Summer is prime time for door-to-door solar sales. With electric rates in the news all year, a lot of homeowners are getting a knock, a call or a mailer promising to cut their bills.
Plenty of solar companies, including some that knock on doors, are honest. But bad deals are real, and they can leave you paying a solar loan and an electric bill. In January, Ohio’s Attorney General sued a solar company over exactly that.
As a local installer that’s been in business since 2009, we’d rather you make a great decision than a fast one, even if it’s with someone else. Here’s how to protect yourself.
What Went Wrong in Ohio’s Recent Solar Lawsuit
On January 12, 2026, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued G3 Solar, a Utah-based company that sold systems door to door in Ohio. Among the allegations:
- High-pressure sales tactics
- Systems that produced far less than promised, leaving homeowners with a monthly solar loan payment plus their regular electric bill
- Loans of 20 to 30 years whose payments increased after 18 months unless the homeowner made a so-called “voluntary” lump-sum payment of about 30%
- Warranty and service problems, including making customers wait a full year before reviewing system performance
These are allegations in a lawsuit, not findings. But they line up with the most common complaints consumer agencies see about solar sales nationwide.
Red Flags to Watch For
“Free solar” or a “government program.” Going solar isn’t free, and companies claiming to be from or affiliated with the government are lying, according to the Federal Trade Commission. There are no federal giveaways that install residential solar panels at no cost.
“You’ll never pay an electric bill again.” Most homes with solar still have a utility bill, at minimum the utility’s fixed monthly charges. Promises of zero bills are a warning sign.
Pressure to sign today. “This price expires tonight” or “only a few spots left in your neighborhood” are sales tactics. A legitimate company will give you time to think and compare.
Signing on a tablet without seeing the full contract. The FTC specifically warns against signing an agreement on an electronic tablet without seeing the whole thing. Ask for a complete copy you can read on your own time.
Vague answers about the loan. If you can’t get a straight answer on the interest rate, the total cost, or what happens to your payment after the first year or two, walk away.
No site visit. A real proposal is based on your roof, shading and actual electric usage, not just a satellite image and a guess.
Large upfront deposits. The FTC warns against companies demanding big upfront payments before work begins.
Questions to Ask Any Solar Company
Before you sign anything, get clear, written answers to these:
- What’s the total price, and the price per watt? That makes it easy to compare quotes.
- Am I buying, financing, leasing, or signing a power purchase agreement? Each one works very differently. Know which one you’re getting.
- If it’s a loan: What’s the interest rate? Are there dealer fees built into the price? Will my payment ever change, and why?
- How did you estimate my production and savings? Ask what electric rate, usage and shading assumptions they used.
- Who actually installs the system? Your company, or a subcontractor?
- What warranties come with it? Ask about panels, inverters and the company’s own workmanship and roof-penetration warranty, and who you call if something goes wrong.
- How long have you been in business here? A 25-year system needs a company that will still be around to service it.
- Are you licensed and insured, and are your installers certified? Ask for proof.
Then get at least two or three quotes and compare them side by side. We cover more in How to Choose a Solar Company.
Know Your Right to Cancel
If you sign a contract at your home with a door-to-door salesperson, federal law generally gives you three business days to cancel for a full refund. Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act provides similar protection. The seller is supposed to tell you about this right and give you a cancellation form.
If you feel rushed into signing, use that window. Read everything, check the company out, and cancel in writing if you need to.
How to Check a Company and Report Problems
- Search for complaints. Check the Better Business Bureau and online reviews, and search the company name plus “lawsuit” or “complaint.”
- Report a problem in Ohio: Ohio Attorney General at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515
- In Kentucky or Indiana: contact your state Attorney General’s consumer protection office.
- Nationwide: report solar scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Our Approach
We’ve built Icon Solar on doing the opposite of everything above. We provide clear pricing, realistic production estimates based on your actual bills and roof, and no pressure. If solar doesn’t make sense for your home, we’ll tell you.
Our recent guides are meant to help you ask good questions with any installer: How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?, Do Solar Panels Damage Your Roof? and How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
Icon Solar has helped homeowners across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana go solar since 2009. Learn about the Icon Solar difference, explore solar financing options, or request your free quote. Got a quote from someone else? We’re happy to give you a second opinion. Call us at (866) 396-4266.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free solar panels a scam?
Almost always. Going solar isn’t free, and the FTC warns that companies claiming a government program will cover the full cost, or claiming to be affiliated with the government, are lying.
How do I know if a solar salesperson is legitimate?
A legitimate company will give you a full written proposal and contract, explain the total cost and financing terms clearly, base estimates on a site visit and your actual usage, and give you time to decide. High pressure, vague answers and “today only” deals are red flags.
Can I cancel a solar contract signed at my home?
Generally, yes. Federal rules give you three business days to cancel most sales made at your home, and Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act provides similar protection. Cancel in writing and keep a copy.
What should I ask before signing a solar loan?
Ask for the interest rate, total cost, any dealer fees, and whether your payment can change, for example if the loan assumes a large lump-sum payment after the first year or so.
Where can I report a solar scam in Ohio?
Contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515. You can also report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Summer is prime time for door-to-door solar sales. With electric rates in the news all year, a lot of homeowners are getting a knock, a call or a mailer promising to cut their bills.
Plenty of solar companies, including some that knock on doors, are honest. But bad deals are real, and they can leave you paying a solar loan and an electric bill. In January, Ohio’s Attorney General sued a solar company over exactly that.
As a local installer that’s been in business since 2009, we’d rather you make a great decision than a fast one, even if it’s with someone else. Here’s how to protect yourself.
What Went Wrong in Ohio’s Recent Solar Lawsuit
On January 12, 2026, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued G3 Solar, a Utah-based company that sold systems door to door in Ohio. Among the allegations:
- High-pressure sales tactics
- Systems that produced far less than promised, leaving homeowners with a monthly solar loan payment plus their regular electric bill
- Loans of 20 to 30 years whose payments increased after 18 months unless the homeowner made a so-called “voluntary” lump-sum payment of about 30%
- Warranty and service problems, including making customers wait a full year before reviewing system performance
These are allegations in a lawsuit, not findings. But they line up with the most common complaints consumer agencies see about solar sales nationwide.
Red Flags to Watch For
“Free solar” or a “government program.” Going solar isn’t free, and companies claiming to be from or affiliated with the government are lying, according to the Federal Trade Commission. There are no federal giveaways that install residential solar panels at no cost.
“You’ll never pay an electric bill again.” Most homes with solar still have a utility bill, at minimum the utility’s fixed monthly charges. Promises of zero bills are a warning sign.
Pressure to sign today. “This price expires tonight” or “only a few spots left in your neighborhood” are sales tactics. A legitimate company will give you time to think and compare.
Signing on a tablet without seeing the full contract. The FTC specifically warns against signing an agreement on an electronic tablet without seeing the whole thing. Ask for a complete copy you can read on your own time.
Vague answers about the loan. If you can’t get a straight answer on the interest rate, the total cost, or what happens to your payment after the first year or two, walk away.
No site visit. A real proposal is based on your roof, shading and actual electric usage, not just a satellite image and a guess.
Large upfront deposits. The FTC warns against companies demanding big upfront payments before work begins.
Questions to Ask Any Solar Company
Before you sign anything, get clear, written answers to these:
- What’s the total price, and the price per watt? That makes it easy to compare quotes.
- Am I buying, financing, leasing, or signing a power purchase agreement? Each one works very differently. Know which one you’re getting.
- If it’s a loan: What’s the interest rate? Are there dealer fees built into the price? Will my payment ever change, and why?
- How did you estimate my production and savings? Ask what electric rate, usage and shading assumptions they used.
- Who actually installs the system? Your company, or a subcontractor?
- What warranties come with it? Ask about panels, inverters and the company’s own workmanship and roof-penetration warranty, and who you call if something goes wrong.
- How long have you been in business here? A 25-year system needs a company that will still be around to service it.
- Are you licensed and insured, and are your installers certified? Ask for proof.
Then get at least two or three quotes and compare them side by side. We cover more in How to Choose a Solar Company.
Know Your Right to Cancel
If you sign a contract at your home with a door-to-door salesperson, federal law generally gives you three business days to cancel for a full refund. Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act provides similar protection. The seller is supposed to tell you about this right and give you a cancellation form.
If you feel rushed into signing, use that window. Read everything, check the company out, and cancel in writing if you need to.
How to Check a Company and Report Problems
- Search for complaints. Check the Better Business Bureau and online reviews, and search the company name plus “lawsuit” or “complaint.”
- Report a problem in Ohio: Ohio Attorney General at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515
- In Kentucky or Indiana: contact your state Attorney General’s consumer protection office.
- Nationwide: report solar scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Our Approach
We’ve built Icon Solar on doing the opposite of everything above. We provide clear pricing, realistic production estimates based on your actual bills and roof, and no pressure. If solar doesn’t make sense for your home, we’ll tell you.
Our recent guides are meant to help you ask good questions with any installer: How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?, Do Solar Panels Damage Your Roof? and How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
Icon Solar has helped homeowners across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana go solar since 2009. Learn about the Icon Solar difference, explore solar financing options, or request your free quote. Got a quote from someone else? We’re happy to give you a second opinion. Call us at (866) 396-4266.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free solar panels a scam?
Almost always. Going solar isn’t free, and the FTC warns that companies claiming a government program will cover the full cost, or claiming to be affiliated with the government, are lying.
How do I know if a solar salesperson is legitimate?
A legitimate company will give you a full written proposal and contract, explain the total cost and financing terms clearly, base estimates on a site visit and your actual usage, and give you time to decide. High pressure, vague answers and “today only” deals are red flags.
Can I cancel a solar contract signed at my home?
Generally, yes. Federal rules give you three business days to cancel most sales made at your home, and Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act provides similar protection. Cancel in writing and keep a copy.
What should I ask before signing a solar loan?
Ask for the interest rate, total cost, any dealer fees, and whether your payment can change, for example if the loan assumes a large lump-sum payment after the first year or so.
Where can I report a solar scam in Ohio?
Contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515. You can also report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
