We’ve all seen the ads on TV or in glossy flyers placed in our mailboxes. Solar is big business, especially in states like Florida. If you’re listening to the marketing jargon of the big solar companies, you may expect no utility bills, major tax credits, or an easier time selling your home because it has solar.
However, many consumers quickly discover that after signing their names to a solar lease contract, the savings, lower bills, and easy financing they were promised are nowhere to be seen. Instead, consumers who buy the system outright or enter into a lease agreement end up with rising costs, hidden fees, and contracts that feel impossible to escape.
Solar Equity Solutions is an option for consumers who have felt duped by offers of “free solar” or accessible financing plans. Through advocacy and knowledge of consumer protection laws, Solar Equity Solutions helps consumers get out of misrepresented or illegally sold solar lease contracts without penalties.
When Free Solar Systems Aren’t Actually Free
Most of us are familiar with the “free solar” companies. They go door-to-door in many communities promising all of the benefits of solar panel systems with little to no upfront cost. What many people soon discover is that these are empty promises and that many solar lease contracts come with rising monthly lease payments hidden within contract terms and lengthy solar loans.
In recent years, consumer complaints about shady solar companies and leasing companies have skyrocketed. Allegations of forged signatures, undisclosed escalation clauses, and financing that looked nothing like what was promised in marketing materials have fueled a not-wholly-unearned backlash on the solar industry.
“By the time most consumers call us, they’re paying more for solar than they ever paid on their electric bill,” explains Josie Garcia, Chief Operating Officer & Vice President of Client Services.
Early Termination Exit Paths
Solar Equity Solutions was founded with a clear mission: End fraud surrounding solar projects and help homeowners gain control over a contract many of them were misled into signing. Long before the company focused on cancellation paths, it focused on solar industry proficiency and consumer education. They promote renewable energy done right with transparency, honest numbers, and clear disclosure.
“We didn’t become a solar exit resource because we stopped believing in the benefits of solar,” says Garcia. “We started our company because homeowners were being harmed by an industry that had begun to prioritize profit over honesty and transparency.”
Today, Solar Equity Solutions partners with consumer protection agencies, attorneys, financial experts, and compliance specialists to help homeowners challenge or escape agreements that they entered into under misrepresented terms.
Know Before You Sign a Solar Agreement
Garcia and her team are steadfast in their mission to educate consumers about solar. “Education has to start before a single signature is placed on a contract,” she explains.
Solar Equity Solutions regularly publishes guidance on navigating “free” or “zero-down” solar offers and how to spot the hidden costs often buried within these contracts. According to Garcia, there are a few red flags homeowners can watch for. These include sales pitches where the salesperson promises that your utility rates will dramatically decrease or that you will see specific savings, promises that you will have a more lucrative home sale with solar, long-term loans with high monthly payments, and terms that are discussed verbally but never make it to the written part of the agreement.
“Before you sign a solar lease contract, you deserve an upfront explanation of what the contract includes,” says Garcia. “If a company refuses to walk you through the agreement step-by-step, that is your sign to walk away.”
What to Do If You Have Already Signed a Residential Solar Lease Agreement
Many people have signed on the dotted line for solar and now have regrets. Solar Equity Solutions is there for homeowners who are already under contract and are now realizing the deal they signed is not the one they believed they were getting. The team focuses on solar leases, power purchase agreements, and loans that may be legally challenged for misrepresentation.
The company’s process is refreshingly straightforward. The team offers a free, no-pressure review in which homeowners describe their specific situation. A licensed consumer protection attorney will then review the solar contract to identify misrepresentations, hidden fees, or other potential violations. Then, the team applies direct legal pressure on the solar company and lenders, taking over the communication process so the homeowner no longer has to advocate for themselves on their own.
“If you were misled or numbers were inflated, you may still have legal recourse to fight back,” explains Garcia.
A Homeowner-First Approach to Solar Investment
“Solar power can be a great resource for many homeowners and the planet,” says Garcia. “But only when homeowners are empowered with clear terms, honest numbers, and contracts that respect their rights.”
The benefits of solar are well-documented. However, when unscrupulous companies seep into the industry, frustration can overshadow the efficacy of solar power. Solar Equity Solution’s allegiance is solely to homeowners. Little by little, they aim to rebuild trust in an industry that still holds monumental promise — if done right.
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