviews. They do it after they've seen a pattern.

In the months that followed, homeowner complaints to the Better Business Bureau, state attorneys general, and consumer protection law firms continued to stack up. Specific complaints on public record include:

• Installation quality issues and design flaws (inadequate snow guards, roof penetration problems)

• Structural damage to homes during installation

• Unresponsive customer service after problems were reported

• Allegations of misleading sales tactics and contract misrepresentation

• Multiple lawsuits alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) tied to sales calls

The CSLB probation was a signal. The bankruptcy filing is the confirmation.

What happens to your contract, your loan, and your payments

This is the part that catches most homeowners off guard. When your solar company goes bankrupt, your contract does not disappear. Here is how each piece actually works.

Your monthly payments don't stop. If you financed your system with a Mosaic loan, a GoodLeap loan, Sunlight Financial, or any other third-party lender, that loan is separate from Freedom Forever. The lender bought your loan from the installer the day you signed. They are now the ones you owe, and they do not care that the company who put the panels on your roof filed bankruptcy. Your payment is still due on the first of the month.

Your lease or PPA transfers. If you have a solar lease or Power Purchase Agreement, the contract becomes an asset of the bankrupt company. The bankruptcy court will sell that contract, along with thousands of others, to whoever bids the highest. You will get a letter at some point telling you the new company name and the new payment address. Your terms don't change. The escalator clause buried in your contract is still there. The 25-year term is still there.

Your workmanship warranty likely just died. Most solar installations come with two separate warranties. The manufacturer's warranty (on the panels themselves, usually 25 years) is held by the panel maker (LG, Q Cells, Silfab, etc.) and survives the installer going bankrupt. The workmanship warranty (on the installation itself, the racking, the wiring, the roof penetrations, the labor) was held by Freedom Forever. It is now part of the bankruptcy. In practical terms, if your roof leaks next spring because of how they flashed around your panels, there is no one on the hook to fix it.

Your production guarantee is gone. If your salesperson promised your system would produce a specific amount of energy per year and Freedom Forever would make up the difference? That guarantee was worth only as much as the company standing behind it. It is now worth nothing.

Service calls, monitoring, and maintenance are gone or being transferred. The company that installed your system is no longer answering the phone. Whoever eventually buys the service contracts in bankruptcy may or may not be a real operating business. Many post-bankruptcy servicers are acquisition vehicles with skeleton crews, not installation companies with trucks and certified electricians.

What you can do right now

You don't have to wait for the bankruptcy to play out over the next 12 to 18 months before you understand where you stand. Here is what you can do today.

1. Pull out your contract and read it. All of it. Find the page that names the installer (Freedom Forever LLC), the page that names the financing company (Mosaic or other), the escalator clause if you have a lease or PPA, the workmanship warranty language, and the production guarantee language. These are the four pieces that just changed in value.

2. Keep paying your loan. For now. Stopping payments because the installer went bankrupt is one of the fastest ways to wreck your credit. The lender is a separate company. They will report missed payments to the bureaus no matter what happened to Freedom Forever. There may be legal grounds to dispute the loan itself (more on that below) but that is a separate process from simply not paying.

3. Document everything. Photos of any installation issues. Copies of any production reports from your monitoring app. Every text, email, and voicemail you sent to Freedom Forever customer service that went unanswered. This documentation is what your attorney or a consumer advocate is going to need if your case has a path forward.

4. File a complaint with your state attorney general. Every state AG office takes complaints against solar installers, and the complaints build a public record that regulators use to decide whether to pursue enforcement action. California homeowners should file with the CSLB and the California AG. Homeowners in other states should search "your state] attorney general consumer complaint" and file directly.

5. Check whether your loan has legal violations. This is the part most homeowners don't know about. If you financed your solar system with a loan, there is a good chance a hidden dealer fee was added to your balance, sometimes adding thousands of dollars to what you owe, without being clearly disclosed. Under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), every finance charge must be disclosed to you in writing. If the dealer fee wasn't disclosed, that is a TILA violation. And a TILA violation is a legal basis to challenge the loan itself, not just the installation.

That last one is why a lot of Freedom Forever customers still have options, even though the company filed bankruptcy. The installer going under doesn't erase the loan. But if the loan was written in a way that violated federal law, the loan itself can be challenged.

Why this keeps happening

Freedom Forever is not an outlier. It's a pattern.

Residential solar companies grow fast by selling aggressively door to door and over the phone, financing the customer with a third-party lender, pocketing a dealer fee up front, and then leaving the installation, the warranty, and the 25-year service obligation on a balance sheet they can't support. When financing costs rise, when state net metering rules change (California's NEM 3.0 cut rooftop solar economics by 80%), or when subsidies shift, the whole model snaps.

The homeowner is left with a 25-year loan or lease and a company that no longer exists.

This is the pattern regulators, consumer protection attorneys, and state AG offices are finally catching up to. It's also why the list of "former" solar giants keeps growing: SunPower, Sunnova, ADT Solar, Pink Energy, and now Freedom Forever.

The question most Freedom Forever customers are about to ask

If you signed a contract with Freedom Forever and you're sitting with that contract in your hand right now, the question is the same one every customer of a bankrupt solar company eventually asks: Am I stuck, or do I have options?

The honest answer is: it depends on what's actually in your contract, what your salesperson did or didn't disclose, and whether your loan was written in a way that complies with federal law. Most Freedom Forever customers don't know the answer because no one has ever walked through the contract with them in plain English.

That's what the free Solar Relief Assessment is for. A senior consultant reviews your contract with you on the phone, in plain language, and tells you what relief you and your family may qualify for. No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

Freedom Forever isn't calling you back. Someone should.

Freedom Forever Filed for Bankruptcy. You Still Have Options. Find Out What They Are.

If the name on your solar contract is Freedom Forever, your warranty, your production guarantee, and your service calls just changed in value. But your loan didn't disappear, and depending on how it was written, you may have legal grounds to challenge it. A free Solar Relief Assessment walks you through what's actually in your contract and what relief you and your family may qualify for.

**Take your free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

Sal says: When your solar company goes bankrupt, your loan doesn't disappear, your lease doesn't cancel, and your payments don't stop. The only thing that disappears is the company on the hook to fix things when they go wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Freedom Forever file for bankruptcy?

Yes. Freedom Forever LLC, the Temecula, California-based residential solar installer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 15, 2026 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The filing listed $500 million to $1 billion in debt and $100 million to $500 million in assets, including $114 million owed to the solar loan financing company Mosaic. The filing also indicated that no funds would be available for distribution to unsecured creditors after administrative expenses.

What happens to my Freedom Forever solar panels now that the company filed for bankruptcy?

Your panels are yours (if you bought them) or remain leased (if you have a lease or PPA). They will keep producing electricity. What changes is the service, warranty, and guarantee behind them. The manufacturer's panel warranty (typically 25 years, held by the panel maker) survives. The workmanship warranty and production guarantee held by Freedom Forever are now part of the bankruptcy and likely unrecoverable. Your monthly loan or lease payment continues regardless because the financing company is separate from the installer.

Do I still have to pay my solar loan if Freedom Forever went bankrupt?

In almost all cases, yes. Your loan is held by a third-party lender (Mosaic, GoodLeap, Sunlight Financial, or similar), not by Freedom Forever. The lender is a separate company and will continue to bill you and report missed payments to the credit bureaus. Stopping payments will damage your credit. However, if your loan was written in a way that violated the federal Truth in Lending Act (for example, an undisclosed dealer fee), the loan itself may be legally challengeable, which is a separate process from simply not paying.

What was Freedom Forever in trouble for before the bankruptcy?

In October 2024, the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) placed Freedom Forever on probation following an investigation into consumer complaints. The company has also faced lawsuits alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), numerous Better Business Bureau complaints citing installation quality issues and unresponsive customer service, and allegations of misleading sales practices.

How many states did Freedom Forever operate in?

Freedom Forever operated in more than 30 states and Puerto Rico at the time of the bankruptcy filing, including California, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Utah, Nevada, and Florida, among others. The full active-market list per Freedom Forever's own site at the time of filing included Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, plus D.C.

What should I do if Freedom Forever installed my solar system?

First: keep paying your loan. The lender (Mosaic, GoodLeap, Sunlight Financial) is a separate company from Freedom Forever. Missed payments will hurt your credit. Second: pull out your contract. Read the installer name, the loan company name, the escalator clause, the warranty language, and the production guarantee language. Third: document every problem. Take photos of install issues. Save unanswered service calls. Fourth: file a complaint with your state's Attorney General. Every state has a consumer protection office with an online form. Fifth: look at your loan paperwork for a dealer fee. If the fee wasn't shown to you in writing, that can be a federal Truth in Lending Act violation. That's a legal basis to challenge the loan.

Can I sue Freedom Forever after the Chapter 11 filing?

No, not directly. The bankruptcy filing triggers an automatic stay. That blocks civil lawsuits against the company. Your real path forward is two steps. First: file a claim in the bankruptcy case if you're a creditor. Second: look at your loan. The lender is a separate company. The bankruptcy stay does NOT protect the lender. If your loan has a Truth in Lending Act violation, the loan itself can often be challenged or renegotiated.

Related reading on Solar Home Advocate

• Did Your Solar Installer Go Bankrupt?

• The 'Escalator Clause' in Your Solar Contract

• Hidden Violations in Your Solar Loan

• Solar Contract Red Flags: A Checklist

• Your Legal Options as a Solar Homeowner

You've called the number on the paperwork. It rings and rings. The email bounces. The website is "under maintenance." The salesman who talked you through it on your porch that night? He's nowhere to be found.

Your installer stopped answering your calls. But they're still sending you their bill!

Your panels are still there. Your payment is still coming out of your account every month.

If that's you, you're not imagining it. And you're not alone.

Roughly half a million American homeowners are making payments right now to solar companies that have either gone bankrupt, been quietly shut down, or slipped out the back door and handed your contract to somebody you've never heard of.

It's happening every week. And most homeowners have no idea what it actually means for them.

The Solar Vanishing Act

Let's call it what it is. There's a pattern going on across the solar industry, and it has four flavors:

1. The big bankruptcy. Freedom Forever, the top residential solar installer in the country last year, filed Chapter 11 in Delaware on April 15, 2026. Their liabilities are somewhere between $500 million and $1 billion. Before that, Sunnova filed in June 2025 with $10.67 billion in debt and roughly 500,000 customers. Before that, Titan Solar Power in Arizona. Before that, SunPower. Before that, Pink Energy. The list keeps growing.

2. The quiet close. The smaller installers don't file bankruptcy. They just shut the lights off. The phone stops working. The website goes dark. You find out when you need service and nobody's there.

3. The handoff. Your contract gets sold. You find out when a bill arrives from a company you've never heard of. Sunnova's contracts are being handed to a servicer called SunStrong. Solar Mosaic's $15 billion loan book went to Solar Servicing LLC, a Forbright Bank subsidiary. Same payment. Same terms. Different name. And good luck getting warranty work out of them.

4. The slow ghost. The company still technically exists. But the warranty calls don't get returned. The production data stops showing up. The service tech who was supposed to come never does. They haven't closed. They've just stopped pretending to do the job they signed up for.

Whichever flavor you're living with, the outcome feels the same from your kitchen table. Your installer is gone. Your contract is not.

Sal says: Over 500,000 American homeowners are paying right now for solar systems from companies that have vanished or been handed off. If that sounds like you, keep reading.

Why the Contract Didn't Leave With Him

Here's the part that catches most homeowners off guard. Your solar contract is not the installer. It's a separate piece of paper with a separate life.

If you signed a solar loan, your loan got bundled with thousands of other loans and sold to a financial company long before the installer hit trouble. You still owe that money, and a loan servicer you never chose is collecting it.

If you signed a solar lease or PPA, the lease was an asset the company owned. When the company went under, somebody bought that asset. You're still locked in - same monthly payment, same escalator clause, same 20 or 25 year commitment. Just a new name on the bill.

If you paid cash, you own the panels outright. The bankruptcy does not take them from you. But it likely takes your warranty.

So your contract lives on. Your obligations stay. Your support disappears.

The Warranty Probably Died First

This is the part that stings.

That 25-year production guarantee? The 10-year workmanship warranty? The promise that somebody would show up if something went wrong? Those warranties are contracts with a company that no longer exists. Or no longer cares.

The new servicer that bought your contract has no legal duty to honor the old warranty unless they specifically agreed to. And most didn't.

In Connecticut alone, the Attorney General has opened investigations after more than 65 complaints against SunStrong, the servicer now handling contracts that used to belong to bankrupt solar companies. Warranty refusals. Billing problems. Some homeowners were even being charged $10 a month just to see their own solar production data.

Sal says: The warranty likely died with the company. The servicer that bought your contract does not have to honor it. That's worth finding out before your next panel problem.

The Part Nobody Tells You: You May Have Legal Options

Here's where it gets interesting.

If the company that sold you the system made misrepresentations, those violations do not disappear when the company does. Promised savings that never came. Fees hidden in the loan. A lease pitched as a "government program." A signature pushed through on a tablet you barely had time to read. Those claims stay on the contract. And they have legal weight.

Start with the fees. The average solar loan in 2026 carries a dealer fee of roughly 22% of the system price, about $5,700 on a typical install. Most homeowners were never told about it. That alone can be a Truth in Lending Act problem.

Then the savings claims. If you were told your electricity bill would "disappear" and you're now paying a solar payment AND a utility bill, that broken promise has weight - especially when state attorneys general are investigating the same companies for the same pitches.

Right now, attorneys general in New York, Texas, Connecticut, Arizona, and Virginia all have active solar enforcement underway:

• New York: $275 million lawsuit against Attyx (formerly SUNco) and two of its lenders for fake "government program" pitches aimed at seniors

• Texas: April 2026 investigation into Freedom Forever, SunRun, Lone Star Solar Services, and CAM Solar, with more than 100 formal complaints on file

• Connecticut: active investigations against six different solar companies, including the servicer SunStrong

• Arizona: $13.8 million penalty against Vision Solar and Solar Xchange for telemarketing and savings fraud

• Virginia: lawsuit against Pink Energy founders covering more than 4,000 households

FTC solar complaints are up 746% since 2018. Regulators are paying attention now in a way they were not three years ago.

Sal says: If the company that sold you solar broke a consumer protection law, that claim did not go away when they did. Your contract is still in play. So are your options.

What To Do This Week

If your installer has gone quiet, been sold, or filed for bankruptcy, here's where to start:

1. Find out who owns your contract now. Look at your most recent bill. The company name may have changed. If no bill has come and you still owe, that's a red flag worth flagging.

2. Pull out your original contract. Look for an escalator clause, a dealer fee line, auto-renewal terms, and anything the salesperson promised out loud that never made it onto the page.

3. Check whether your state attorney general is investigating. If your installer or lender is named in an active case, your situation may be stronger than you think.

4. Take the free Solar Relief Assessment. A senior solar relief consultant can read what you signed, tell you in plain English what you actually agreed to, and walk you through whatever real options you have. Cancellation. Loan forgiveness. Something else entirely.

The first step is easy. It's free, and it takes less than thirty minutes.

**Take your free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch. Just a straight read of what you signed, from people who look at these contracts every day.

The short version: Most Wyoming solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. In September 2024, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled in favor of solar owners. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

Wyoming has low electricity rates, no state solar tax credit, and some of the most extreme weather in the country. So when a solar salesperson showed up at your door in Cheyenne or Casper and told you the panels would "pay for themselves," the math was already working against you.

And here's what makes it worse: Wyoming is rural. When the company that sold you those panels goes bankrupt or leaves the state, getting service or repairs isn't just hard. It's close to impossible.

If you're a Wyoming homeowner and your solar panels aren't saving you what you were told they would, the contract is the place to start looking.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that knocked on your door and made those promises? They might not exist anymore.

The Wyoming Attorney General Is Watching Solar

In September 2024, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled in favor of solar owners. The court said they deserve 'just compensation' in a net metering rate dispute. Wyoming's Senate File 111 (2025) directs the state PSC to set 'just and reasonable' compensation for new solar systems installed after January 1, 2026. Existing systems are grandfathered at current net metering rates.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Wyoming homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Wyoming solar contract

Here's what most Wyoming homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they tell you that Wyoming has no state solar tax credit? That means your entire savings case rested on the federal credit and utility offset. If those numbers were inflated - and for many Wyoming homeowners, they were - the financial case was shaky from the start.

Did your salesperson tell you what happens if your solar company goes bankrupt? SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. Sunnova Energy was one of the biggest solar loan companies in the country. They filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Lumio Holdings filed Chapter 11 in September 2024. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 on April 15, 2026. Pink Energy shut down in October 2022. Vision Solar filed Chapter 7 in December 2023. When any of these companies goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears. And in a state as rural as Wyoming, finding someone to service your panels after the installer disappears is a problem most homeowners in bigger states don't face.

Your rights under Wyoming law

Wyoming gives you legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. How do you know if you were told? Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Wyoming Consumer Protection Act. Wyo. Stat. §40-12-105 prohibits deceptive trade practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings or contract terms, this statute applies. The Wyoming Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit investigates complaints. If you're a homeowner in Cheyenne, Casper, or anywhere in the state who signed based on promises that didn't hold up, filing a complaint is a real option.

No state solar tax credit. Wyoming does not offer a state-level solar tax credit. That means the savings projections your salesperson used were based entirely on the federal credit and utility offset. If those numbers were inflated - and for many Wyoming homeowners, they were - the math never worked in the first place. Did your salesperson mention this during the sale? If not, the savings picture they painted was incomplete from day one.

Low electricity rates and thin savings margins. Wyoming has electricity rates below the national average. That means the spread between your utility bill and your solar payment was thin to begin with. If your salesperson projected big savings against rates that were already low, the savings math was fiction before you signed.

Extreme weather and rural service challenges. Wyoming sees extreme cold, high winds, and hail. Panel damage from these conditions reduces output, and your contract payments don't pause when your panels aren't producing. Add in Wyoming's rural geography - where the nearest qualified solar technician is hours away - and getting service or repairs after an installer goes bankrupt is a real problem for homeowners in Cheyenne, Casper, and across the state.

The loan law question for Wyoming homeowners. Did you finance your solar system instead of leasing it? Look at your loan closely. Most solar loans have a dealer fee hidden in the balance. These fees usually run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. You're paying interest on money that went to the solar company's profit. Not to your panels.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Wyoming homeowners.

File a complaint with the Wyoming Attorney General. Go to https://attorneygeneral.wyo.gov/law-office-division/consumer-protection-and-antitrust-unit/consumer-complaints. Or call 307-777-8962. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Wyoming. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Wyoming homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and your state's low rates and lack of a state tax credit mean your savings math deserves a second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=wyoming)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. If you signed a solar contract in Wyoming, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Wyoming?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under Wyo. Stat. Ann. §40-12-202 and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Wyoming also has Wyoming Consumer Protection Act (Wyo. Stat. Ann. §40-12-101 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Wyoming Attorney General. Go to https://attorneygeneral.wyo.gov/law-office-division/consumer-protection-and-antitrust-unit/consumer-complaints or call 307-777-8962. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Wyoming sued any solar companies?

Yes. In September 2024, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled in favor of solar owners. The court said they deserve 'just compensation' in a net metering rate dispute. Wyoming's Senate File 111 (2025) directs the state PSC to set 'just and reasonable' compensation for new solar systems installed after January 1, 2026. Existing systems are grandfathered at current net metering rates.

How does the escalator clause affect my Wyoming solar contract?

Most Wyoming solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Wyoming's average electricity rate is about 12.85 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well below the national average of 17.45 cents. So the gap between your solar payment and your utility bill was small from the start. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Wyoming solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Wyoming solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Wyoming law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under Wyo. Stat. Ann. §40-12-202 and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Wyoming solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Wyoming?

Go to the Wyoming Attorney General's website at https://attorneygeneral.wyo.gov/law-office-division/consumer-protection-and-antitrust-unit/consumer-complaints. Or call 307-777-8962. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Wisconsin solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. A Wisconsin-based company called Sun Badger Solar went into state receivership in 2022-2023. Big solar companies that worked in Wisconsin have gone bankrupt. Sunrun is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

There is a gap between what your solar salesperson told you in the kitchen and what your We Energies bill says every January. In Wisconsin, that gap gets wide during the winter - and nobody warned you about it.

Your panels produce a fraction of their rated output from November through March. Snow cover. Short days. Gray skies. For five months of the year, your system is underperforming. But your contract payment stays the same every single month.

If you're a homeowner in Milwaukee, Madison, or anywhere across Wisconsin and the solar savings you were promised aren't showing up on your bill, your contract is the place to start looking.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that knocked on your door and made those promises? They might not exist anymore.

The Wisconsin Attorney General Is Watching Solar

A Wisconsin-based company called Sun Badger Solar went into state receivership in 2022-2023. A Waukesha County judge approved final discharge. But there was not enough money to refund customers. 124 creditors filed claims totaling $12.2 million. Minnesota AG Keith Ellison settled with Sun Badger's founders — Kris Sipe and Trevor Sumner — on July 17, 2024. That settlement bars them from doing business in Minnesota. The founders also face criminal theft charges in Wisconsin.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Wisconsin homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Wisconsin solar contract

Here's what most Wisconsin homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they show you what your system actually produces in a Wisconsin winter? If your savings projection used annual averages without showing the month-by-month reality, those numbers hid the fact that your panels are barely producing for five months of the year. Your We Energies, WPS, or Alliant Energy bill tells the real story.

Did your salesperson mention Freedom Forever? Freedom Forever was one of the biggest solar installers in the country. They put in about 2 gigawatts of solar across 35 states. On April 15, 2026, they filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. They owe $500 million to $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. Freedom Forever was still installing in Wisconsin when they filed. If Freedom Forever installed your system, your contract is still active. But the company behind your warranty is now in bankruptcy limbo.

Freedom Forever isn't alone. SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. A company called Complete Solaria bought them. Sunnova Energy filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Pink Energy, Lumio Holdings, and Vision Solar are on the same list. When your installer goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Wisconsin law

Wisconsin gives you real legal protections - and a state agency that enforces them. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. Wisconsin's Home Solicitation Sales statute reinforces this right under state law. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. How do you know if you were told? Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Wis. Stat. §100.18 prohibits false, deceptive, and misleading representations in business. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings, system output, or contract terms, this statute applies. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) enforces this law - and they take it seriously. DATCP has the authority to investigate complaints and take enforcement action against companies operating in Wisconsin. If you're a homeowner in Milwaukee, Madison, or anywhere in the state who signed based on promises that didn't hold up, filing a complaint with DATCP is a real option.

Winter performance gaps your salesperson didn't mention. Wisconsin's winters are long, cold, and snowy. Solar production drops hard from November through March. If your savings projection used annual averages without showing the month-by-month reality, the actual returns are very different from what you were promised. A system rated for a certain annual output in Arizona performs very differently on a roof in Wisconsin. Your salesperson knew that. The question is whether they told you.

Focus on Energy program changes. Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program has offered incentives for solar installations. But incentive levels change over time. If your salesperson projected savings based on incentive amounts that have since decreased, the financial picture they painted is different from what you're living with now.

The loan law question for Wisconsin homeowners. Did you finance your solar system instead of leasing it? Look at your loan closely. Most solar loans have a dealer fee hidden in the balance. These fees usually run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. You're paying interest on money that went to the solar company's profit. Not to your panels.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Wisconsin homeowners.

File a complaint with the Wisconsin Attorney General. Go to https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/ConsumerProtection.aspx. Or call 1-800-422-7128. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Wisconsin. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Wisconsin homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and DATCP is one of the strongest state enforcement agencies in the country. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=wisconsin)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 in April 2026. If you signed a solar contract in Wisconsin, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Wisconsin?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under Wis. Stat. §423.201 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Wisconsin also has Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act (Wis. Stat. §100.18). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Wisconsin Attorney General. Go to https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/ConsumerProtection.aspx or call 1-800-422-7128. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Wisconsin sued any solar companies?

Yes. A Wisconsin-based company called Sun Badger Solar went into state receivership in 2022-2023. A Waukesha County judge approved final discharge. But there was not enough money to refund customers. 124 creditors filed claims totaling $12.2 million. Minnesota AG Keith Ellison settled with Sun Badger's founders — Kris Sipe and Trevor Sumner — on July 17, 2024. That settlement bars them from doing business in Minnesota. The founders also face criminal theft charges in Wisconsin.

How does the escalator clause affect my Wisconsin solar contract?

Most Wisconsin solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Wisconsin's average electricity rate is about 18.2 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's above the national average of 17.45 cents. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Wisconsin solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Wisconsin solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Wisconsin law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under Wis. Stat. §423.201 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Wisconsin solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Wisconsin?

Go to the Wisconsin Attorney General's website at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/ConsumerProtection.aspx. Or call 1-800-422-7128. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most West Virginia solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Big solar companies that worked in West Virginia have gone bankrupt. Pink Energy is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

West Virginia has some of the lowest electricity rates in the country. So when a solar salesperson told you the panels on your roof would "save you money," the math was tight before they even pulled out the contract.

How tight? Your Appalachian Power or Mon Power bill was already low. The savings margin between that bill and a new solar payment was razor thin from the start. And if your salesperson inflated the numbers to make the deal look good, you're living with those inflated numbers right now.

If you're a homeowner in Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, or anywhere across the state and your solar panels aren't delivering what you were promised, your contract is the place to start looking.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that knocked on your door and made those promises? They might not exist anymore.

The Bigger Picture for West Virginia Solar Homeowners

West Virginia has not seen a named AG lawsuit against a solar installer yet. That doesn't mean West Virginia homeowners are safe. Big solar companies have worked here too. The list includes Pink Energy. Some of these companies went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. The same contracts, the same sales tactics, the same escalator clauses — they're in West Virginia homeowners' filing cabinets right now. Your state's consumer protection law covers solar sales just like any other deal.

What's actually in your West Virginia solar contract

Here's what most West Virginia homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they factor in West Virginia's already-low electricity rates? Appalachian Power and Mon Power rates sit below the national average. If your salesperson projected savings based on rates climbing fast, and those rates stayed flat, the savings gap never existed. The math was wrong from day one.

Did your salesperson tell you what happens if your solar company goes bankrupt? Pink Energy used to be called Power Home Solar. They were based in Mooresville, North Carolina. They filed Chapter 7 on October 7, 2022 and shut down. Pink Energy had about 30,000 customers across 15 states, including West Virginia. Customers lost more than $140 million. Multiple state AGs investigated the company. If Pink Energy installed your West Virginia system, your warranty died with them. But your loan payments did not.

Pink Energy was not alone. SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. Sunnova Energy filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Lumio Holdings filed Chapter 11 in September 2024. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 on April 15, 2026. Vision Solar is on the same list. In every case, homeowners keep paying. The warranties behind their systems disappear.

Your rights under West Virginia law

West Virginia gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. How do you know if you were told? Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act. W. Va. Code §46A-6-104 prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings or contract terms, this statute applies. The West Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division investigates complaints and has the authority to take action. If you're a homeowner in Charleston, Huntington, or Morgantown who signed based on promises that didn't hold up, this law is written for your situation.

No state solar tax credit. West Virginia does not offer a state-level solar tax credit. That means the savings projections your salesperson used were based entirely on the federal credit and utility offset. If those numbers were inflated - and for many West Virginia homeowners, they were - the math never worked in the first place.

Coal country, low rates - and thin margins. West Virginia's electricity grid is heavily coal-powered, and the rates reflect it. Your Appalachian Power or Mon Power bill was already among the lowest in the country. That means the spread between your utility bill and your solar payment was thin to begin with. If your salesperson projected big savings against rates that were already low, the savings picture they painted was fiction.

The loan law question for West Virginia homeowners. Did you finance your solar system instead of leasing it? Look at your loan closely. Most solar loans have a dealer fee hidden in the balance. These fees usually run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. You're paying interest on money that went to the solar company's profit. Not to your panels.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for West Virginia homeowners.

File a complaint with the West Virginia Attorney General. Go to https://ago.wv.gov/consumer-protection/file-complaint-consumer-protection-division. Or call 1-800-368-8808. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in West Virginia. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

West Virginia homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and your state's low electricity rates mean your savings math deserves a second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=west-virginia)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Pink Energy shut down in October 2022. If you signed a solar contract in West Virginia, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in West Virginia?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under W. Va. Code §46A-2-132 and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. West Virginia also has West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act (W. Va. Code §46A-1-101 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the West Virginia Attorney General. Go to https://ago.wv.gov/consumer-protection/file-complaint-consumer-protection-division or call 1-800-368-8808. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Which solar companies in West Virginia have faced legal trouble?

Several big ones. Companies that worked in West Virginia include Pink Energy. Some of these went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. If your system came from one of these companies, your contract may still be valid. But the warranty and service behind your system is usually gone.

How does the escalator clause affect my West Virginia solar contract?

Most West Virginia solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. West Virginia's average electricity rate is about 14.77 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's close to the national average of 17.45 cents. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my West Virginia solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my West Virginia solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then West Virginia law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under W. Va. Code §46A-2-132 and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a West Virginia solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in West Virginia?

Go to the West Virginia Attorney General's website at https://ago.wv.gov/consumer-protection/file-complaint-consumer-protection-division. Or call 1-800-368-8808. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Washington solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Big solar companies that worked in Washington have gone bankrupt. Freedom Forever is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

Washington state has some of the lowest electricity rates in the country. The reason is simple: hydroelectric power. Cheap, abundant, and reliable. So when a solar salesperson told you panels on your roof would save you money, the question you should have been asked to consider is: save you money compared to what?

Your utility rates are already low. Your climate is cloudy. And the savings projection your salesperson showed you was built on two assumptions that don't hold up in the Pacific Northwest: that your panels would produce like they do in Arizona, and that your electricity rates were high enough to make the math work.

If you're a homeowner in Seattle, Spokane, or anywhere in Washington and your solar panels aren't saving you what you were told they would, there's a reason for that. It's not your roof. It's your contract.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that sold you the system? More than 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 alone, according to SolarInsure. Sunnova - one of the largest residential solar companies in the country - filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024 and was acquired by Complete Solaria.

The Bigger Picture for Washington Solar Homeowners

Washington has not seen a named AG lawsuit against a solar installer yet. That doesn't mean Washington homeowners are safe. Big solar companies have worked here too. The list includes Freedom Forever, Lumio Holdings, and Solgen Power. Some of these companies went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. The same contracts, the same sales tactics, the same escalator clauses — they're in Washington homeowners' filing cabinets right now. Your state's consumer protection law covers solar sales just like any other deal.

What's actually in your Washington solar contract

Here's what most Washington homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they mention that Washington's cloudy climate means your panels produce far less than the national average? The Pacific Northwest's long, overcast winters reduce output dramatically. If your salesperson used production estimates based on national averages or sunnier regions, the savings they showed you were built on numbers that don't apply to your roof.

Did your salesperson mention Freedom Forever? Freedom Forever was one of the biggest solar installers in the country. They put in about 2 gigawatts of solar across 35 states. On April 15, 2026, they filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. They owe $500 million to $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. Freedom Forever was still installing in Washington when they filed. If Freedom Forever installed your system, your contract is still active. But the company behind your warranty is now in bankruptcy limbo.

Freedom Forever isn't alone. SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. A company called Complete Solaria bought them. Sunnova Energy filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Pink Energy, Lumio Holdings, and Vision Solar are on the same list. When your installer goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Washington law

Washington gives you real legal protections - and one of the strongest consumer protection statutes in the country. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Washington Consumer Protection Act. RCW §19.86 prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices - and it's one of the strongest consumer protection statutes in the country. Violations can result in treble damages. If your solar company misled you about savings, system output, or contract terms, this law gives you real legal leverage.

Low hydro rates working against you. Washington has some of the lowest electricity rates in the country thanks to hydroelectric power. That means the savings margin between your utility bill and your solar payment is razor-thin. If your salesperson projected big savings against rates that were already low, the math never worked. Puget Sound Energy and other Washington utilities offer rates that make the financial case for solar much harder than in high-rate states.

Cloudy climate, lower production. Washington's Pacific Northwest climate means your panels produce far less than in Sun Belt states. If your salesperson used production estimates based on national averages or sunnier regions, your actual output - and savings - are lower than what was promised. This is the double hit for Washington homeowners: low rates and low production. The savings math has to fight both.

The loan law question for Washington homeowners. Did you finance your solar system instead of leasing it? Look at your loan closely. Most solar loans have a dealer fee hidden in the balance. These fees usually run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. You're paying interest on money that went to the solar company's profit. Not to your panels.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Washington homeowners.

File a complaint with the Washington Attorney General. Go to https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint. Or call 1-800-551-4636. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Washington. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Washington homeowners have rights under one of the strongest consumer protection statutes in the country - including potential treble damages under RCW §19.86. And with low hydro rates and a cloudy climate, your savings math deserves a hard second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=washington)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 in April 2026. If you signed a solar contract in Washington, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Washington?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under RCW 19.95 (Solar Energy System Installation Contractor Registration Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Washington also has Washington Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Washington Attorney General. Go to https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint or call 1-800-551-4636. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Which solar companies in Washington have faced legal trouble?

Several big ones. Companies that worked in Washington include Freedom Forever, Lumio Holdings, Solgen Power. Some of these went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. If your system came from one of these companies, your contract may still be valid. But the warranty and service behind your system is usually gone.

How does the escalator clause affect my Washington solar contract?

Most Washington solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Washington's average electricity rate is about 13.81 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well below the national average of 17.45 cents. So the gap between your solar payment and your utility bill was small from the start. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Washington solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Washington solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Washington law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under RCW 19.95 (Solar Energy System Installation Contractor Registration Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Washington solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Washington?

Go to the Washington Attorney General's website at https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint. Or call 1-800-551-4636. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Virginia solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. On January 16, 2026, Virginia AG Jason Miyares sued the founders of Pink Energy. Big solar companies that worked in Virginia have gone bankrupt. Titan Solar Power is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

There is a line in your solar contract that your salesperson in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, or Richmond never mentioned. It raises your payment every year. And the savings projection they showed you? It was built on an assumption about where Dominion Energy rates were headed - an assumption that may not have held up.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that knocked on your door and made those promises? They might not exist anymore.

Pink Energy had operations in Virginia before going bankrupt in October 2022. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024 and was acquired by Complete Solaria. Sunnova - one of the largest residential solar companies in the country - filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. More than 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 alone, according to SolarInsure.

If you're a Virginia homeowner and your solar panels aren't saving you what you were told they would, this is your guide to understanding what went wrong and what you can do about it.

The Virginia Attorney General Is Watching Solar

On January 16, 2026, Virginia AG Jason Miyares sued the founders of Pink Energy. He also sued the lenders that financed Pink Energy's customers. The complaint: the founders misrepresented savings and hid loan fees. This is a post-bankruptcy case. It goes after the people behind the company, not the company itself. Virginia also joined the November 2022 state AG letter to five solar lenders.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Virginia homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Virginia solar contract

Here's what most Virginia homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they tell you what assumptions their savings projection was built on? If they assumed Dominion Energy or Appalachian Power rates would climb at a certain pace and those rates haven't kept up, the savings gap they showed you was never real. The projection looked good on paper. Your electric bill tells a different story.

Did your salesperson mention Freedom Forever? Freedom Forever was one of the biggest solar installers in the country. They put in about 2 gigawatts of solar across 35 states. On April 15, 2026, they filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. They owe $500 million to $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. Freedom Forever was still installing in Virginia when they filed. If Freedom Forever installed your system, your contract is still active. But the company behind your warranty is now in bankruptcy limbo.

Freedom Forever isn't alone. SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. A company called Complete Solaria bought them. Sunnova Energy filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Pink Energy, Lumio Holdings, and Vision Solar are on the same list. When your installer goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Virginia law

Virginia gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. Virginia's Home Solicitation Sales Act (Va. Code §59.1-21.1 et seq.) gives you 3 business days to cancel a contract signed at your home. This is in addition to the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If you weren't told about this right - and most homeowners aren't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Va. Code §59.1-196 et seq. prohibits deceptive trade practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings, system performance, or contract terms, this statute applies. The Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section investigates complaints - and solar complaints are rising.

Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power rate assumptions. Your savings projections were built around your utility's rates. If Dominion or Appalachian Power rates haven't climbed as your salesperson assumed, the savings math doesn't hold up. This is one of the most common gaps between what Virginia homeowners were told and what they're experiencing. Did your salesperson show you what happens to your savings if rates stay flat? If not, you were only shown the best-case scenario.

Net metering credits. Virginia's net metering rules affect how much credit you receive for excess solar energy. If your savings projections were based on net metering terms that your salesperson overstated, the actual returns are lower than what was promised.

Hidden dealer fees are a red flag in solar loans. Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent. They roll these fees into your loan balance. They don't list them as a separate charge. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown in writing. A hidden or mislabeled fee can be a legal violation. You've been paying interest on a fee nobody explained to you.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Virginia homeowners.

File a complaint with the Virginia Attorney General. Go to https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumercomplaintform/form/start. Or call 1-800-552-9963. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Virginia. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Virginia homeowners have rights under both Virginia's Home Solicitation Sales Act and the state Consumer Protection Act - and your utility rate assumptions deserve a hard second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=virginia)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 in April 2026. If you signed a solar contract in Virginia, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Virginia?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under Va. Code §59.1-21.1 et seq. (Home Solicitation Sales Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Virginia also has Virginia Consumer Protection Act (Va. Code §59.1-196 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Virginia Attorney General. Go to https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumercomplaintform/form/start or call 1-800-552-9963. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Virginia sued any solar companies?

Yes. On January 16, 2026, Virginia AG Jason Miyares sued the founders of Pink Energy. He also sued the lenders that financed Pink Energy's customers. The complaint: the founders misrepresented savings and hid loan fees. This is a post-bankruptcy case. It goes after the people behind the company, not the company itself. Virginia also joined the November 2022 state AG letter to five solar lenders.

How does the escalator clause affect my Virginia solar contract?

Most Virginia solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Virginia's average electricity rate is about 15.87 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's close to the national average of 17.45 cents. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Virginia solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Virginia solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Virginia law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under Va. Code §59.1-21.1 et seq. (Home Solicitation Sales Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Virginia solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Virginia?

Go to the Virginia Attorney General's website at https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumercomplaintform/form/start. Or call 1-800-552-9963. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Vermont solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Big solar companies that worked in Vermont have gone bankrupt. Sunrun is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

Vermont winters are long, cold, and dark. From November through March, your solar panels are producing a fraction of what they do in summer - if they're producing at all under a foot of snow.

But your contract payments don't take the winter off. You pay the same amount in January as you do in July. And if your salesperson built a savings projection using annual averages instead of showing you the month-to-month reality, those numbers hid the truth: for nearly half the year, you're paying for electricity your panels aren't making.

If you're a homeowner in Burlington, Montpelier, or anywhere in Vermont and your solar panels aren't saving you what you were told they would, there's a reason for that. The problem isn't your roof. It's your contract.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that sold you the system? More than 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 alone, according to SolarInsure. Sunnova - one of the largest residential solar companies in the country - filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024 and was acquired by Complete Solaria.

The Bigger Picture for Vermont Solar Homeowners

Vermont has not seen a named AG lawsuit against a solar installer yet. That doesn't mean Vermont homeowners are safe. Big solar companies have worked here too. The list includes Sunrun, Freedom Forever, and LGCY Power. Some of these companies went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. The same contracts, the same sales tactics, the same escalator clauses — they're in Vermont homeowners' filing cabinets right now. Your state's consumer protection law covers solar sales just like any other deal.

What's actually in your Vermont solar contract

Here's what most Vermont homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they show you what your panels produce in December versus June? Vermont's solar production drops dramatically during winter months. If your savings projection used annual averages without showing the seasonal reality, the month-to-month math doesn't hold. You're paying full price for a system running at a fraction of its capacity for five months of the year.

Did your salesperson mention Freedom Forever? Freedom Forever was one of the biggest solar installers in the country. They put in about 2 gigawatts of solar across 35 states. On April 15, 2026, they filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. They owe $500 million to $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. Freedom Forever was still installing in Vermont when they filed. If Freedom Forever installed your system, your contract is still active. But the company behind your warranty is now in bankruptcy limbo.

Freedom Forever isn't alone. SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. A company called Complete Solaria bought them. Sunnova Energy filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Pink Energy, Lumio Holdings, and Vision Solar are on the same list. When your installer goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Vermont law

Vermont gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Vermont Consumer Protection Act. 9 V.S.A. §2453 prohibits unfair and deceptive acts and practices. If your solar company misled you about savings, system output, or contract terms, this statute applies. The Vermont AG's Consumer Assistance Program actively investigates complaints - and solar complaints are growing.

Winter performance and your savings projection. Vermont's winters are long and snowy. Solar production drops dramatically from November through March. If your savings projection used annual averages without showing the seasonal picture, the month-to-month math doesn't hold. This is one of the most common gaps between what Vermont homeowners were told and what they're experiencing. Did your salesperson show you a month-by-month production estimate, or just an annual number?

Net metering policy changes. Vermont has adjusted its net metering rules, which affects how much credit you receive for excess solar energy. If your contract's savings projections were based on earlier, more favorable net metering rates, your actual returns are lower than what was promised.

Green Mountain Power rate structure. Most Vermont homeowners are Green Mountain Power customers. Your savings projections were built around GMP rates. If those rates haven't climbed as your salesperson projected, the savings gap is narrower than promised. Did your salesperson show you what happens to your savings if GMP rates stay flat? If not, you were only shown the best-case scenario.

Hidden dealer fees are a red flag in solar loans. Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent. They roll these fees into your loan balance. They don't list them as a separate charge. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown in writing. A hidden or mislabeled fee can be a legal violation. You've been paying interest on a fee nobody explained to you.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Vermont homeowners.

File a complaint with the Vermont Attorney General. Go to https://ago.vermont.gov/consumer-assistance-program-complaint-form. Or call 1-800-649-2424. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Vermont. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Vermont homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and with long winters reducing your panel output for nearly half the year, your savings math deserves a hard second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=vermont)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 in April 2026. If you signed a solar contract in Vermont, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Vermont?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under 9 V.S.A. §2451a et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Vermont also has Vermont Consumer Protection Act (9 V.S.A. §2451 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Vermont Attorney General. Go to https://ago.vermont.gov/consumer-assistance-program-complaint-form or call 1-800-649-2424. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Which solar companies in Vermont have faced legal trouble?

Several big ones. Companies that worked in Vermont include Sunrun, Freedom Forever, LGCY Power. Some of these went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. If your system came from one of these companies, your contract may still be valid. But the warranty and service behind your system is usually gone.

How does the escalator clause affect my Vermont solar contract?

Most Vermont solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Vermont's average electricity rate is about 23.29 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well above the national average of 17.45 cents. Vermont's utility rates are climbing fast. That makes your solar math a close call. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Vermont solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Vermont solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Vermont law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under 9 V.S.A. §2451a et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Vermont solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Vermont?

Go to the Vermont Attorney General's website at https://ago.vermont.gov/consumer-assistance-program-complaint-form. Or call 1-800-649-2424. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Utah solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. In March 2024, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection sued Colarusso Ventures. Big solar companies that worked in Utah have gone bankrupt. SunPower (Blue Raven) is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

Utah has one of the most aggressive door-to-door solar sales cultures in the country. Vivint Solar - one of the largest residential solar companies in America - was headquartered right here before being acquired by Sunrun. Tens of thousands of Utah homeowners in Salt Lake City, Provo, St. George, and across the Wasatch Front signed solar contracts at their kitchen tables after a knock on the door.

The pitch was always the same: save money, lock in rates, go green. But the reality is different.

Your payments are going up. The savings projections aren't matching your electric bill. And Utah's net metering export credits have been reduced - which means the economics of your system changed after you signed. Did your salesperson mention that was coming?

More than 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 alone, according to SolarInsure. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024 and was acquired by Complete Solaria. Sunnova - one of the largest residential solar companies in the country - filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. When your installer goes under, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't disappear. But the warranty you were counting on is gone.

The Utah Attorney General Is Watching Solar

In March 2024, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection sued Colarusso Ventures. The company operates as Elan Solar. Owner Kevin Colarusso is also named. The Division had received more than 30 complaints. Elan admitted 140+ Utah homeowners had nonfunctional systems. Elan's license was revoked on August 30, 2023. An emergency cease-and-desist order came on March 1, 2024. A separate case: Solgen Construction got an administrative citation on March 14, 2023 under the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Utah homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Utah solar contract

Here's what most Utah homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they mention that Utah's net metering export credits have been reduced? If your contract's savings projections were built on full retail credits, your actual returns are lower than what you were promised. The economics shifted - and your salesperson either didn't know or didn't tell you.

Did your salesperson tell you what happens if your solar company goes bankrupt? SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. Sunnova Energy was one of the biggest solar loan companies in the country. They filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Lumio Holdings filed Chapter 11 in September 2024. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 on April 15, 2026. Pink Energy shut down in October 2022. Vision Solar filed Chapter 7 in December 2023. When any of these companies goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Utah law

Utah gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act. UCA §13-11-4 prohibits deceptive and unconscionable sales practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings, system performance, or contract terms, this statute applies. The Utah Division of Consumer Protection investigates complaints - and in a state with this much door-to-door solar activity, they're seeing more of them.

Net metering export credit reduction. Utah transitioned from full retail net metering to a reduced export credit rate. If your contract's savings projections were built on full retail credits and you signed before or during this transition, your actual returns are lower than what was promised. This is one of the most common gaps between what Utah homeowners were told and what they're experiencing.

The door-to-door sales problem. Utah has one of the strongest door-to-door sales cultures in the country. Solar sales is a major industry here. That means more aggressive tactics, more pressure at the door, and more homeowners who signed quickly without fully understanding the terms. If you felt rushed, you're not alone. The protections above exist for exactly this reason.

Rocky Mountain Power rate structure. Most Utah homeowners are Rocky Mountain Power customers. Your savings projections were built against their rates. If those rates haven't climbed as your salesperson projected, the savings math doesn't hold. Did your salesperson show you what happens to your savings if rates stay flat? If not, you were only shown the best-case scenario.

Hidden dealer fees in your loan. Most Utah homeowners with solar loans don't know this. A big chunk of your loan went to the installer as a dealer fee. These fees often run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. They get buried in the balance. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. When a fee is hidden, it can be a federal violation. And you've been paying interest on money that never went into your system.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Utah homeowners.

File a complaint with the Utah Attorney General. Go to https://services.dcp.utah.gov/s/. Or call 801-530-6601 / 1-800-721-SAFE. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Utah. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Utah homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and with net metering credits reduced and one of the most aggressive door-to-door markets in the country, your contract deserves a hard second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=utah)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. If you signed a solar contract in Utah, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Utah?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under Utah Code Ann. §70C-5-101 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Utah also has Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act (Utah Code Ann. §13-11-1 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Utah Attorney General. Go to https://services.dcp.utah.gov/s/ or call 801-530-6601 / 1-800-721-SAFE. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Utah sued any solar companies?

Yes. In March 2024, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection sued Colarusso Ventures. The company operates as Elan Solar. Owner Kevin Colarusso is also named. The Division had received more than 30 complaints. Elan admitted 140+ Utah homeowners had nonfunctional systems. Elan's license was revoked on August 30, 2023. An emergency cease-and-desist order came on March 1, 2024. A separate case: Solgen Construction got an administrative citation on March 14, 2023 under the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act.

How does the escalator clause affect my Utah solar contract?

Most Utah solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Utah's average electricity rate is about 12.88 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well below the national average of 17.45 cents. So the gap between your solar payment and your utility bill was small from the start. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Utah solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Utah solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Utah law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under Utah Code Ann. §70C-5-101 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on an Utah solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Utah?

Go to the Utah Attorney General's website at https://services.dcp.utah.gov/s/. Or call 801-530-6601 / 1-800-721-SAFE. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Tennessee solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. In November 2022, Tennessee joined a group of state AGs. Big solar companies that worked in Tennessee have gone bankrupt. Pink Energy is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

There is a solar company that sold thousands of systems across Tennessee - in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and towns in between - and it no longer exists.

Pink Energy (formerly Power Home Solar) had major operations across the state before filing for bankruptcy in October 2022. If they installed your panels, your contract is still active. Your payments are still due. But the company behind the warranty? Gone.

And here's what makes Tennessee different from most states: much of the state is served by the Tennessee Valley Authority. TVA's rate structures and grid policies are unique. If your salesperson didn't account for how TVA territory works when they projected your savings, those numbers were wrong before the ink dried.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that knocked on your door? It might not be around to answer your call. More than 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 alone, according to SolarInsure. Sunnova - one of the largest residential solar companies in the country - filed Chapter 11 in June 2025.

The Tennessee Attorney General Is Watching Solar

In November 2022, Tennessee joined a group of state AGs. They sent a letter to five solar lenders asking them to pause loan payments for Pink Energy customers. The lenders: Dividend Solar Finance, GoodLeap, Cross River Bank, Sunlight Financial, and Solar Mosaic. An earlier Tennessee-based case: Kentucky v. Solar Titan USA. Kentucky won an appeals court ruling that the state can sue out-of-state solar scammers wherever they cause harm.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Tennessee homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Tennessee solar contract

Here's what most Tennessee homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they mention how TVA's rate structure and local power company policies affect your actual savings? TVA territory doesn't work the same as a standard utility market. If your salesperson used a one-size-fits-all savings calculator, the numbers were built on the wrong foundation.

And did they tell you what happens when the company behind your contract goes bankrupt? If Pink Energy installed your system, you already know. Your payments continue. Your warranty is gone. And filing a claim without your original installer is an uphill fight.

Your rights under Tennessee law

Tennessee gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. TCA §47-18-104 prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings or contract terms, this law applies. The Tennessee AG's Division of Consumer Affairs investigates complaints - and solar complaints are rising across the state.

TVA territory and your savings math. Much of Tennessee is served by the Tennessee Valley Authority through local power companies. TVA's rate structures and policies affect how solar interacts with the grid. If your salesperson didn't account for TVA-specific policies when projecting your savings, those numbers don't hold. This is one of the most common gaps between what Tennessee homeowners were told and what they're experiencing.

Pink Energy's Tennessee collapse. Pink Energy was a major presence in Tennessee before going bankrupt. If your system was installed by Pink Energy, your contract is still active - but the company isn't. You have options you don't know about. The first step is understanding what your contract says and who holds it now.

No state solar tax credit. Tennessee does not have a state income tax on earned income and does not offer a state solar tax credit. That means your savings case relied entirely on the federal credit and utility offset. If those numbers were inflated, the deal never made financial sense. Did your salesperson explain this, or did they let you assume there were state incentives backing the math?

Hidden dealer fees in your loan. Did you finance your solar system with a loan? If so, the lender probably added a dealer fee. These fees are usually 15 to 30 percent of your loan. They get hidden in your balance. You pay interest on money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. Federal law (the Truth in Lending Act) says every fee must be clearly shown. If yours wasn't, that can be a legal violation.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Tennessee homeowners.

File a complaint with the Tennessee Attorney General. Go to https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html. Or call 615-741-3491 / Consumer Affairs 1-800-342-8385. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Tennessee. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Tennessee homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and TVA territory means your savings math deserves a hard second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=tennessee)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Pink Energy shut down in October 2022. If you signed a solar contract in Tennessee, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Tennessee?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under T.C.A. §47-18-701 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Tennessee also has Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (T.C.A. §47-18-101 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Tennessee Attorney General. Go to https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html or call 615-741-3491 / Consumer Affairs 1-800-342-8385. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Tennessee sued any solar companies?

Yes. In November 2022, Tennessee joined a group of state AGs. They sent a letter to five solar lenders asking them to pause loan payments for Pink Energy customers. The lenders: Dividend Solar Finance, GoodLeap, Cross River Bank, Sunlight Financial, and Solar Mosaic. An earlier Tennessee-based case: Kentucky v. Solar Titan USA. Kentucky won an appeals court ruling that the state can sue out-of-state solar scammers wherever they cause harm.

How does the escalator clause affect my Tennessee solar contract?

Most Tennessee solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Tennessee's average electricity rate is about 13.1 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well below the national average of 17.45 cents. So the gap between your solar payment and your utility bill was small from the start. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Tennessee solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Tennessee solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Tennessee law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under T.C.A. §47-18-701 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Tennessee solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Tennessee?

Go to the Tennessee Attorney General's website at https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html. Or call 615-741-3491 / Consumer Affairs 1-800-342-8385. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most South Dakota solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

South Dakota has some of the lowest electricity rates in the country. No state income tax. No state solar tax credit. So when a solar salesperson told you the panels on your roof would "pay for themselves," the question is simple: pay for themselves against what?

The savings margin in South Dakota is razor-thin. Your utility rates are already low. The only incentive backing your system is the federal tax credit. And if your salesperson built a savings projection on anything beyond that, the numbers were wrong before you signed.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that knocked on your door and made those promises? They might not exist anymore. More than 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 alone, according to SolarInsure. Sunnova - one of the largest residential solar companies in the country - filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024 and was acquired by Complete Solaria.

If you're a South Dakota homeowner and the solar math isn't adding up, there's a reason for that.

What's actually in your South Dakota solar contract

Here's what most South Dakota homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they mention what South Dakota's hail, blizzards, and extreme temperature swings do to solar panels? Panel damage from severe weather reduces performance. But your contract payments don't stop for weather. If your salesperson skipped this part, you weren't getting the full picture.

Did your salesperson tell you what happens if your solar company goes bankrupt? SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. Sunnova Energy was one of the biggest solar loan companies in the country. They filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Lumio Holdings filed Chapter 11 in September 2024. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 on April 15, 2026. Pink Energy shut down in October 2022. Vision Solar filed Chapter 7 in December 2023. When any of these companies goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under South Dakota law

South Dakota gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

South Dakota's Deceptive Trade Practices Act. SDCL §37-24-6 prohibits deceptive acts and practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings, performance, or contract terms, this statute applies. The South Dakota Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division investigates complaints.

No state solar tax credit - and no state income tax. South Dakota doesn't offer a state solar tax credit. It doesn't have a state income tax at all. That means the financial case for your system relied entirely on the federal credit and utility offset. If those numbers were inflated, the deal never made financial sense in the first place. Did your salesperson explain this, or did they let you assume there were state incentives backing the math?

Low electricity rates working against you. South Dakota's electricity rates are below the national average. That means the savings margin between your utility bill and your solar payment was thin from the start. If your salesperson projected big savings against rates that were already low, the math never worked.

The loan law question for South Dakota homeowners. Did you finance your solar system instead of leasing it? Look at your loan closely. Most solar loans have a dealer fee hidden in the balance. These fees usually run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. You're paying interest on money that went to the solar company's profit. Not to your panels.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for South Dakota homeowners.

File a complaint with the South Dakota Attorney General. Go to https://consumer.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx. Or call 605-773-4400. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in South Dakota. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

South Dakota homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and with no state solar tax credit and some of the lowest electricity rates in the country, your savings math deserves a hard second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=south-dakota)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. If you signed a solar contract in South Dakota, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in South Dakota?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under SDCL §37-24-5.2 and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. South Dakota also has South Dakota Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act (SDCL §37-24-1 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the South Dakota Attorney General. Go to https://consumer.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx or call 605-773-4400. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

What consumer protection does South Dakota offer solar buyers?

South Dakota uses South Dakota Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act (SDCL §37-24-1 et seq.) for unfair sales practices. It uses SDCL §37-24-5.2 for door-to-door sales. The federal Truth in Lending Act covers your solar loan. Call the South Dakota Attorney General's office at 605-773-4400. Or file online at https://consumer.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx.

How does the escalator clause affect my South Dakota solar contract?

Most South Dakota solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. South Dakota's average electricity rate is about 13.6 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well below the national average of 17.45 cents. So the gap between your solar payment and your utility bill was small from the start. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my South Dakota solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my South Dakota solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then South Dakota law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under SDCL §37-24-5.2 and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a South Dakota solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in South Dakota?

Go to the South Dakota Attorney General's website at https://consumer.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx. Or call 605-773-4400. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most South Carolina solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Big solar companies that worked in South Carolina have gone bankrupt. Titan Solar Power is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

There is a solar company that sold thousands of systems across South Carolina - in Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, and up and down the coast - and it no longer exists.

Pink Energy (formerly Power Home Solar) had major operations throughout the Carolinas before going bankrupt in October 2022. If they installed your panels, your contract is still active. Your payments are still due. But the company behind the promises? Gone.

And Pink Energy isn't alone. More than 100 solar companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 alone, according to SolarInsure. Sunnova - one of the largest residential solar companies in the country - filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024 and was acquired by Complete Solaria.

If you're a South Carolina homeowner paying for a solar system that isn't saving you what you were told it would, this is your guide to understanding what went wrong and what you can do about it.

The Bigger Picture for South Carolina Solar Homeowners

South Carolina has not seen a named AG lawsuit against a solar installer yet. That doesn't mean South Carolina homeowners are safe. Big solar companies have worked here too. The list includes Titan Solar Power, Sunrun, and Solcius. Some of these companies went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. The same contracts, the same sales tactics, the same escalator clauses — they're in South Carolina homeowners' filing cabinets right now. Your state's consumer protection law covers solar sales just like any other deal.

What's actually in your South Carolina solar contract

Here's what most South Carolina homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they mention how South Carolina's hurricane exposure affects your panels? Storm damage reduces performance, but your contract payments don't pause. If hurricane risk wasn't part of the conversation at your kitchen table, you weren't getting the full picture.

And did they tell you what happens when the company behind your contract goes bankrupt? If Pink Energy installed your system, you already know the answer. Your payments continue. Your warranty is gone. And filing a claim without your original installer is an uphill fight.

Your rights under South Carolina law

South Carolina gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement. Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

South Carolina's Unfair Trade Practices Act. S.C. Code §39-5-20 prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings or contract terms, this statute applies. The SC Attorney General's office actively investigates consumer complaints - and solar complaints are rising.

The state solar tax credit. South Carolina's original solar tax credit program offered 25% of installation cost, up to $3,500 per year for 10 years. That's a real benefit. But if your salesperson inflated its value or baked it into a savings projection that doesn't hold up on its own, the overall financial picture is off. A tax credit doesn't fix a bad contract.

Pink Energy's Carolina collapse. Pink Energy operated heavily in South Carolina before going bankrupt. If your system was installed by Pink Energy, your contract is still active - but the company isn't. You have options you don't know about. The first step is understanding what your contract says and who holds it now.

The loan law question for South Carolina homeowners. Did you finance your solar system instead of leasing it? Look at your loan closely. Most solar loans have a dealer fee hidden in the balance. These fees usually run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. You're paying interest on money that went to the solar company's profit. Not to your panels.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for South Carolina homeowners.

File a complaint with the South Carolina Attorney General. Go to https://consumer.sc.gov/consumer-resources/file-complaint. Or call 803-734-3970 / SCDCA 1-800-922-1594. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in South Carolina. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

South Carolina homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and if Pink Energy installed your system, you have options worth knowing about. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=south-carolina)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Pink Energy shut down in October 2022. If you signed a solar contract in South Carolina, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in South Carolina?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under S.C. Code Ann. §37-2-501 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. South Carolina also has South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act (S.C. Code Ann. §39-5-10 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the South Carolina Attorney General. Go to https://consumer.sc.gov/consumer-resources/file-complaint or call 803-734-3970 / SCDCA 1-800-922-1594. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Which solar companies in South Carolina have faced legal trouble?

Several big ones. Companies that worked in South Carolina include Titan Solar Power, Sunrun, Solcius. Some of these went bankrupt. Some were sued in other states. Some were both. If your system came from one of these companies, your contract may still be valid. But the warranty and service behind your system is usually gone.

How does the escalator clause affect my South Carolina solar contract?

Most South Carolina solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. South Carolina's average electricity rate is about 15.41 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's close to the national average of 17.45 cents. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my South Carolina solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my South Carolina solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then South Carolina law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under S.C. Code Ann. §37-2-501 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a South Carolina solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in South Carolina?

Go to the South Carolina Attorney General's website at https://consumer.sc.gov/consumer-resources/file-complaint. Or call 803-734-3970 / SCDCA 1-800-922-1594. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Rhode Island solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha sued Smart Green Solar and CEO Jasjit Gotra. Big solar companies that worked in Rhode Island have gone bankrupt. Sunnova Energy is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

Rhode Island has some of the highest electricity rates in the entire country. And that's exactly why solar sales teams have been knocking on doors in Providence, Warwick, Cranston, and across the state with one pitch that sounds impossible to refuse: "We'll cut your electric bill."

Here's what they didn't tell you. When your rates are already high, it's easy for a salesperson to make the savings math look incredible on paper. All they have to do is assume your utility rates will keep climbing at an aggressive pace. If those rates don't climb that fast - or if your contract has an escalator clause raising your payment every year - the "savings" disappear.

That's not a guess. That's what Rhode Island homeowners are discovering right now. If you signed a solar contract and the numbers aren't matching what you were promised, you're not alone. And you're not stuck.

The Rhode Island Attorney General Is Watching Solar

Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha sued Smart Green Solar and CEO Jasjit Gotra. In November 2023, the AG filed an amended complaint. It added two more company executives as defendants. On March 14, 2024, the court entered a consent order. That order bars Gotra from making misrepresentations while the case continues. The case is still active in Providence County Superior Court. The AG's office logged 107 solar complaints in 2023 — up from 48 the year before. More than half were against Smart Green.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Rhode Island homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Rhode Island solar contract

Here's what most Rhode Island homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would save money against Rhode Island's high rates. But did they mention the escalator clause? That's the line that raises your solar payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that takes a $150 monthly payment past $300. In a state where high electricity rates were supposed to make solar a no-brainer, your solar payment ends up costing more than the utility bill it replaced!

Did they mention what happens if you try to sell your home? Your buyer has to agree to take over your solar contract. Many buyers won't. That means you're stuck paying a buyout of $7,000 to $30,000 or more - just to sell your own house.

Did your salesperson mention Freedom Forever? Freedom Forever was one of the biggest solar installers in the country. They put in about 2 gigawatts of solar across 35 states. On April 15, 2026, they filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. They owe $500 million to $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. Freedom Forever was still installing in Rhode Island when they filed. If Freedom Forever installed your system, your contract is still active. But the company behind your warranty is now in bankruptcy limbo.

Freedom Forever isn't alone. SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. A company called Complete Solaria bought them. Sunnova Energy filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Pink Energy, Lumio Holdings, and Vision Solar are on the same list. When your installer goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Rhode Island law

Rhode Island gives you real consumer protection tools. Here's what you need to know - and what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If your solar contract was signed at your home, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives you 3 business days to cancel. Rhode Island's Home Solicitation Sales Act (R.I.G.L. §6-28-1 et seq.) reinforces this protection under state law. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right, that affects the enforceability of your contract. Pull out your paperwork. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Rhode Island Deceptive Trade Practices Act. R.I.G.L. §6-13.1-1 et seq. prohibits deceptive trade practices in Rhode Island. If your solar company misled you about savings, system output, or contract terms, this statute gives you grounds to act. The Rhode Island Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit investigates these complaints and takes them seriously.

Renewable Energy Growth Program changes. Rhode Island's RE Growth Program has provided incentives for solar. But program terms and compensation rates change over time. If your salesperson projected income based on earlier, more generous terms, your actual returns are lower than what was promised. That gap between projection and reality is the gap you're living with right now.

Rhode Island Energy rate assumptions. Your savings projections were built around rates from Rhode Island Energy (formerly National Grid). Rhode Island homeowners pay among the highest rates in the nation - but that also made the projections easy to inflate. If rates haven't climbed as fast as your salesperson assumed, the savings math falls apart.

Hidden dealer fees in your loan. If you financed your system through a solar loan, there is a good chance a dealer fee was added to your loan balance without clear explanation. Under the federal Truth in Lending Act, every finance charge must be disclosed. If yours wasn't, that's a violation - and it means you've been paying interest on money that went to the solar company, not to your system.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Rhode Island homeowners.

File a complaint with the Rhode Island Attorney General. Go to https://riag.ri.gov/forms/consumer-complaint. Or call 401-274-4400. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Rhode Island. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Rhode Island's high electricity rates made the solar pitch sound like a sure thing. But high rates also made the projections easy to inflate. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=rhode-island)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 in April 2026. If you signed a solar contract in Rhode Island, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Rhode Island?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under R.I. Gen. Laws §6-28-1 et seq. (Home Solicitation Sales Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Rhode Island also has Rhode Island Deceptive Trade Practices Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §6-13.1-1 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Rhode Island Attorney General. Go to https://riag.ri.gov/forms/consumer-complaint or call 401-274-4400. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Rhode Island sued any solar companies?

Yes. Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha sued Smart Green Solar and CEO Jasjit Gotra. In November 2023, the AG filed an amended complaint. It added two more company executives as defendants. On March 14, 2024, the court entered a consent order. That order bars Gotra from making misrepresentations while the case continues. The case is still active in Providence County Superior Court. The AG's office logged 107 solar complaints in 2023 — up from 48 the year before. More than half were against Smart Green.

How does the escalator clause affect my Rhode Island solar contract?

Most Rhode Island solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Rhode Island's average electricity rate is about 30.14 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well above the national average of 17.45 cents. Rhode Island's utility rates are climbing fast. That makes your solar math a close call. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Rhode Island solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Rhode Island solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Rhode Island law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under R.I. Gen. Laws §6-28-1 et seq. (Home Solicitation Sales Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Rhode Island solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Rhode Island?

Go to the Rhode Island Attorney General's website at https://riag.ri.gov/forms/consumer-complaint. Or call 401-274-4400. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Pennsylvania solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. In 2022, then-Pennsylvania AG Josh Shapiro opened an investigation into Pink Energy. Big solar companies that worked in Pennsylvania have gone bankrupt. Sunnova Energy is one of them. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

There is a reason solar sales teams have been hitting the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and the Lehigh Valley harder than almost anywhere in the Northeast. Pennsylvania has high electricity rates, dense neighborhoods full of homeowners over 55, and an SREC program that made the pitch sound like a guaranteed investment.

It wasn't.

For a growing number of Pennsylvania homeowners, the solar math isn't working the way it was presented at the kitchen table. Payments are climbing. SREC values have dropped. And the companies that installed these systems are disappearing.

If you signed a solar contract in Pennsylvania and the numbers aren't adding up, you're not imagining things. And you have more options than you think.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General Is Watching Solar

In 2022, then-Pennsylvania AG Josh Shapiro opened an investigation into Pink Energy. His office also joined a group of state AGs. The group sent a letter to five solar lenders: Dividend Solar Finance, GoodLeap, Cross River Bank, Sunlight Financial, and Solar Mosaic. The letter asked them to pause loan payments for Pink Energy customers. Pennsylvania's Bureau of Consumer Protection still cites solar in ongoing cases.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Pennsylvania homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Pennsylvania solar contract

Here's what most Pennsylvania homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would save money. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment past $300. Most homeowners don't notice until they compare their current bill to what they started paying!

Did they mention SREC values aren't guaranteed? Pennsylvania's Solar Renewable Energy Credit program was a selling point - but SREC prices fluctuate with the market. If your salesperson projected steady SREC income as though it were locked in, and those values have dropped, your financial picture is different from what you were shown.

Did your salesperson mention Freedom Forever? Freedom Forever was one of the biggest solar installers in the country. They put in about 2 gigawatts of solar across 35 states. On April 15, 2026, they filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. They owe $500 million to $1 billion. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are owed money. Freedom Forever was still installing in Pennsylvania when they filed. If Freedom Forever installed your system, your contract is still active. But the company behind your warranty is now in bankruptcy limbo.

Freedom Forever isn't alone. SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. A company called Complete Solaria bought them. Sunnova Energy filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Pink Energy, Lumio Holdings, and Vision Solar are on the same list. When your installer goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Pennsylvania law

Pennsylvania gives you real legal tools to push back. Here's what you need to know - and what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (73 P.S. §201-7) gives you 3 business days to cancel any contract signed at your home. This is on top of the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your contract. How do you know if you were told? Pull out your contract. If there's no cancellation notice on the front page, that's your answer.

Private right to sue under the UTPCPL. This is the big one. Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (73 P.S. §201-1 et seq.) doesn't just prohibit deceptive practices - it gives you the right to take private legal action. If your solar company misled you about savings, system performance, or contract terms, you don't have to wait for the state to act. You can pursue your own claim. That's a tool most Pennsylvania homeowners don't know they have.

SREC market reality. Pennsylvania's SREC program was pitched as steady income. But SREC values fluctuate with market conditions. If your salesperson treated them as guaranteed revenue in your savings projection, and those values have dropped since you signed, the financial gap between what was promised and what's real is wider than you think.

PECO, PPL, and Duquesne Light rate assumptions. Your savings projections were built against your utility's rates. If your utility's rates haven't climbed as fast as your salesperson assumed, the savings gap is narrower than promised - or gone entirely. Every Pennsylvania homeowner's situation depends on which utility serves them and what rate assumptions were used in the pitch.

Winter performance gaps. Pennsylvania winters reduce solar production - especially in the western part of the state near Pittsburgh. If your savings projection used annual averages without disclosing the seasonal drop, the month-to-month math doesn't hold up. You're still paying your full solar payment in January when your panels are producing a fraction of their rated output.

Hidden dealer fees in your loan. If you financed your system through a solar loan, there is a good chance a dealer fee was added to your loan balance without being clearly explained. Under the federal Truth in Lending Act, every finance charge must be disclosed. If yours wasn't, that's a violation - and it means you've been paying interest on money that went to the solar company, not to your system.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Pennsylvania homeowners.

File a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Go to https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/. Or call 800-441-2555. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Pennsylvania. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You and Your Family.

Pennsylvania homeowners have one of the strongest consumer protection tools in the Northeast - including the right to take private legal action under the UTPCPL. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=pennsylvania)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 in April 2026. If you signed a solar contract in Pennsylvania, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Pennsylvania?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under 73 P.S. §201-7 (3-day rescission) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Pennsylvania also has Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (73 P.S. §201-1 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Go to https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/ or call 800-441-2555. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Pennsylvania sued any solar companies?

Yes. In 2022, then-Pennsylvania AG Josh Shapiro opened an investigation into Pink Energy. His office also joined a group of state AGs. The group sent a letter to five solar lenders: Dividend Solar Finance, GoodLeap, Cross River Bank, Sunlight Financial, and Solar Mosaic. The letter asked them to pause loan payments for Pink Energy customers. Pennsylvania's Bureau of Consumer Protection still cites solar in ongoing cases.

How does the escalator clause affect my Pennsylvania solar contract?

Most Pennsylvania solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Pennsylvania's average electricity rate is about 20.19 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's above the national average of 17.45 cents. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Pennsylvania solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Pennsylvania solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Pennsylvania law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under 73 P.S. §201-7 (3-day rescission) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on a Pennsylvania solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Pennsylvania?

Go to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's website at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/. Or call 800-441-2555. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.

The short version: Most Oklahoma solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment 2.9% every year. Over 25 years, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. The Oklahoma AG issued a public warning about solar scams. If your solar panels aren't saving what you were told, you have real rights. Start with a free Solar Relief Assessment to see what's actually in your contract.

There is a number your solar salesperson used in the savings pitch that doesn't work in Oklahoma - and it's the one that matters most.

Oklahoma has some of the lowest electricity rates in the country. That means the gap between what you pay your utility and what you pay under your solar contract was thin from the start. Your salesperson knew this. The pitch still worked because they projected aggressive savings, rising utility rates, and incentives that made the math look good on paper.

But the math doesn't work on your electric bill. And if you're an Oklahoma homeowner paying more for solar than you're saving, the problem started the day the contract was signed.

Your payments are going up. Your savings aren't coming through. And the company that knocked on your door and made those promises? They might not exist anymore.

The Oklahoma Attorney General Is Watching Solar

In May 2024, Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond and OG&E issued a joint public warning. They warned homeowners about solar scam robocalls. The callers pretended to be from OG&E. They made fake claims about rebates and government mandates. In April 2023, the AG also reached a settlement with PSO (Public Service Co. of Oklahoma). The deal allowed 995 megawatts of new solar and wind power in Oklahoma.

This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Oklahoma homeowners are now named in court filings. If what your salesperson told you doesn't match your contract, you're not alone. You're not crazy. And you have options.

What's actually in your Oklahoma solar contract

Here's what most Oklahoma homeowners don't find out until they've been paying for a year or two: the deal you signed isn't the deal you were sold.

Your salesperson told you solar would lower your electric bill. But did they mention the escalator clause buried in your lease agreement? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that turns a $150 monthly payment into more than $300!

Did they mention that Oklahoma is in the heart of Tornado Alley and has some of the highest hail frequency in the country? Panel damage from hail and storms reduces system performance - but your contract payments don't pause for weather. If severe weather risk wasn't part of the conversation during the sale, that's a gap in what you were told.

Did your salesperson tell you what happens if your solar company goes bankrupt? SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. SunPower filed Chapter 11 in August 2024. Sunnova Energy was one of the biggest solar loan companies in the country. They filed Chapter 11 in June 2025. Titan Solar Power filed Chapter 7 in June 2024. Lumio Holdings filed Chapter 11 in September 2024. Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 on April 15, 2026. Pink Energy shut down in October 2022. Vision Solar filed Chapter 7 in December 2023. When any of these companies goes bankrupt, your payments don't stop. Your contract doesn't cancel. But your warranty usually disappears.

Your rights under Oklahoma law

Oklahoma gives you real legal protections. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.

Your 3-day cancellation window. If a solar salesperson came to your home and you signed the contract there, federal law (the FTC Cooling-Off Rule) gives you 3 business days to cancel with no penalty. Oklahoma's Home Repair Fraud Prevention Act provides additional protections for home improvement contracts. If your salesperson didn't tell you about this right - and most don't - that affects the enforceability of your agreement.

Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act. 15 O.S. 752 et seq. prohibits deceptive and unconscionable trade practices. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings, system performance, or contract terms, this statute protects you. This isn't a technicality - it's a consumer protection law written for exactly this situation.

Low electricity rates work against solar savings. Oklahoma's electricity rates are below the national average. That means the savings spread between your utility bill and your solar payment was thin to begin with. If your salesperson projected aggressive savings, the math never supported it. Did your salesperson show you how their projections compared to OG&E or PSO's actual rate history? If not, the savings picture they painted was built on a guess.

OG&E and PSO rate structures. Most Oklahoma homeowners are served by OG&E or Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). Your savings projections were built around those rates. If they haven't climbed at the pace your salesperson assumed, the numbers don't hold up - and in a low-rate state like Oklahoma, even a small miss in the rate projection changes everything.

The loan law question for Oklahoma homeowners. Did you finance your solar system instead of leasing it? Look at your loan closely. Most solar loans have a dealer fee hidden in the balance. These fees usually run 15 to 30 percent of the loan. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be shown clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. You're paying interest on money that went to the solar company's profit. Not to your panels.

What you can do right now

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are the first steps for Oklahoma homeowners.

File a complaint with the Oklahoma Attorney General. Go to https://www.oag.ok.gov/consumer-protection. Or call 405-521-2029. Filing is free. The AG's office reads every complaint.

Compare what the salesperson told you to what's in your contract. In most cases, the two don't match. That gap is what makes a case.

Pull your utility bills from the last 12 months. Add up what you're paying the utility plus what you're paying for solar. Compare that to what you'd pay the utility alone. If the numbers don't work, that's a real gap — not just a feeling.

Find the escalator clause and the dealer fee in your contract. These two lines cause the biggest gap between what you were sold and what you're paying. You can spot both by reading your own paperwork.

Every contract is different. But the first step is the same for everyone. Understand what you signed. Solar Home Advocate built the free Solar Relief Assessment for this exact moment. Someone walks through your contract with you in plain English. They tell you your options.

You Signed a Solar Contract in Oklahoma. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You.

Oklahoma homeowners have rights under both federal and state consumer protection law - and Oklahoma's low electricity rates mean your savings math deserves a hard second look. A free Solar Relief Assessment helps you understand what's in your contract, what went wrong, and what you can do about it for you and your family.

[Get free Solar Relief Assessment →](https://solarhomeadvocate.com/free-assessment?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=state-guide&utm_content=oklahoma)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**

No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.

---

"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. The Oklahoma AG warned homeowners about solar scams. If you signed a solar contract in Oklahoma, these facts hit your math and your warranty."

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Oklahoma?

Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under 15 O.S. §751-A et seq. (Home Solicitation Sales Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Oklahoma also has Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act (15 O.S. §751 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Oklahoma Attorney General. Go to https://www.oag.ok.gov/consumer-protection or call 405-521-2029. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.

Has Oklahoma sued any solar companies?

Yes. In May 2024, Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond and OG&E issued a joint public warning. They warned homeowners about solar scam robocalls. The callers pretended to be from OG&E. They made fake claims about rebates and government mandates. In April 2023, the AG also reached a settlement with PSO (Public Service Co. of Oklahoma). The deal allowed 995 megawatts of new solar and wind power in Oklahoma.

How does the escalator clause affect my Oklahoma solar contract?

Most Oklahoma solar leases have an escalator clause. It raises your payment about 2.9% every year. On a 25-year lease, a $150 payment grows to more than $300. Oklahoma's average electricity rate is about 12.62 cents per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. That's well below the national average of 17.45 cents. So the gap between your solar payment and your utility bill was small from the start. Utility rates haven't always gone up 2.9% a year. So your solar payment can climb faster than your would-be utility bill. Your savings shrink instead of grow.

What happens if my Oklahoma solar company went bankrupt?

SolarInsure counted more than 100 solar company bankruptcies in 2024. Big names include SunPower (Aug 2024), Sunnova Energy (June 2025), Titan Solar Power (June 2024), Freedom Forever (April 15, 2026), Pink Energy (Oct 2022), and Vision Solar (Dec 2023). If your installer went bankrupt, your contract still stands. Your payments still go out. But the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. The panel maker's warranty (often 25 years) still exists. But filing a claim without an active installer is hard.

Can I cancel my Oklahoma solar contract?

Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Oklahoma law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under 15 O.S. §751-A et seq. (Home Solicitation Sales Act) and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. If those 3 days have passed, you may still have options. Did they skip the cancel notice? Did they use deceptive sales tactics? Did your loan hide fees? Any of those can open a path to cancel. It depends on your specific contract and how it was sold.

What are hidden dealer fees on an Oklahoma solar loan?

Solar finance companies add dealer fees of 15 to 30 percent to your loan. They roll the fee into the principal. They don't list it separately. That means you pay interest on fee money that went to the solar company. Not to your panels. The federal Truth in Lending Act says every fee must be listed clearly. A hidden fee can be a federal violation. That's one of the strongest paths to renegotiate or exit a solar loan.

How do I file a solar complaint in Oklahoma?

Go to the Oklahoma Attorney General's website at https://www.oag.ok.gov/consumer-protection. Or call 405-521-2029. Filing is free. Write down what the salesperson told you at the sale. Save your contract. Save any texts, emails, and voicemails with the installer. If you have a solar loan, keep your loan paperwork. A formal complaint creates a record. That record strengthens any legal review later.