California Solar Contract Cancellation - Solar Cancellation Resource Center

California Solar Contract Cancellation — Your Rights Under the CLRA, B&P §17200, CSLB Disclosures, and NEM 3.0

California has more residential solar installations than any other state — and more solar consumer complaints. NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff) cut export credits by approximately 75% for systems interconnected after April 15, 2023, fundamentally changing the math on systems that were sold before NEM 3.0 took effect. SunPower’s 2024 bankruptcy and Sunnova’s 2025 Chapter 11 left tens of thousands of California homeowners with leases or PPAs from companies that no longer exist in their original form. The 30% federal residential tax credit ended for homeowner-owned systems installed after December 31, 2025 — meaning many California homeowners were sold systems based on tax-credit math that no longer holds.

California also has some of the strongest solar consumer protection rules in the country. The Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA, Civil Code §1750 et seq.) and California Business & Professions Code §17200 (the Unfair Competition Law) both apply to residential solar transactions. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) requires every solar contract to include a Solar Energy System Disclosure Document on the front page, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires customers of investor-owned utilities to read and sign the Solar Consumer Protection Guide before signing.

Solar Cancellation Resource Center is a marketing and intake service. We collect and organize California homeowners’ contract documents and connect qualifying homeowners to Consumer Advocacy Law Group, a consumer protection law firm that handles California solar contract cancellation matters. We are not a law firm. The page below explains, in plain language, what California law may say about your situation and how the intake review process works.

Why California Homeowners Seek a Cancellation Review

Across the homeowner intakes that come into Solar Cancellation Resource Center from California, certain themes appear repeatedly. None of these alone guarantees that a contract qualifies for cancellation — they are simply the facts most often described.

Bills did not drop as promised under NEM 3.0

California homeowners who interconnected after April 15, 2023 are on NEM 3.0 (the Net Billing Tariff), which credits exported solar at approximately 75% less than the prior NEM 2.0 program. Systems sold based on NEM 2.0 economics may not deliver the savings the salesperson promised. If the salesperson did not clearly explain that NEM 3.0 economics required pairing the system with a battery to capture full value, that may be a CLRA or §17200 issue.

Misrepresented federal tax credit

The 30% federal residential clean energy tax credit ended for homeowner-owned systems installed after December 31, 2025. Salespeople who promised the credit to homeowners who were not eligible (insufficient tax liability, leased system, completion after the deadline, etc.) may have violated the CLRA’s prohibition on misrepresenting characteristics or benefits.

Sold a lease or PPA from a company that went bankrupt

Hurricanes Helene (loss date September 26, 2024) and Milton (loss date October 9, 2024) caused widespread damage to Florida solar systems. Damaged panels that the solar company will not repair, warranty claims that go unanswered, and disputes about whether storm damage is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty or by the homeowner’s insurance are common Florida issues. Hurricane Helene supplemental insurance claims are due by March 26, 2026; Hurricane Milton supplemental claims are due by April 9, 2026 — homeowners with solar damage should be aware of these insurance deadlines.

Did not receive required CSLB or CPUC disclosure forms

California gives consumers age 65 or older a 5-business-day right to cancel home solicitation sales — two days longer than the standard 3-day period. If the senior cancellation period was not properly disclosed at the time of sale, the cancellation window may be extended.

Door-to-door sale to a homeowner age 65 or older

Contract blocks home sale

Florida’s housing market continues to see solar-contract issues at closing. Buyers refuse to assume long-term leases or PPAs. Title companies flag UCC-1 financing statements filed against the solar equipment. PACE liens (which attach to the property tax bill) can create separate complications during a sale or refinance.

Solar Cancellation Resource Center is the marketing and intake service throughout this process. The legal review is performed by attorneys at Consumer Advocacy Law Group. The homeowner’s attorney-client relationship, if any, is with the law firm — not with us.

How the California Intake Review Process Works

The intake review is straightforward. It is not a guarantee of cancellation. It is a structured way to collect documentation, get it in front of a qualified attorney, and find out what the next steps may be.

Step 1: Submit your information through the intake form on this page or by calling 888-918-2083.
Step 2: Homeowner provides documentation — solar contract (including the CSLB Disclosure Document if received), CPUC Consumer Guide if signed, financing paperwork, sales emails or text messages, and any correspondence with the solar company.
Step 3: Documents may be reviewed by attorneys at Consumer Advocacy Law Group. The attorney determines whether the homeowner may qualify for further legal review under California and federal law.
Step 3: Documents may be reviewed by attorneys at Consumer Advocacy Law Group. The attorney determines whether the homeowner may qualify for further legal review under California and federal law.

California Service Areas

Solar Cancellation Resource Center serves homeowners throughout California — all 58 counties. The four regions below have the highest concentration of homeowner intakes.

California Region

California-specific solar context

Bay Area

PG&E service territory. Highest residential solar density in California. Time-of-use rate exposure under NEM 3.0 has shifted the savings calculation. San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Walnut Creek.

Los Angeles & Inland Empire

LADWP territory in the city, SCE in surrounding areas. Massive door-to-door sales activity. Includes LA, Long Beach, Anaheim, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Pasadena, Glendale.

San Diego

SDG&E service territory. Among the highest electric rates in California — and the country — making the post-NEM 3.0 economics particularly punishing for homeowners sold systems based on NEM 2.0 math. Includes San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad.

Sacramento & Central Valley

SMUD (municipal — different rules from IOUs) in Sacramento. PG&E in surrounding areas. Central Valley heat creates panel derating issues similar to Phoenix. Includes Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, Visalia.

California Solar Cancellation FAQs

How long do I have to cancel a solar contract in California?

Some homeowners attempt this, but solar contracts are long, complex, and written by the solar company’s attorneys. A qualified law firm has the legal training to identify what may be a potential issue. SCRC’s role is to collect and organize your documentation so the qualified law firm can review it.

What is NEM 3.0 and how does it affect my solar contract?

NEM 3.0 (officially the Net Billing Tariff or NBT) took effect for new IOU interconnections on April 15, 2023. It cut the credit homeowners receive for exporting excess solar to the grid by approximately 75% compared to the prior NEM 2.0 program. The change does NOT automatically void any existing solar contract. However, if the homeowner was sold a system based on NEM 2.0 economics — and the salesperson did not clearly explain that NEM 3.0 would dramatically change those economics, or did not adequately explain the role of battery storage under NEM 3.0 — that may be a CLRA or §17200 issue worth review.

Does the CLRA apply to my solar contract?

Hurricane damage to solar panels does not automatically cancel the contract. The homeowner may have a property insurance claim for the panel damage (Hurricane Helene supplemental insurance claims are due by March 26, 2026; Hurricane Milton supplemental claims are due by April 9, 2026). The solar company may also have warranty obligations for storm damage, depending on the contract and warranty terms. If the system is non-functional and the solar company will not repair it, that may be a separate non-performance issue worth review. A qualified attorney may evaluate how the insurance, warranty, and contract obligations interact in the homeowner’s specific situation.

What happens if I signed with SunPower or Sunnova?

Both companies have been in bankruptcy proceedings (SunPower in 2024, Sunnova Chapter 11 in 2025). A bankruptcy filing does not automatically cancel a homeowner’s contract. Lease, loan, or PPA payments may still be owed. Warranty and service obligations may be impaired. If the financing was provided by a separate lender, that lender is a separate company and the financing relationship continues. California homeowners with SunPower or Sunnova contracts should organize documentation and consider an intake review. Decisions about filing a proof of claim in any bankruptcy proceeding should be made with a qualified attorney.

How do I file a complaint against my solar company in California?

California has multiple complaint paths. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) accepts complaints about licensed contractors, including solar installers. The California Department of Consumer Affairs and the California Attorney General’s Office accept consumer protection complaints. The CPUC handles complaints about CPUC-regulated utilities and certain solar provider issues for IOU customers. Filing a complaint with one or more of these agencies is a separate process from a private legal review.

Will cancelling my California solar contract affect my credit?

We do not provide guidance on credit. Decisions about credit, payment, and finance are not within the scope of what Solar Cancellation Resource Center provides. A qualified California-licensed attorney is the appropriate person to advise on whether and how a particular legal action may interact with the homeowner’s specific financial situation

What about UCC-1 liens and PACE liens on California homes?

The Florida Bar and consumer protection attorneys have warned about bad-actor companies that pose as legal services, charge steep upfront fees, and provide only template letters. To verify any solar exit service: (1) verify any claimed attorney’s license at floridabar.org; (2) demand a written engagement letter that names the actual law firm and attorney; (3) verify the company’s BBB rating and reviews independently; (4) be cautious of companies that pressure for immediate fees before you have a chance to verify them. Solar Cancellation Resource Center is transparent that we are a marketing and intake service, not a law firm. Any legal review is performed by attorneys at Consumer Advocacy Law Group, a separate qualified law firm that the homeowner engages directly.

Is there a cost to submit an intake?

No — submitting your information for an intake review is free. If the case meets initial criteria and a law firm accepts the matter, the homeowner enters a fixed-fee engagement directly with Consumer Advocacy Law Group. The fee is disclosed up front before the homeowner agrees to anything.

The questions below come up most often during California homeowner intakes. They are general information only — they are not legal advice.

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