Solar Scams by State: Laws & Scams in All 50 States

Solar scams look different depending on where you live. State consumer protection laws vary dramatically in their strength and remedies. This guide maps the solar scam landscape across all 50 states — what scams are most common, which laws protect you, and where to report scams.

Disclaimer This article is informational, not legal advice. Consumer protection laws change; verify with your state AG.

Why State Law Matters for Solar Scams

Solar contracts are governed by state law. The difference between winning and losing your case often depends on whether your state has:

A strong Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP) statute
Attorney-fee-shifting provisions (the losing company pays your legal fees)
Mandatory cooling-off periods for door-to-door sales
Specific solar contractor licensing requirements
Active AG enforcement against solar companies

States With the Strongest Solar Consumer Protections

State	Key Law	Fee-Shifting	Notable Enforcement
California	CLRA, CSLB oversight	Yes	Multiple installer actions
Florida	FDUTPA	Yes	Active AG solar task force
Texas	DTPA	Yes	AG CID against Freedom Forever
South Carolina	SCUTPA	Yes	Strong contractor verification
Arizona	Arizona Consumer Fraud Act	Yes	ROC contractor licensing
Minnesota	Consumer Fraud Act	Yes	AG lawsuit vs GoodLeap, Mosaic, Dividend, Sunlight
Connecticut	CUTPA	Yes	AG actions vs Spruce Power, SunStrong, Bright Planet

State-by-State Quick Reference

Alabama

Primary scam risk Unlicensed out-of-state installers, door-to-door sales
Consumer law Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act (limited private right of action)
Report to Alabama AG Consumer Protection Division
Key tip Verify contractor licensing — Alabama has limited solar-specific requirements

Alaska

Primary scam risk High installation costs, misrepresented savings due to limited sun hours
Consumer law Alaska Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act
Report to Alaska AG Consumer Protection Unit
Key tip Verify production estimates against actual Alaska irradiance data

Arizona

Primary scam risk Dealer fees, misrepresented savings, unlicensed contractors
Consumer law Arizona Consumer Fraud Act (strong, with fee-shifting)
Report to Arizona AG Consumer Protection
Resources Arizona Solar Scam Guide | Contractor Verification

California

Primary scam risk NEM 3.0 confusion, PPA escalators, unlicensed contractors
Consumer law CLRA (strong), CSLB oversight
Report to California AG, CSLB
Resources California Solar Scam Guide | CSLB Complaints

Colorado

Primary scam risk High-pressure door-to-door, misrepresented tax credits
Consumer law Colorado Consumer Protection Act
Report to Colorado AG Consumer Protection

Connecticut

Primary scam risk Lease/PPA escalator clauses, unauthorized UCC filings
Consumer law CUTPA (strong, active AG enforcement)
Report to Connecticut AG Consumer Protection
Active enforcement Spruce Power, SunStrong, Bright Planet Solar

Delaware

Primary scam risk Out-of-state installers, limited local consumer protections
Consumer law Delaware Consumer Fraud Act
Report to Delaware AG Fraud Division

Florida

Primary scam risk Door-to-door deception, PACE liens, hurricane-season scams
Consumer law FDUTPA (strong, fee-shifting)
Report to Florida AG Consumer Protection
Resources Florida Solar Scam Guide | FDUTPA Rights

Georgia

Primary scam risk Dealer-fee financing, PACE program issues
Consumer law Georgia Fair Business Practices Act
Report to Georgia AG Consumer Protection

Illinois

Primary scam risk Community solar scams, misrepresented savings
Consumer law Illinois Consumer Scams and Deceptive Business Practices Act
Report to Illinois AG Consumer Fraud Bureau

Maryland

Primary scam risk Door-to-door sales, misrepresented state incentives
Consumer law Maryland Consumer Protection Act
Report to Maryland AG Consumer Protection

Massachusetts

Primary scam risk PPA/lease escalator clauses, system underperformance
Consumer law Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 93A — strong)
Report to Massachusetts AG Consumer Advocacy

Michigan

Primary scam risk Unlicensed contractors, misrepresented savings
Consumer law Michigan Consumer Protection Act
Report to Michigan AG Consumer Protection

Minnesota

Primary scam risk Dealer-fee financing, lender misconduct
Consumer law Minnesota Consumer Fraud Act (strong)
Report to Minnesota AG Consumer Protection
Active enforcement AG lawsuit against GoodLeap, Mosaic, Dividend, Sunlight

Nevada

Primary scam risk High-pressure door-to-door, solar loan scams
Consumer law Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Report to Nevada AG Bureau of Consumer Protection
Resources Nevada Solar Contractor Board (NSCB)

New Jersey

Primary scam risk Door-to-door sales, PPA/lease disputes
Consumer law New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (strong, fee-shifting)
Report to New Jersey AG Consumer Affairs
Resources New Jersey Solar Scams Guide

New Mexico

Primary scam risk Misrepresented savings, PPA disputes
Consumer law New Mexico Unfair Practices Act
Report to New Mexico AG Consumer Protection

New York

Primary scam risk Community solar enrollment scams, PPA escalators
Consumer law New York General Business Law § 349 (strong)
Report to New York AG Consumer Fraud Bureau
Resources New York Solar Scams Guide

North Carolina

Primary scam risk PPA disputes, dealer fees, misrepresented savings
Consumer law North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Report to North Carolina AG Consumer Protection

Ohio

Primary scam risk Door-to-door sales, PPA confusion, unlicensed contractors
Consumer law Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act
Report to Ohio AG Consumer Protection

Pennsylvania

Primary scam risk Door-to-door sales, misrepresented tax credits
Consumer law Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law
Report to Pennsylvania AG Bureau of Consumer Protection

South Carolina

Primary scam risk Contractor scams, PACE lien issues
Consumer law SCUTPA (strong, fee-shifting)
Report to South Carolina AG Consumer Protection
Resources South Carolina Solar Scam Guide | Installer Checklist

Texas

Primary scam risk Dealer-fee financing, unlicensed contractors, PACE liens
Consumer law DTPA (strong, fee-shifting)
Report to Texas AG Consumer Protection
Resources Texas Solar Scam Resources | SB 1036

Consumer Protection Insight

Got Screwed on Solar? Don’t Let the Next Person Who Makes Money From Your Problem Be Your Lawyer.

The solar salesperson was paid. The installer was paid. The finance company drafts money from your account every month. And when you look for a solar lawyer, the conversation often turns to retainers, hourly rates, and money upfront.

Before paying a lawyer out of pocket, there is a critical question worth asking:

“Could any applicable law, based on your facts and jurisdiction, allow attorney fees to be sought from the other side?”

Asking you to pay is simple. Evaluating potential statutory fee-shifting under state UDAP laws, TILA, and deceptive trade practices requires investigating your actual contract and disclosures.

Start my eligibility quiz → Confidential · 100% Free Case Dossier Organization · No Upfront Retainer Required

States With Emerging Solar Markets (Higher Scam Risk)

Rapidly growing solar markets where consumer protections haven't caught up.

State	2024-2026 Growth	Primary Risk
Idaho	High	Out-of-state installers, limited licensing
Indiana	Medium	Dealer-fee loans, door-to-door
Iowa	Medium	PPA confusion, misrepresented savings
Kentucky	Medium	Unlicensed contractors
Louisiana	Medium	Hurricane-season scams, PACE issues
Mississippi	Medium	Limited consumer protections
Missouri	Medium	Door-to-door, PACE liens
Montana	Low-Medium	Out-of-state installers
Nebraska	Low-Medium	Limited solar-specific laws
Oklahoma	Medium	Dealer fees, unlicensed contractors
Oregon	Medium	PPA/lease escalation disputes
Tennessee	Medium	Door-to-door, misrepresented savings
Utah	High	Dealer-fee model concentration
Virginia	Medium	PPA disputes, door-to-door
Washington	Medium	PPA escalation, underperformance
Wisconsin	Medium	Door-to-door, contractor verification

Two of these markets have their own detailed guides: Washington solar scams and, for the largest Oregon metro, Portland solar scams.

FAQ

Which state has the strongest solar consumer protections?

California (CLRA + CSLB licensing), Texas (DTPA with treble damages), Florida (FDUTPA), and Minnesota (active AG enforcement) lead the nation. New Jersey and Massachusetts also have strong statutes with attorney-fee-shifting.

Can I use my state's consumer protection law against an out-of-state lender?

Yes, if the lender does business in your state or the contract has a connection to your state. The financing agreement's choice-of-law clause may determine which state's law applies, but consumer protection statutes often override these clauses.

What if my state isn't listed in detail above?

Contact your state attorney general's office. Every state has some form of consumer protection law, even if enforcement varies. The FTC Holder Rule (16 CFR § 433) is federal and applies regardless of state.

How do I find out if my state AG is investigating a solar company?

Check your AG's press release page and search for the company name. AG investigations are often public. You can also search the CFPB complaint database at consumerfinance.gov.

Evidence-First Intake

Their Shortcut Is Your Wallet. Our Starting Point Is Your Evidence.

Why call Firm #1… then Firm #2… then Firm #3 repeating your story, uploading files over and over, and waiting to see who is interested?

The Old Way

“Please take my case. How much is your retainer?”

Homeowners get screened for how much money they can fund upfront before anyone reviews the disclosures.

The Informed Starting Point

“Here are the facts and documents I have. Is this something you can evaluate?”

Build your timeline and file once. Let participating firms review the documentation and decide whether to reach out.

Start my eligibility quiz → Upload documents once · Direct review by participating consumer-protection firms

All State Resources

Related Resources

Standardized Case Preparation

Understand the Possibilities Before You Pay to Proceed.

The solar company has lawyers. The finance company has lawyers. You should have an opportunity to understand your own situation too—before assuming you must fund all legal costs yourself.

Question Fee-Shifting

Asking for a retainer is simple. But state UDAP laws, TILA § 130, and consumer statutes often allow attorney fees to be sought from the fraudulent company.

Build Your Evidence

Not how much is in your bank account, but what did they promise? What did you sign? Did your electric bill drop as promised? Where are the texts and proposals?

Build It Once

Stop repeating your trauma to Firm #1, #2, and #3. Tell your story once, upload documents once, and let participating law firms evaluate whether to reach out.

Read the complete fee-shifting & legal cost explainer ▼

The solar salesperson may have been paid. The installer may have been paid. The finance company may be taking money from you every month. And now you have reason to believe something is seriously wrong.

So you Google: “Solar fraud lawyer.” And what happens next? You tell someone your story. They ask a few questions. And eventually, the conversation turns to: How are you going to pay for legal services? Retainer. Hourly rate. Money upfront.

Those arrangements may be appropriate in some matters. But before assuming that paying a lawyer is your only option, ask: “Could any applicable law, based on the facts and jurisdiction, allow attorney fees to be sought from the other side?”

The answer depends on the law, the contract, the claims available, the evidence, and the outcome. Asking you to pay is simple. Evaluating potential fee-shifting requires investigating your contract, financing terms, utility bills, texts, cancellation attempts, and consumer-protection statutes.

Their shortcut is your wallet. Our starting point is your evidence. Tell your story once. Upload your documents once. Build the timeline once. SolarPanelScams.com helps organize the information and prepare the matter for potential attorney review.

Let THEM decide whether to reach out. Then you decide whom, if anyone, you want to speak with.

Start my eligibility quiz →

You may already have paid the solar company, installer, or finance provider. Before committing additional money, make sure you understand what options may be available to you.

Disclaimer: SolarPanelScams.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. It does not determine whether a claim exists, whether attorney fees may be recoverable, whether a matter qualifies for representation or whether any result is likely. Potential attorney-fee recovery and representation depend on applicable law, facts, claims, evidence, procedure and outcome. Participating law firms may decline to review or accept a matter. No result is guaranteed.