It can be left on your doorstep, doorstep, mailbox or inbox. It also offers a flyer offering free solar panels that can be installed on your home as part of a number of government programs. If you haven't gotten it, you probably will soon, according to the Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB), which says they're popping up all over the state.
"The information presented here is misleading and makes it look like there is free solar, but there is no such thing as free solar," said Kathryn White, CSLB public affairs manager.
He added that no other industry in California receives more complaints from his department than the solar panel industry, which has grown 103 percent since 2018, according to CSLB's law enforcement division.
Deceptive ads promising free solar panels under false or exaggerated benefits and/or discounts have become so common in the state that CSLB says it needs to send notices to every corner of California.
“We are doing everything we can to deal with these solar complaints, but we also want to make sure that we participate in solar education. We want to make sure people know what they're getting into," White said.
So let's do it now.
- First, make sure the contractor you hire is licensed to install solar panels. The unlicensed will charge you less for the job, but remember that no license equals less government protection if something goes wrong.
- Next, steer clear of handshake deals. Sure, we'd like to think they still do something, but at the end of the day, your collar is your best friend, so make sure you read carefully. They say the devil is in the details. OK, so CSLB as a company cannot keep the contract.
- Finally, know the law. Remember, the state only requires you to pay a 10% down payment or $1,000, whichever is less, and pay the labor and material costs in installments as the project is completed. This is the main reason for complaints sent to CSLB.
"They charge a lot of money up front and expect you to pay off the solar panels before they arrive, so what happens to a lot of people is they never get the solar system, they just throw all that money away," White said.
And of course, remember that no matter what the pilot or salesperson says, not all homes are created equal, so not everyone will benefit from solar panels in the same way.
CSLB encourages you to do your homework, and actually has a panel page that can help you make a more informed decision when it comes to installing solar panels on your home.
CSLB also wants to clarify that most solar panel companies doing business in California are established and licensed companies. But like anything else, when there is a high demand for a product or service, bad actors start to emerge.
