CUB has received several complaints recently about a company called EverBright Solar going door-to-door across the state.
The complaints include seniors who say they thought the 25-year lease was free when, in fact, it is not. (Some have told CUB they unknowingly signed up for an extremely expensive contract.)
Because of strong energy policy, solar power is an excellent deal in Illinois. The state has solid residential solar programs (see Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All) and consumers have a lot of legitimate solar offers to choose from.(See CUB’s recent work in a solar group-buy program.)
But consumer education makes Illinois’ market even stronger. The following are tips on how solar shoppers can protect themselves and find the deal that’s right for their individual households:
- Do some homework: Find out if the solar company you’re considering has a bad track record.
- Verify the company is registered with Illinois Shines, the state program that’s in charge of solar incentives and monitoring the market.
- Review the Illinois Shines complaint report to see if the company you’re considering is on there.
- Go to the Better Business Bureau: BBB.org.
- Ask the company for references.
- Consider 2-3 installers: If you think rooftop solar would be a good fit for you, call at least two solar installers in your area to get quotes for your project. Find residential solar installers near you by visiting the Illinois Solar Energy Association website: IllinoisSolar.org. (Tip: Use Illinois Shines Disclosure forms to make apples to apples comparisons.)
- Don’t make quick decisions. You don’t have to make a decision at your doorstep. Take the company’s literature and review the offer on your own time. If they keep pestering you, high-pressure sales tactics could be a red flag.
- File a complaint: If you believe you have been subject to fraudulent or deceptive sales practices, file a complaint with Illinois Shines, and you can also file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s office.
- Chicago: 1-800-386-5468 (TTY 1-800-964-3013)
- Springfield: 1-800-243-0618 (TTY 1-877-844-5461)
- Carbondale: 1-800-243-0607 (TTY 1-877-675-9339)
- Spanish: 1-866-310-8398
- Reach out: Got questions about Solar? There are some great resources:
- IllinoisShines.com
- CUB’s Clean Energy Page, at CitizensUtilityBoard.org
- Illinois Solar Energy Association, at IllinoisSolar.org
- The Solar Energy Industries Association, at SEIA.org
