How to Vet a Solar Installer: Licensing, Insurance, and Contract Red Flags
SolarMatchup connects you with one installer. You should still verify any installer independently — here's how.
Licensing and certification
- Check your state contractors licensing board and state/local consumer protection agencies. The FTC notes your state may require an electrical contractor's license and that you should ask whether the company has the licenses, certificates, or bonding required by your state, county, and city.
- Certification: DOE calls NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification "the industry-standard certification."
Insurance
Ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and confirm them with the insurer. (Requirements vary by state; your licensing board can tell you what's required.)
Reputation
Search the company name plus "complaints" or "reviews" (FTC). Ask neighbors who've gone solar.
Red flags (FTC and DOE)
- Pressure for a quick decision or to sign without time to review
- Requests to pay in cash
- "Pushy sales tactics" (DOE)
- Contract terms that don't match the ads, proposal, or sales pitch
- Unclear answers about who gets incentives, payment escalators, or early termination fees
- Savings projections built on assumed utility-rate increases presented as certain
Read before signing
DOE links to the Treasury/CFPB/FTC consumer advisory (Aug 7, 2024) and to "Before You Buy Solar Panels" and "Before You Sign a Solar Lease" materials.
If something goes wrong
Try the company first, then report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the CFPB (financing issues), and your state attorney general.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Advice, "Solar Power for Your Home" — https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/solar-power-your-home (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Energy, "Homeowner's Guide to Solar" — https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
SolarMatchup is a free service: you submit one request and we match you with one installer. Their proposal is an estimate, not a guarantee — use this guide to read it carefully and ask questions before you sign. Savings, if any, depend on your usage, utility rates, and local rules.
Last reviewed 2026-10-20.
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