STATE SOLAR LAWS
Montana's growing solar market means more contracts and more potential disputes. Here's what Big Sky Country law says about your rights as a solar consumer.
Updated March 2026 · Not legal advice · Our methodology
Montana may not be the first state that comes to mind for solar energy, but the Treasure State's abundant sunshine — particularly in the eastern plains and western valleys — has fueled a growing residential solar market. With that growth come contract disputes, especially as solar sales companies expand into Montana. This guide covers the key Montana laws that affect your solar contract, your cancellation rights, and your options if you need to exit a solar agreement in Montana.
If you signed a solar contract in Montana through a door-to-door or in-home sales transaction, you generally have a right to cancel within a specific timeframe. This right is grounded in both federal and state law.
The Federal Trade Commission's Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR Part 429) provides a 3-business-day right to cancel for sales made at your home. This applies to most door-to-door solar sales where a salesperson visited your residence. The cancellation period runs until midnight of the third business day after the contract was signed.
Montana's Home Solicitation Sales Act provides additional protections for consumers who sign contracts as a result of door-to-door solicitation. Under MCA 30-14-501 through 30-14-505, if a sale was solicited at your home, you generally have the right to cancel the transaction within three business days. The seller is required to furnish a written notice of your right to cancel at the time of the sale, along with cancellation forms.
Key detail: Under Montana law, the seller must generally provide you with a written notice of your cancellation rights in a form that is easily readable and understandable. If the seller failed to provide this notice, or if the notice was deficient, your cancellation period may not have started running. This could potentially extend your right to cancel beyond the standard 3-day window. Consult a qualified attorney to evaluate your specific situation.
The cooling-off period typically applies when the sale was initiated through an unsolicited visit to your home. This generally includes:
Sales completed entirely online or at a permanent business location may not be covered by the same cooling-off protections. However, some solar companies include voluntary cancellation windows in their contracts regardless of how the sale was made.
Important: If you are within the cooling-off period, act immediately. Send your cancellation notice via certified mail and keep a copy for your records. Do not rely solely on phone calls or verbal cancellations. Pre-installation cancellation guide →
Beyond the cooling-off period, Montana has several consumer protection laws that may apply to solar contracts and sales practices.
Montana's primary consumer protection statute, the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act (MCA 30-14-103), prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce. In the solar context, this may include:
If a solar company engaged in deceptive practices during the sales process, you may have grounds for contract rescission, damages, or other relief under Montana's consumer protection laws. In our assessment, this is one of the strongest tools available to Montana solar consumers who were misled.
Montana requires electrical contractors to be licensed through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Solar installation work generally requires appropriate electrical licensing. You can verify a contractor's license status through the Department's website. If your solar installer was not properly licensed at the time of installation, this may affect the enforceability of your contract and could provide additional grounds for a complaint.
The Montana Public Service Commission regulates utilities in the state, including NorthWestern Energy, which serves a large portion of Montana's residential customers. The PSC oversees net metering policies, interconnection standards, and utility rate structures that affect solar customers. If you are experiencing utility-related issues with your solar system, the PSC may be able to assist.
Montana's net metering policy allows qualifying solar customers to receive credits for excess electricity they export to the grid. Net metering in Montana has been the subject of ongoing regulatory proceedings, and the terms have evolved over time.
Under current Montana net metering rules:
Net metering terms in Montana have been subject to regulatory changes. Verify current terms with NorthWestern Energy or the Montana PSC.
Montana's interconnection standards establish the technical and procedural requirements for connecting a solar system to the grid. Key aspects include:
Montana offers a property tax exemption for residential solar energy systems under MCA 15-6-225. This means the added value of a solar installation is generally exempt from property tax for a specified period after installation. While this is a benefit for solar owners, it's worth noting because it factors into the overall economics of keeping or exiting a solar agreement.
Montana law (MCA 70-17-301 through 70-17-304) provides for solar easements, which allow property owners to secure access to sunlight for their solar energy systems. While these provisions primarily protect solar access, they may be relevant in disputes involving shading or obstructions that affect system performance.
Based on our research, the most common solar contract disputes in Montana typically involve the following issues:
Some Montana homeowners report that their actual energy savings have fallen significantly short of what was promised during the sales process. Montana's variable weather patterns, shorter winter days, and potential snow coverage can all affect actual solar production. If the sales representative made specific savings guarantees that have not materialized, this may constitute a deceptive trade practice under Montana law.
Solar leases and PPAs in Montana may result in a UCC-1 financing statement being filed with the Montana Secretary of State. Many homeowners are surprised to discover this lien when they try to sell or refinance their home. If the solar company did not clearly disclose the UCC filing during the sales process, this may support a claim for rescission. UCC lien removal guide →
As solar companies expand into Montana's markets, door-to-door sales have increased — particularly in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena. Common violations include failure to provide required cancellation notices under Montana's Home Solicitation Sales Act, misrepresenting the nature of the transaction, and using high-pressure tactics. These violations may extend your cancellation rights or provide grounds for legal action.
Montana's climate presents unique challenges for solar production, including heavy snowfall, shorter winter days, and occasional severe weather. Some homeowners report that their systems produce less energy than promised due to improper system sizing, failure to account for snow coverage and shading, or equipment quality issues. If the solar company guaranteed a specific production level, underperformance may provide grounds for a breach of contract claim.
Solar PPAs and leases commonly include annual price escalators of 1-3%. Over a 20-25 year contract, these escalators can cause your solar payments to exceed what you would pay your utility for grid electricity. If the escalator was not clearly disclosed or if savings claims did not account for the escalator, you may have grounds for relief. PPA exit guide →
Dealing with a solar contract issue in Montana? Get a free preliminary review of your contract and options.
If you need to get out of a solar contract in Montana, the approach depends on your specific situation and how far into the contract you are. Here is a general step-by-step framework:
Start by reading your entire solar contract, including all addendums and attachments. Pay particular attention to the cancellation clause, buyout provisions, escalator terms, and any performance guarantees. Note all deadlines and required notice procedures.
If you signed your contract within the last 3 business days through a door-to-door sale, you may still be able to cancel at no cost. Send a written cancellation notice immediately via certified mail. Do not wait. Cancellation guide →
Gather all documentation related to your solar purchase, including the original contract, any amendments, sales materials and brochures, email correspondence, text messages with sales representatives, utility bills before and after solar installation, and any recordings of phone conversations (Montana is a one-party consent state for recordings under MCA 45-8-213).
Review whether any of the following may apply to your situation:
File a formal complaint with the Montana Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection. While this may not directly cancel your contract, it creates an official record of the dispute and may prompt the solar company to negotiate. The AG's office may also investigate patterns of complaints against a specific company.
Based on your contract terms and circumstances, your primary exit options in Montana include:
We always recommend consulting with a Montana-licensed attorney who has experience with solar contract disputes before taking significant action. An attorney can evaluate the strength of your legal claims and advise you on the most effective strategy for your specific situation. Find a solar panel lawyer →
Important: We do not advise homeowners to stop making payments or breach contractual obligations. Failing to make payments could result in damage to your credit, collection actions, or acceleration of the full contract balance. Continue making payments while you explore your legal options.
Montana follows the federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule, which generally provides a 3-business-day right to cancel for door-to-door solar sales. Montana's Home Solicitation Sales Act (MCA 30-14-501 et seq.) reinforces this right. If the seller failed to provide required cancellation notices, the cancellation window may be extended. Always check your specific contract for cancellation instructions. Cancellation guide →
After the cooling-off period, direct cancellation is generally not available without cost. Your main options include a contract buyout (if your agreement allows it), transferring the agreement to a new homeowner when selling, or pursuing legal remedies if you were misled during the sales process. Montana's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act (MCA 30-14-103) may provide additional grounds if deceptive practices were involved. Full exit guide →
Yes. Montana has net metering rules that generally apply to NorthWestern Energy customers. Under Montana PSC regulations, qualifying solar customers may receive credits for excess electricity sent to the grid, though the specific terms and credit rates have been subject to regulatory proceedings and may vary based on system size and when you interconnected. Contact NorthWestern Energy or the Montana PSC for details specific to your account.
Montana does not have extensive solar-specific consumer protection statutes, but general consumer protection laws apply. The Montana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act (MCA 30-14-103) prohibits deceptive practices in solar sales. The Montana PSC regulates utility-related solar issues, and contractors must be properly licensed through the Department of Labor and Industry.
You can file complaints with the Montana Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection at (406) 444-4500 or (800) 481-6896. For utility and net metering issues, contact the Montana Public Service Commission at (406) 444-6199. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry handles contractor licensing complaints. We recommend filing with all relevant agencies to create a thorough record of your dispute.
Get a free preliminary contract review or see which companies our editorial team recommends for solar exits.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Solar contract terms and exit options vary by contract, company, and individual circumstances. Results 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 Montana-licensed attorney before taking action. See our Ownership Disclosure, Advertiser Disclosure, and Methodology.