SOLAR EXIT GUIDE
FTC solar complaints have surged 315% since 2022. Here's exactly how to file, what the FTC does with your report, and how to coordinate complaints across multiple agencies for maximum impact.
Published April 13, 2026 · Not legal advice · Our methodology
Filing an FTC solar complaint is one of the most important steps you can take if a solar company has engaged in deceptive practices. The Federal Trade Commission has seen a dramatic surge in solar-related consumer complaints, with FTC solar panel fraud reports increasing approximately 315% between 2022 and 2025 according to industry analyses. While the FTC doesn't resolve individual cases, knowing how to report a solar company to the FTC creates an official record and contributes to broader enforcement — both for yourself and for the thousands of other homeowners who may be experiencing similar issues.
In This Guide
An important caveat before we begin: filing complaints with regulatory agencies is a tool for holding companies accountable, but it's not a replacement for legal advice specific to your situation. If you're looking for direct resolution of your solar contract issue, consulting a consumer protection attorney may be more immediately effective. For a broader overview of all complaint channels (not just the FTC), see our complete guide on how to file a solar complaint. That said, regulatory complaints serve a critical function in the broader consumer protection ecosystem — and they can indirectly benefit your individual case as well.
The Federal Trade Commission is the primary federal agency responsible for protecting consumers from deceptive and unfair business practices. In the solar industry context, the FTC's authority covers several key areas:
The FTC has jurisdiction over false or misleading advertising claims made by solar companies. This includes exaggerated savings projections, misleading statements about contract terms, false claims about government incentive programs, deceptive "free solar" marketing, and misrepresentation of the type of agreement (e.g., calling a lease a "purchase").
The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR Part 429) provides consumers who sign contracts through door-to-door sales with a 3-business-day right to cancel. This rule is particularly relevant to solar sales, as a significant percentage of solar contracts originate from door-to-door sales. The FTC enforces compliance with this rule, including the requirement that sellers provide Notice of Cancellation forms and inform buyers of their cancellation rights.
The FTC's Green Guides govern environmental marketing claims. Solar companies that make misleading environmental claims — such as overstating the carbon reduction impact of their systems — may be subject to FTC scrutiny under these guidelines.
When the FTC identifies patterns of deceptive practices, it can bring enforcement actions that result in civil penalties (fines), injunctions ordering companies to stop deceptive practices, consumer restitution (refunds to affected consumers), and consent orders requiring changes to business practices. While individual consumers don't directly initiate these actions, their complaints provide the foundation for FTC investigations and enforcement decisions.
Solar-related consumer complaints to the FTC and other agencies have increased dramatically in recent years. Industry analyses and reporting suggest an approximately 315% increase in solar scam FTC reports since 2022, driven by several factors:
| Complaint Category | Approx. % of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Misrepresentation of savings/terms | 32% |
| High-pressure sales / cooling-off violations | 24% |
| System performance issues | 18% |
| Billing and payment disputes | 14% |
| Installation quality / property damage | 12% |
Want to know how to report a solar company to the FTC? Filing an FTC complaint against a solar company online is a straightforward process that typically takes 15-20 minutes. Here's how to do it step by step.
The FTC's complaint portal is at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This replaced the older complaint assistant tool and provides a streamlined reporting experience. You can file your FTC solar panel fraud report online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Choose the category that best describes your complaint. For solar issues, this is typically "Home Improvement and Repairs" or "Energy and Utilities." If the issue involves deceptive financing, you may also consider "Credit, Debt, and Loans."
Enter the solar company's full legal name, physical address, phone number, website, and the name(s) of any specific salespeople or representatives involved. The more detailed and accurate this information is, the more useful your complaint will be.
Write a clear, factual, chronological account of your experience. Avoid emotional language and focus on specific facts: what was said or promised, what actually happened, dates and amounts involved, and what you've done to try to resolve the issue. Be as specific as possible — "The salesperson told me my electric bill would be zero" is much more useful than "The salesperson lied to me."
After submitting, save your confirmation number and a copy of your complaint. You may need this reference number for future correspondence or legal proceedings.
Pro tip: Write your complaint description in a separate document first, then paste it into the FTC form. This allows you to review and refine your account before submitting, and gives you a saved copy for your records. Keep your description factual, specific, and under 2,000 words for best results.
A well-documented FTC complaint includes all of the following information:
Not sure if your experience qualifies as fraud? Review the 7 warning signs of a solar scam to help identify whether what happened to you meets the threshold for an FTC solar panel fraud report. If a solar salesman made promises that didn't match your contract, that's often grounds for a complaint.
Important: We do not advise homeowners to stop making payments or breach contractual obligations while pursuing complaints. Continue meeting your contractual obligations and consult an attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Need help understanding your solar contract before filing a complaint? Get a free preliminary review to identify your strongest grounds.
Understanding what happens after filing an FTC complaint about solar helps set realistic expectations about what your solar company scam FTC report will and won't accomplish.
The FTC feeds your complaint into its Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database available to more than 2,500 law enforcement agencies across the country, including state attorneys general, district attorneys, and international law enforcement partners. This database is one of the primary tools used to identify companies engaging in deceptive practices.
This is the most important expectation to set: the FTC will not contact the solar company on your behalf, will not mediate your dispute, and will not directly help you get a refund or contract cancellation. The FTC uses complaint data to make enforcement decisions — it doesn't function as a consumer dispute resolution service.
When multiple consumers file complaints about the same company or the same type of deceptive practice, the FTC's data analysts can identify patterns that may warrant investigation. The volume, severity, and consistency of complaints all factor into enforcement prioritization. This is why every complaint matters — even if the FTC doesn't act on yours individually, it contributes to the body of evidence that may trigger broader enforcement action.
If the FTC does take action against a solar company, the outcomes can include consent orders requiring the company to change its practices, civil penalties (fines), orders for consumer restitution (refunds to affected consumers), and injunctions preventing the company from continuing deceptive practices. These outcomes can benefit not just the consumers who filed complaints but all consumers affected by the company's practices.
Even though the FTC won't directly resolve your case, filing a complaint can strengthen your position in several important ways:
While FTC complaints are important, filing with your state attorney general's office is often more effective for individual case resolution. Here's why:
State attorneys general typically have broader authority to intervene in individual consumer disputes than the FTC. Many state AG offices have mediation programs that will contact the company on your behalf, investigate your specific complaint, and attempt to negotiate a resolution.
Many states have consumer protection statutes (often called "Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices" or UDAP laws) that provide stronger protections than federal law. Some state laws provide for treble (triple) damages for willful violations, have longer cooling-off periods for door-to-door sales, include specific solar-related consumer protections, and allow consumers to recover attorney's fees.
Visit your state attorney general's website and look for the "Consumer Complaints" or "Consumer Protection" section. Most states now offer online filing. Include the same detailed information you'd provide to the FTC, plus copies of your contract and any relevant correspondence. Know your state door-to-door sales rights →
If your solar complaint involves a financial product — a loan, lease, or PPA — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is another critical agency to file with.
The CFPB has oversight of consumer financial products, including solar loans and the financial aspects of solar leases and PPAs. The CFPB has been increasingly active in the solar space, particularly around issues of predatory lending practices in solar financing, undisclosed loan terms or conditions, unauthorized credit inquiries, and deceptive financing representations.
Unlike the FTC, the CFPB requires companies to respond to consumer complaints within 15 days (with a full response within 60 days). This means filing a CFPB complaint may actually result in direct communication from the solar company regarding your specific issue.
File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Select "Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service" or the category that best matches your solar financing arrangement. Include all relevant financial details, including loan amounts, interest rates, monthly payments, and any discrepancies between what was promised and what appears in your loan documents.
Ownership disclosure: SolarPanelExit.com and TRU Solar Cancellation share common ownership. TRU Solar Cancellation offers a Solar Exit Document Package ($450 one-time fee) — a DIY product where the consumer does all work themselves. TRU is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Results are not guaranteed. See our Ownership Disclosure for details.
Filing with multiple agencies simultaneously is generally the most effective approach. Here's a recommended strategy for maximizing the impact of your complaints:
Write one master complaint document that includes all the facts, dates, and supporting details. Then adapt it slightly for each agency's specific format. This ensures consistency across all your filings and saves you significant time.
In each complaint, mention that you've also filed with other agencies. This signals to each agency that you're taking the issue seriously and creates a more complete record. For example: "I have also filed complaints regarding this matter with the FTC (Ref. #XXXXX), the CFPB, and the [State] Attorney General's office."
Don't file and forget. Follow up with each agency every 30-60 days if you haven't received a response. Keep records of all correspondence and update your complaints if new developments occur.
File your complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You'll need to provide the solar company's name and contact information, a detailed description of the deceptive practices (include dates, names, and specific claims), copies or descriptions of relevant documents (contracts, marketing materials, correspondence), the amount of money involved, and any steps you've already taken to resolve the issue. The process typically takes 15-20 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
The FTC does not resolve individual consumer complaints. Instead, it collects complaint data in its Consumer Sentinel database, which is used to identify patterns of deceptive practices, prioritize enforcement actions, and share information with state attorneys general and other law enforcement agencies. When enough complaints accumulate against a company or industry practice, the FTC may launch an investigation that could result in enforcement action, injunctions, or penalties. Your individual complaint contributes to this larger pattern recognition.
Not directly. The FTC does not act as a mediator or resolve individual disputes. However, filing an FTC complaint can benefit you in several indirect ways: it creates an official record of the company's practices, it may contribute to future enforcement actions that result in consumer restitution, and it can serve as supporting evidence if you pursue your own legal action. For more direct resolution, consider filing with your state attorney general, the CFPB (for financial complaints), or consulting a consumer protection attorney.
Both, if possible. Filing with your state attorney general is generally more effective for individual case resolution, as state AGs have more tools to intervene in specific consumer disputes and may mediate on your behalf. The FTC complaint is more valuable for contributing to industry-wide enforcement patterns. Filing with both agencies maximizes your impact and creates the strongest possible record. The CFPB is also recommended if your complaint involves solar financing (loans, leases, or PPAs).
There's no specific threshold number. The FTC considers multiple factors when deciding whether to investigate, including the number and pattern of complaints, the severity of the alleged harm, the amount of money involved, whether the practices affect vulnerable populations, and whether the case aligns with the FTC's enforcement priorities. However, every complaint matters — each one adds to the data that helps the FTC identify problematic companies and practices.
You can file without providing all of your personal information, but providing your contact details allows the FTC to follow up if they need additional information for a potential investigation. Your personal information is not shared with the company you're complaining about. The FTC's Consumer Sentinel database is only accessible to law enforcement agencies, not to the public or to the companies being reported.
Get a free contract review to identify potential issues and understand your options for resolving your solar dispute.
This content is based on independent research and represents our editorial team's opinions. SolarPanelExit.com and TRU Solar Cancellation share common ownership. We may receive compensation when you contact companies through our site. This does not influence our editorial rankings. Results vary by individual situation. This is not legal advice.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Complaint outcomes and regulatory responses vary by individual situation. We do not advise homeowners to stop making payments or breach contractual obligations. SolarPanelExit.com and TRU Solar Cancellation share common ownership. Consult a qualified attorney before taking legal action. See our Ownership Disclosure, Advertiser Disclosure, and Methodology.