Your Nebraska Solar Contract Was Built on Math That Doesn't Work. Here's What You Can Do About It.
The short version: Most Nebraska 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 May 8, 2024, Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers sued Everlight Solar (also called Sunburn Construction). 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 one thing about Nebraska's electricity system that makes it different from every other state in the country. And there is a good chance your solar salesperson never mentioned it.
Nebraska is the only state where 100% of electricity comes from public power. No investor-owned utilities. No shareholder profits built into your rates. That's why Nebraska electricity rates have been among the lowest in the nation for decades.
So why does that matter for your solar contract? Because every savings projection a solar company gives you is built on the gap between what you're paying the utility and what you'd pay under the solar contract. In Nebraska, that gap was already thin. If your salesperson projected big savings against rates that were already low - and didn't tell you those rates are kept low by design - the math never worked from day one.
And you're not the only Nebraska homeowner finding this out the hard way.
The Nebraska Attorney General Is Watching Solar
On May 8, 2024, Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers sued Everlight Solar (also called Sunburn Construction). The case was filed in Lancaster County. Nebraska had not had a major solar enforcement case before this. The AG said Everlight ignored 'no solicitation' signs. They knocked on doors as late as 9 pm. They refused to leave without a signed sale. They falsely claimed to work with OPPD and local sports programs. And they lied about how much homeowners would save.
This matters to you. State enforcement agencies have put it on the record. The same sales tactics used on Nebraska 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 Nebraska solar contract
Here's what most Nebraska homeowners don't discover 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 the fine print of your lease? That's the line that raises your payment every year - by as much as 2.9%. On a 25-year lease, that takes a $150 monthly payment past $300. Against Nebraska's already-low public power rates, you're paying more for solar than you would have paid the utility within just a few years!
Did they mention what happens when you try to sell your home? Your buyer has to agree to take over your solar contract. Most 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 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 Nebraska law
Nebraska gives you real legal tools. Here's what your salesperson almost certainly didn't explain.
Your 3-day cancellation window. If you signed your solar contract at home, the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives you 3 business days to cancel. Nebraska's Consumer Protection Act reinforces protections for door-to-door sales. If this right wasn't disclosed to you at signing - and most salespeople skip it - 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.
Nebraska Consumer Protection Act. Neb. Rev. Stat. §59-1602 prohibits unfair and deceptive trade practices in Nebraska. If your solar company made misleading claims about savings or contract terms, this statute applies. Nebraska's Attorney General has a Consumer Protection Division that investigates these complaints, and they take calls from homeowners directly.
The public power advantage works for you, not against you. Nebraska's public power system means your electricity rates are set by public boards, not shareholders looking for profits. That's been keeping your rates low for years. If a solar salesperson told you your rates were "about to skyrocket" to justify the contract, ask yourself: has that happened? In most Nebraska districts, rates have stayed flat or risen slowly. That claim was meant to scare you into signing.
Severe weather exposure. Nebraska sees hail, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms every year. Panel damage reduces system performance, but your contract payments don't pause for weather. If your installer has gone bankrupt, the workmanship warranty that was supposed to cover storm damage is gone with them. Only the manufacturer panel warranty remains - and filing a claim without your original installer is difficult.
Hidden dealer fees in your loan. If you financed your Nebraska solar 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 Nebraska homeowners.
File a complaint with the Nebraska Attorney General. Go to https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint. Or call (402) 471-2785 / 800-727-6432. 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 Nebraska. Find Out What It's Actually Costing You Against Public Power Rates.
Nebraska homeowners have the lowest electricity rates in the country thanks to public power. If your solar contract is costing you more than the utility would have, you need to know. 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=nebraska)Get free Solar Relief Assessment →**
No charge. No obligation. No high-pressure pitch.
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"Sal says: A 2.9% escalator clause nearly doubles your payment over 25 years. If you signed a solar contract in Nebraska, these facts hit your math and your warranty."
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are my rights if I signed a solar contract in Nebraska?
Did a salesperson come to your home? If yes, you have a 3-day right to cancel. That's under Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-1801 et seq. and the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule. Nebraska also has Nebraska Consumer Protection Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §59-1601 et seq.). That law covers unfair or deceptive sales tactics. You can file a complaint with the Nebraska Attorney General. Go to https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint or call (402) 471-2785 / 800-727-6432. If your salesperson didn't tell you about the 3-day cancel rule, that can affect your contract.
Has Nebraska sued any solar companies?
Yes. On May 8, 2024, Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers sued Everlight Solar (also called Sunburn Construction). The case was filed in Lancaster County. Nebraska had not had a major solar enforcement case before this. The AG said Everlight ignored 'no solicitation' signs. They knocked on doors as late as 9 pm. They refused to leave without a signed sale. They falsely claimed to work with OPPD and local sports programs. And they lied about how much homeowners would save.
How does the escalator clause affect my Nebraska solar contract?
Most Nebraska 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. Nebraska's average electricity rate is about 11.76 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska solar contract?
Did the salesperson come to your home? Then Nebraska law gives you 3 business days to cancel. That's under Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-1801 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
Go to the Nebraska Attorney General's website at https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint. Or call (402) 471-2785 / 800-727-6432. 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.