![]() "There's a special program ending soon." Some utilities are moving away from net metering, and government programs do end.Here's a quick list, from Solar United Neighbors, the US Department of Energy and others, of additional red flags and questionable claims that should prompt you to do some research. "Legitimate companies will answer your questions," McGovern said. Solar sale red flags to avoidĪ pushy salesperson is - besides rude - a sign that their sales pitch might not hold up to scrutiny. If you do sign something you later regret, by law you have three days to cancel most door-to-door sales, according to the US Federal Trade Commission. An installer pushing you to sign before you've read a contract or had all your questions answered is a red flag. It's important to address these issues before a contract is signed and panels are installed on your roof.įor all of these issues, any installer should give you clear answers. Taking panels off to fix the roof likely carries additional costs. For solar to work well, you may need to cut back trees or install panels somewhere other than your roof. If your roof is shaded, make sure an installer has a plan for addressing that. "That's one of the biggest things when anybody wants to consider solar: Is this something that is good for your house?" said McGovern, who added that a solar company had reached out to her about installing solar panels on her completely shaded roof. Still, the low up-front cost of these two options may make solar more available and still save you money in the long run, even if the solar electricity isn't exactly free. You're likely to save more money overall with a purchase than a solar lease or PPA. These are legitimate services and part of the reason residential solar has exploded in the last decade. Though this means you don't pay a large up-front cost for the panels, you will pay monthly to the company that owns them. Likely, it means the product advertised is either a power purchase agreement (PPA) or a solar lease. If you see ads that claim you can put solar panels on your house for free, make sure you understand what "free" means. Typically, there will be a hard deadline for any big change to net metering, and if you have your system installed before that date, you'll receive the older (and often richer) terms. In California, regulators recently changed net metering in the state. ![]() These rates aren't necessarily set in stone. Solar panels installed and operating correctly will reduce the electricity you use and can save you a bunch of money, but the effect on your bill will vary.īefore going solar, be sure you understand how your utility compensates you for the electricity you produce. ![]() Your bill will vary depending on your net metering agreement with your utility, your electricity usage and the base rate utility customers pay to keep up grid infrastructure. If a salesperson says your electricity bill will disappear after installing solar and that you can kick your utility company to the curb, that could also be an exaggeration. Though that isn't proof solar panel scams are widespread (customer satisfaction data isn't widely available), dishonesty happens. It sold expensive solar panels that generated far less energy than promised. One high-profile case of the danger happened in the Detroit area, where customers claimed Pink Solar, then called PowerHome Solar and now bankrupt, made promises its solar panels couldn't deliver. That means more people could be navigating an unfamiliar industry full of unfamiliar companies to save money on energy. While much of that will be utility-scale installations, expanded incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act could have homeowners adopting more solar, too. If you're looking to go solar, whether to lower your energy bill or reduce your reliance on climate-warming fossil fuels, a bit of education can go a long way to getting you a good deal.Įxperts anticipate solar installations will increase by 21% each year on average from 2023 onward. ![]() Shopping for solar panels without a clear understanding of the industry, technology, regulations and incentives puts you on the back foot in conversations with salespeople who may be promising too much. But unlike a car or even a house - things you likely interact with every day - solar panels are a big-ticket item that might feel foreign to most people. Making a big purchase can be a nervy experience.
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