Trust me.
Do not feel pressured to sign a contract while the salesperson waits.
Ask them to come back at a later date to allow you time to read it.
If you live in California, and you’re a PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E customer, the solar provider is required give you time to read the consumer protection guide before you sign a solar contract.
If they do not allow you to read the guide, they cannot connect your solar system to the electric grid, and you should report them to the to the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) at 800-321-CSLB (2751) or www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers.
You have the right…
…to a copy of a solar contract and financing agreement in the language in which the salesperson spoke to you.
If a solar provider or salesperson attempts to sell you a system in a language other than English, they must give you a copy of the contract in that language.
But it gets better…
If you want to read the California Solar Protection guide in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Tagalog, the solar provider or salesperson must provide it to you in that language.
…to a Solar Disclosure Document from your solar provider.
A CA provider, by law, must provide you with a completed Solar Energy System Disclosure Document created by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
The document is one page and shows you the total costs for the solar energy system. A blank version of this document is available at www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers/solar_ smart
…to a 3-day cancellation period after executing a contract.
You have at least three business days to cancel your contract for any reason in the state of CA.
If you are 65 years of age or older, you have five days to cancel. But note that different rules may apply for contracts negotiated at a company’s registered place of business.
If your solar provider refuses to cancel the contract, report them to the CSLB.
California has the strongest solar consumer protection laws in the U.S.
Even if you do not live in CA there’s no reason to hold your prospective solar providers to the same standards.