© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
The law comes as rooftop solar grows in Texas, with households looking for ways to cut electricity costs.
Photo Credit: iStock
Residential solar companies and individual salespeople in Texas now face registration requirements as the state steps in to police rooftop solar sales.
With that shift, regulators can monitor the industry, investigate consumer complaints, and penalize businesses that break the rules.
The Residential Solar Retailer Regulatory Act requires residential solar businesses and salespeople to register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and it authorizes TDLR to handle complaints and pursue enforcement against companies that violate the statute, KXAN reported.
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, championed the law after hearing from Texans across the state who raised concerns about solar sales practices. It was intended to address complaints from Texans who said they were misled about expected savings and available incentives before signing long-term contracts.
The law comes as rooftop solar grows in Texas, with households looking for ways to cut electricity costs. The new rules are meant to add guardrails to a fast-growing part of the energy market.
As more Texans adopted rooftop solar, reports of troubling sales experiences also increased. KXAN investigators reported on complaints connected to solar panel deals.
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Starting at $50
Starting at $99
Starting at $60
Starting at $80
Some of those complaints involved promises of lower utility bills that customers later said never materialized. Others focused on financing terms and incentives that consumers said they didn’t fully understand when they signed the contracts.
The scrutiny hasn’t been limited to the legislature. As KXAN reported, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a San Antonio-based solar company, alleging it misled customers about warranties and financing and used deceptive sales tactics.
According to Paxton’s office, customers were left with systems that didn’t work properly. For families who entered lengthy contracts expecting savings, that can mean years of unexpected costs tied to equipment that doesn’t work as promised.
TDLR now oversees this, and it has become the main state regulator for residential solar retailers and salespeople. For homeowners who think a company used deceptive tactics or failed to follow the law, that creates a more defined agency to contact.
Homeowners still have five days to back out of a solar deal, which gives them time to review contract terms after a sales presentation. Zaffirini has also urged consumers, as KXAN reported, to review contracts carefully, ask questions, and not sign anything they don’t fully understand.
TDLR has delayed enforcement of contract disclosure requirements and the development of education brochures until November to give retailers more time to adjust, KXAN reported.
People who continue to run into problems can file complaints directly with TDLR, whose enforcement powers now include investigations and fines. Zaffirini has also said she plans to monitor how the law works in practice and, as KXAN reported, return to the issue in the 2027 legislative session if more changes are needed.
Zaffirini said to KXAN, “Texans deserve honest and transparent transactions, not deceptive sales tactics.”
Here’s more context on the consumer and homeowner issues tied to rooftop solar in Texas and beyond. The stories cover aggressive sales encounters, Texas property-rights fights, and HOA disputes over solar installations.
• New homeowners said a utility-linked ‘free solar’ rep turned aggressive after seeing their bill.
• In Texas, residents warned a new property law could sharply limit rooftop solar and wind choices.
• In Austin, a homeowner argued they can’t stop you from adding rooftop solar despite HOA pressure.
• One homeowner was stunned when an HOA violation notice arrived two years after solar installation.
• Homeowners weighing solar said a firm HOA policy still left them worried about lawsuits.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

source