Household photovoltaic panel scam case revealed

Are rooftop solar panels a scam?

While rooftop solar panels are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in homes throughout the United States, the industry also has a more sinister side: a seemingly widespread problem of fraudulent business practices that has cast a shadow over many solar panel companies.

Is solar panel fraud a global issue?

And while the aforementioned data focuses on the United States, solar panel fraud is a global issue. It is especially prevalent in Canada, where in the city of Calgary alone, the amount of applications for rooftop solar panels "has increased by nearly 600% since 2020," said the CBC.

Who sued vision solar?

Vision Solar was also sued by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in March after the office received more than a dozen consumer complaints. Tong said his office is investigating numerous complaints against the solar industry's sales tactics, but Vision Solar’s practices are "far and away the worst" they had seen.

Why are prosecutors investigating rooftop solar?

Across the country, prosecutors are investigating high-pressure sales tactics and misleading financing arrangements. Some customers say they were victims of fraud and forgery. This threatens rooftop solar’s impressive momentum. Now, some solar companies are working to repair the industry’s reputation.

How many complaints are there about solar-panel salespeople?

Meanwhile, consumer complaints about solar-panel salespeople have skyrocketed in recent years. The FTC received 5,331 complaints containing the phrase “solar panels” between Jan. 1 and Sept. 19 of 2023, up 31% from the entire year of 2022 and up 746% since 2018, when it received just 630 complaints.

Are people deceived by solar financing companies?

We don't want people deceived, though,” says Adam Welle, a lawyer with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office who is pursuing a case against solar financing companies. Beyond the industry’s reputation, real people – many of them already financially vulnerable – have been hurt.