While Texas is a national leader in adoption of solar power for electricity, it's also a leading state for solar power scams against consumers, at least until now.
Governor Greg Abbott is expected to soon sign a bill passed by the Legislature on May 26th that requires companies and people who sell systems using solar generation to be registered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), a move aimed at significantly raising control over solar salespeople.
There were an enormous number of complaints against solar companies and especially door-to-door salespeople over the past several years, with consumers complaining of sales pitches that weren't true, promises that weren't kept and money that was paid for services that weren't rendered, which is theft.
A bill sent to Governor Greg Abbott to be signed into law and take effect on September 1st, will allow the TDLR to bring civil penalties, prohibit deceptive sales practices, require informed disclosures to potential solar power hardware ("solar panel") buyers and renters, and create standardized language for use by salespeople.
If signed by Gov. Abbott, the new law will be especially helpful to people over the age of 65 who are interested in solar power, because it specifies stronger penalties for those who steal from or otherwise victimize those in that age group, who over recent years have emerged as a primary target of solar power scams.
Solar salespeople will now be required to submit to background and criminal history record checks before they're licensed to sell solar equipment.
Another helpful provision of the new law: consumers are guaranteed the right to cancel a solar panel sales contract within five business days of signing it.
And the new law would require companies or individuals selling solar power materials to give customers easily understandable educational booklets and copies of all agreements used as part of a sale or potential sale.
Gov. Abbott is expected to sign the bill into law by early June.