By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent
It’s easy to talk consumer protection, but it’s another thing to actually do something about it. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has taken it upon itself to be the most vocal advocate for consumer protection in the solar industry – and now they’ve got a residential consumer guide to match the rhetoric.
The national solar organization has updated its SEIA Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power to reflect a focus on creating a positive buying experience for residential solar consumers with a one-stop guide to the ins and outs of purchasing residential solar, including what red flags should send residential consumers running for the hills.
Any solar consumer can download the guide from SEIA’s website and includes the basics of solar energy and ownership options available to them – but goes one step further to include key questions consumers should ask solar installers before signing a contract. The guide is a result of a joint effort of the leading companies across the solar industry and goes hand in hand with SEIA’s existing Solar Business Code by which all SEIA members abide.
“The residential solar market is expanding into new states at a rapid pace, and because of that it’s critical that potential solar customers have the tools they need to fully understand solar transactions,” said Tom Kimbis, SEIA’s executive vice president. “By demystifying the buying decision solar can find its way onto millions of new American homes.”
But the guide doesn’t just stop with questions to ask about the system as it will serve the homeowner – it also includes questions about what consumers need to know before they sell the home with solar modules on it. It also addresses solar + storage, which is a new consideration for most solar consumers. SEIA’s decision to lead on the solar + storage issue shows how closely they are monitoring the market and trying to protect consumers throughout the solar-purchasing process.
“My company has been involved with solar installations since 1980,” said Ed Murray, president of Aztec Solar, based in Rancho Cordova, Calif. “The new SEIA consumer protection guide shows the strong commitment of our industry as solar has become a mainstream energy choice for Americans.”
Other industries I’ve worked in talk about consumer protection – the solar industry is the first I’ve seen try to do something to marginalize the bad actors before they have a chance to give the industry a black eye – an effort for which they should be applauded.