Shopping for solar panels can feel overwhelming, and pressure from aggressive salespeople doesn’t make it any easier. In fact, the chatty, tablet-wielding solar sales rep at your door might be trying to scam you.
As awareness of the need for alternative energy sources increases and the technology has become more affordable, interest in solar has skyrocketed. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, US solar has grown by an average rate of 24% annually for the past decade. Federal incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act have also driven demand.
That boom in solar installations is a good thing — but it’s come with a slew of bad actors in the industry and an increase in consumer complaints about sketchy solar companies everywhere from Rhode Island to North Carolina to Utah. That’s why it’s more important than ever to understand how to spot red flags and deal with aggressive tactics when shopping for solar.
Why the solar industry has so many aggressive salespeople
“The solar industry is exploding, and any time something gets really popular, there are a lot of bad actors who get attracted to the industry,” said Micah Gold-Markel, founder of Solar States, an installation company in Philadelphia.
But because solar is a relatively new industry, it’s not subject to the kinds of regulations that protect consumers in other industries, like real estate. While there are plenty of reputable installers out there, some bad actors recruit salespeople with get-rich-quick schemes on social media, then use shady tactics to push solar on unsuspecting consumers, according to a TIME exposé.
The response to that sales behavior has been a flood of consumer complaints about aggressive or misleading solar salespeople. Nevada is the first state to begin cracking down on shady solar operations, with a new bill going into effect this year. But most states still lack industry-specific regulations to protect homeowners.
How to spot an aggressive solar sales pitch
So how do you tell a reputable installer from a scammy solar sales bro? Here are some red flags to watch out for, according to experts.
