Your guide to a better future

True scams may be rare, but these tips will help you navigate an unfamiliar buying process.

Andrew Blok is an associate editor at CNET covering HVAC and home energy, with a focus on solar. As an environmental journalist, he navigates the changing energy landscape to help people make smart energy decisions. He's a graduate of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State and wrote for several publications in the Great Lakes region, including Great Lakes Now and Environmental Health News. You can find him in western Michigan watching birds.

As more and more people purchase rooftop solar panels , they're coming in contact with an industry and product they might not fully understand . The residential solar industry is expected to continue setting records as it has in recent years.  With the federal solar tax credit  set to decrease at the end of the year and some state or local incentives changing, now might be a good time to explore solar. Homeowners could save  as much as you paid well before the warranty on your panels runs out . 

While it's a great opportunity to do right by the environment and save some money , it can expose solar shoppers to less than honest sales tactics, like those recently uncovered by a Detroit news team. They found that Powerhome Solar, now rebranded as Pink Solar, was making promises their solar arrays couldn't deliver. The end result was customers who bought expensive solar panels that generated far less energy than promised.

Though there's no real reason to believe unethical sales tactics are widespread (customer satisfaction data isn't widely available), they do occur. The good news is that a bit of education can go a long way to getting the best solar panels for your situation.

Read more: Best Solar Companies of 2022

There's fierce competition in the booming residential solar industry. Companies employ a variety of sales strategies from in-house sales teams or third-party companies. Tesla's solar arm relies solely on online inquiries. While there are industry guidelines for consumer protection, tactics vary from company to company and, as the report from Detroit showed, can verge on dishonesty. Going in with a strong understanding of some key solar topics can help you spot when a salesperson is flouting those guidelines.

Salespeople are likely to tout the federal solar tax credit. When you install solar panels (and certain other related technology) you receive a portion of the cost back on your taxes. In 2022, the portion you get back is 26%. In 2023 it will be 22% before it expires in 2024, unless the US government extends it. 

The tax credit is not a check the government will send you or a rebate. Instead, it's a credit you can count against the taxes you need to pay each year. In order to take full advantage, you'll need to pay federal income tax and pay enough of it to match 26% of your system's cost.

If a salesperson says your electricity bill will disappear after installing solar and that you can kick your utility to the curb, that could also be an exaggeration. Your bill will vary depending on your net metering agreement with your utility, your electricity usage and the base rate utility customers pay to keep up grid infrastructure. Solar panels installed and operating correctly will reduce the electricity you use and can save you a bunch of money, but the effect on your bill will vary.

Be sure you understand how your utility compensates you for the electricity you produce before going solar. These rates are not necessarily set in stone. In California, regulators are trying to change net metering in the state, though proposals so far have included provisions to keep established customers on their previously agreed to net metering rates. 

If you see ads that claim you can put solar panels on your house for free, make sure you understand what "free" means. Likely, it means the product advertised is likely either a power purchase agreement (PPA) or lease. While this means you don't pay a large upfront cost for the panels, you will pay monthly to the company that owns them. These are legitimate services and part of the reason residential solar has exploded in the last decade. You're likely to save more money overall with a purchase than a lease or PPA. Still, the low upfront cost of these two options may make solar more available and still save you money in the long run, even if the solar electricity isn't exactly free.

With leases and PPAs, you save money if its cost doesn't rise faster than the cost of electricity from your utility. You can check online how much your electricity has risen in recent history.

Siting solar panels on your roof is another potential issue. In the northern hemisphere, panels produce the most electricity facing south, though east- and west-facing panels work too. Panels facing west might be useful in areas with time-of-use rates, where afternoon and evening solar production can offset more costly electricity. 

If a tree shades your solar panels they'll produce less electricity

If your roof is shaded, make sure an installer has a plan for addressing that. For solar to work well, you may need to cut back trees or install panels somewhere other than your roof. Your roof should be in good shape, too. Taking panels off to fix the roof likely carries additional costs. It's important to address these issues before a contract is signed and panels are installed on your roof.

For all of these issues, any installer should give you clear answers. An installer pushing you to sign before you've read a contract or had all your questions answered are red flags. If you do sign something you later regret, by law, you have three days to cancel most door-to-door sales, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Here's a quick list of additional red flags and claims from Solar United Neighbors and the Department of Energy that should prompt you to do some research.

There are plenty of organizations aiming to help people go solar with the best possible experience, including industry groups and governments.

The Department of Energy's guide to going solar has a long list of things to consider before settling on an installer. Many states run consumer protection offices with state specific advice, sometimes specifically for solar.

There are national groups dedicated to helping people and communities adopt solar.

Soliciting quotes through a solar marketplace can ensure installers know they're competing for your business and let you review your options outside of the pressure of an in-person meeting. It's always a good idea to get quotes from multiple companies.

The Better Business Bureau gives grades to companies based on their responsiveness to complaints and honesty. (Companies pay a fee to get a grade.) Checking a company via the Better Business Bureau and talking with neighbors or friends who have experience with them is a good idea if possible. 

You can find certified installers by checking with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

Because many people haven't had an experience with solar energy, selecting an installer can feel like a daunting task. But it's possible to go solar and start saving money on your energy costs. There were 1 million solar installations (not just residential ones) from 2016-2019. If you plan on adding to that number, with a bit of work you can make sure it's a positive experience.