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When temperatures rise, utility costs do, too. While reputable companies can help you save money with clean or solar energy improvements, scammers offer more than they can deliver. The scams vary, but here’s the gist: someone claiming to be with the government or your utility company promises big savings on your utility bills from solar energy or other home improvements designed to increase energy efficiency. If you agree to the scammer’s offer, it could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

These scams start with an unexpected phone call, message on social, or even an in-person visit. The so-called official offers you an “energy audit” to reduce your utility costs. Or they might try to sign you up for a “free” program to make your home more energy efficient with solar energy. While they might say they’re from your utility company or the government, they’re not. And while they promise free or low-cost solar panels, or offer you huge rebates, tax credits, or utility incentives to pay for those solar panels, those are lies. Some so-called officials even say your utility company already signed you up for the program, so now you need to pay. That is, of course, also a scam.

To protect yourself from clean energy scams:

  • Know that “free” or “no cost” solar panel offers are scams. The federal government does not install solar systems in homes for free. If you’re considering whether solar energy is right for you, check out the Department of Energy’s guide for homeowners and learn more. Or check out the Department of Treasury’s guidance on clean energy. 
  • Take your time. Anyone who pressures you into a contract or demands up-front or immediate payment is a scammer. Legitimate businesses and government agencies don’t pressure you to act immediately and won’t tell you to pay with cash, gift card, wire transfer, payment app, or cryptocurrency. But imposters will. Learn more at ftc.gov/imposters.
  • Protect your personal information. Don’t respond to unexpected requests online or on social media for your name, address, or other personal information to “see if you qualify.” At best, this is someone generating leads to sell, not actual solar businesses. At worst, they’re scammers trying to steal your identity.

If you spot a scam, tell the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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image of house, electric plug, sun, solar panels and wind turbines
Topics
For the Home
Scams
All Scams
Avoiding and Reporting Scams
Government Impersonators

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

William
August 07, 2024

Thank you for teaching us how to smell out a rat. On the Internet, we see so many "free if you live in xxxxx zip codes" and now know they're scammers. Like the old Expression" if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." (But gad, they're hard to resist )

Patricia Kidd
August 08, 2024

I got scammed and now I cannot get rid of these panels. They are now calling me to sell me a battery to help me save more money on my bill. I told the lady...I don't even want the solar panels, you can come get them. Needless to say, she said I'm sorry you have a good rest of your day.

Laura Brent
August 08, 2024

It's very sad that Revolution Solar is being allowed "go out of business" and leave hundreds of us stranded without finished systems, without the paid for waurenty and without support.

ALfred C Hartman
August 08, 2024

I have a group trying to set me up on solar energy. I believe it's a scam.
Thanks.

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