Solar panels have become a common sight on rooftops in Texas, thanks to a boom in the industry. However, not all homeowners are satisfied with their decision to go solar. According to Sara DiNatale, an energy and labor reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, many customers have faced disappointment and frustration with their solar panel installations.
DiNatale analyzed over a thousand complaints made to the Texas Attorney General’s Office and found several recurring issues. Some sales agents misled customers about tax benefits, while others promised more energy production than the systems delivered. In some cases, the installations were so poorly done that they failed local utility inspections, leaving homeowners with leaky roofs and other structural issues.
Many of the victims in these cases were vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, disabled, or non-English speakers, who may have been targeted by unscrupulous door-to-door salespeople. The surge in the solar panel industry over the past few years, fueled in part by the work-from-home trend during the pandemic and concerns about the Texas power grid’s reliability after winter storm Uri, created an ideal environment for sales agents to exploit.
One disturbing trend highlighted by DiNatale is the phenomenon of solar companies abandoning customers before completing installations, often leaving them with half-finished systems. While some financers may help connect these customers with new installers to finish the job, others are left to navigate the situation on their own.
To avoid falling victim to unreliable solar companies, DiNatale recommends homeowners do their due diligence before hiring an installer. Look for local companies with certified technicians, ideally those with NABCEP certifications, to ensure quality workmanship. Unfortunately, Texas lacks robust regulations for the solar industry, with only certified electricians required to hook up systems, leaving other aspects of the process largely unregulated.
In contrast, states like California have stricter regulations in place for solar installations, requiring technicians to be licensed and even regulating door-to-door sales practices. By learning from the experiences of dissatisfied customers in Texas and advocating for stronger oversight in the industry, homeowners can protect themselves from falling victim to unscrupulous solar companies.
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