May 15, 2026
They were just trying to save money and energy. Instead, two Florida seniors are on the hook for thousands of dollars after buying rooftop solar panels from door-to-door salespeople.
Mike Schopp told local WPTV that he bought the solar panels in the hope of cutting electricity costs — the same reason behind fellow senior Jane Bibee's purchase from a different company (1).
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"They really push the fact that the electric company is going to raise their rates," Bibee said of the salesperson who knocked on her door. Now, she laments, "I'm just stuck."
That's because she and Schopp were locked into 25-year contracts, with costs adding up more than expected as the electricity bills still come in.
"Consumers are often told their electric bill will essentially disappear, but after installation they find themselves paying both a large solar loan and a continuing utility bill that is much higher than expected," attorney Michael A. Ortiz, whose firm, Vargas Gonzalez Delombard, prosecutes solar panel lawsuits, told Moneywise. "That is one of the most common complaints we see."
And that's reportedly what happened here. Schopp took out a $42,000 loan to cover the panels and, on top of that, told WPTV that his monthly bills have ballooned by almost 75%. Similarly, Bibee's costs jumped from $127 to $250, while a lien on her panels prevents any home sale. Meanwhile, both of the companies that sold them their panels went bankrupt.
Solar panel scams spreading across the U.S.
Spotting the difference between solar panel scams and what simply amounts to a bad deal can be tricky. For example, WPTV notes that both Lumio and Sunnova, the companies used by Schopp and Bibee respectively, faced lawsuits for alleged deceptive business practices but denied the allegations. The lawsuit against Sunnova was eventually dismissed.
Similar stories have popped up in other states, from a Texas homeowner who paid $100,000 for faulty solar panels from a company that's now out of business (2) to a 91-year-old Pennsylvania man who said he'll likely die before he can pay off his $20,000 solar panels and hundreds in monthly bills (3).
Solar scams, meanwhile, generally involve a salesperson who offers to save you money on electricity costs. Some present misleading information about rebates or tax breaks, and may also claim to represent the government or a solar company (4).
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"The 'blitzers' that canvas these neighborhoods are trained, articulate and convincing," Joshua S. Horton, a Florida-based attorney also experienced in solar panel lawsuits, told Moneywise. "If it sounds too good to be true. It probably is."
Natural gas and electric company Ameren, for example, is warning of "widespread" solar panel fraud via robocalls in Illinois and Missouri (5), and the Texas attorney general says his office has fielded "over 100 complaints … along with thousands more online (6)."
Yet, with energy prices up nearly 18% year-over-year, and electricity up 6% in the same timeframe (7), low-cost solar pitches can prove enticing.
This makes it even more urgent to know how to spot the signs of a solar scam.
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How to protect yourself from getting trapped in a solar panel loan
Solar panels themselves aren't inherently a scam, but the way some of them are sold can be.
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Many of the complaints tied to solar fraud involve door-to-door sales tactics. Both Horton and Ortiz note that one major red flag is a sense of urgency to get you to sign a deal on the spot. "At the end of the day, if the sales process feels rushed or overly aggressive, that alone should be a warning sign," Ortiz said.
Horton advised getting everything in writing on paper (never sign electronically, he emphasizes), and ensure you have an attorney review documents before signing anything.
Ortiz also suggests you "get multiple quotes and compare them carefully," never trust verbal representations that aren't in writing and "ask what happens if the installer goes out of business or the system stops working."
Checking installer reviews, understand whether you're buying or leasing the panels and carefully review loan terms, maintenance responsibilities and projected energy savings before signing.
In addition, the FTC says to never pay advance deposits or fees (8), and the non-profit Solar United Neighbors warn to be wary of salespeople who exaggerate the savings opportunities or future utility costs (9). And the U.S. Department of Energy points to the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners as a resource for finding certified solar installers (10).
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If you do suspect you're a victim of fraud, both Horton and Ortiz say hope isn't lost — even if the contractor went out of business.
Ortiz notes that, often, "there are multiple parties involved beyond the installer itself," from financing companies to warranty providers, against whom you might pursue a claim. And Horton adds his firm has had success suing lenders and lessors.
That said, he warns that statute of limitation issues could sink your case if you don't act fast.
"Delay can be deadly to [a victim's] case and the entities engaged in this conduct know this as well," he adds. "It is imperative that once the victim suspects fraud, they engage legal counsel without further delay."
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
WPTV (1); KXAN (2); NPR (3); Letona Law (4); Fox 2 Now (5); Texas Attorney General (6); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (7); Federal Trade Commission (8); Solar United Neighbors (9); U.S. Department of Energy (10)
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Mike Crisolago is a Sr. Staff Reporter at Moneywise with nearly 20 years of experience working as a journalist, editor, content strategist and podcast host. He specializes in personal finance writing related to the 50-plus demographic and retirement, as well as politics and lifestyle content.
