New solar panel laws are 'a huge win,' consumer advocate says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Stephanie Mace said after surveying AARP members on affordability and reliability of electricity, she was surprised to learn many of those members got solar panels.

"There were mixed reviews," Mace, associate state director for advocacy and outreach at AARP Texas, said. "Some individuals loved it, felt like they had reduced their cost, increased their reliability, especially if they had medical equipment that was key to them, but there were others that had complaints."

Mace said before the last legislative session, AARP started talking to lawmakers about the need for additional consumer protections when it comes to residential solar panels.

Lawmakers ultimately passed a bill that requires solar retailers and salespeople to register with the state in order to operate in Texas.

Registration opened on August 10 with enforcement originally set to begin on Tuesday. But the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is now giving salespeople and solar retailers an additional two months to comply.

TDLR said the November 1 extension is to "give time for retailers to adjust to the new compliance requirements."

Consumers interested in purchasing residential solar panels can check if someone is registered by going to the TDLR's website.

Mace said the registration system promotes accountability for salespeople and retailers.

"Individuals are now able to go to TDLR if they have any type of complaints around misleading sales practices, financing issues, any installation problems," Mace said. "It really gives residential customers a place to go to for concerns."

TDLR told 13 Investigates 18 retailers and 500 salespeople have already registered with the state.

On Monday, two residential solar retailers and 82 solar salespeople in Harris County were registered with the state, according to the TDLR website.

There are no solar retailers registered and posted on TDLR's website in Fort Bend, Montgomery or Galveston counties so far.

Galveston County also does not have any solar salespeople registered on TDLR's website as of Monday.

In Fort Bend County, there are currently 22 solar salespeople registered, and in Montgomery County, there are eight solar salespeople registered, according to TDLR's website.

RELATED: 13 Investigates: Solar contract canceled days after woman's death

Last year, 13 Investigates spoke with several Houston-area residents who signed decades-long contracts for solar panels worth more than $100,000.

13 Investigates spoke with Delores Wigal and another solar customer, who would have had to live into their 100s to reach the end of their contracts.

Wigal said she signed up with a door-to-door solar salesman to have panels installed on her home and to get a new roof.

She said the salesman told her the solar panels would be free for seniors through a government program.

Later, she said she learned she would owe $138,000 over the next 25 years or "you risk having a lien placed on your home," according to her contract.

"Well, I figured they saw this 78-year-old-woman, gullible," Wigal told 13 Investigates last year. "They made a real sucker out of me."

Wigal became terminally ill with cancer, and died two weeks after we interviewed her.

She didn't live long enough to learn that the company canceled her contract after hearing from 13 Investigates, or to see the new state regulations take effect.

The new regulations on residential solar panels are aimed at ensuring consumers have a full picture of who they're buying from and what they can expect with their solar panel contract.

"It is also kind of protection from the high-pressure sales tactics," Mace said. "With these additional rules, I think there's an encouragement that these contractors need to do a better job of ensuring that they're being accurate, they're not deceptive and they're not exaggerating what they're what they're providing and what people will be receiving."

The law also says if someone has a "no soliciting" sign on their home, solar salespeople cannot approach them. Violations can result in a fine, with a higher fine if the consumer is over 65 years old.

Mace said the new protections also allow customers to cancel their contract and any associated loan within five business days with no penalty.

TDLR has also created educational material and disclosures which salespeople are required to use to provide "consumers with more information upfront about what they're entering into," Mace said.

"I think that's a huge win for consumers," Mace said.

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