When Solar Goes Wrong: Neal Prevost on Harmon Solar Podcast

At Prevost Law Firm, we speak with homeowners every day who made a good-faith decision to go solar, only to find themselves stuck with broken systems, inflated utility bills, or loan obligations they didn’t fully understand. Most thought they were doing the right thing. 

They trusted the sales rep. They believed the promises. But now, they’re left wondering what went wrong, and whether anyone can help.

Recently, our founder Neal Prevost joined the team at Harmon Solar for a deep, honest conversation about the current state of the solar industry: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Harmon Solar has been installing systems in Arizona for over 17 years and has been in business for 50 years. As a long-standing, ethical solar installer, they’ve seen firsthand how damaging this industry can be when unlicensed, unqualified, or dishonest companies get involved.

We’ve broken down the key takeaways from that conversation to help you understand what to look for, what to avoid, and what your legal rights may be if you’ve been misled.

The Most Common Problem We See

The most frequent issue our firm handles is this: the solar company that installed a system goes out of business, leaving the homeowner with no support, no service, and a system that may not be functioning as promised. We’ve seen this happen with large companies like Titan Solar Power and Pink Energy. These companies offered 25-year workmanship warranties, and closed their doors within just a few years.

When that happens, the homeowner is stuck with a loan they’re still paying off, a system they can’t repair, and no one left to take responsibility.

At Prevost Law Firm, we use something called the Holder Rule to fight back. This federal protection allows us to sue the lender for the misrepresentations made by the seller, even if the seller is now bankrupt or out of business. While we can’t usually get cash damages, we often obtain a credit against the remaining loan balance. That alone can be a lifeline for homeowners who were misled or abandoned.

Deceptive Sales Tactics Are More Common Than You Think

In most cases, the problem starts at the kitchen table.

Solar salespeople (especially those working for commission-based, out-of-state sales organizations) routinely promise savings that don’t materialize. One of the most common lies? “You’ll never pay another utility bill.”

That claim is false in nearly every case. Even with a 100% energy offset, most customers will still pay a base connection fee to their utility company. And if your energy usage increases after installation (say you add a hot tub, a new HVAC system, or a home office) your savings will decrease accordingly.

What most homeowners don’t realize is that deceptive sales pitches like these may be legally actionable. Under state consumer fraud laws, including Arizona’s Consumer Fraud Act, sales reps can be held accountable for false promises, even if those promises aren’t written in the contract. It doesn’t matter if the rep used a tablet, breezed through the contract, or told you to “just click here.” If they lied to close the deal, you may have a case.

The Most Disturbing Stories We’ve Seen

One of the worst cases we’ve handled involved a man named Billy in East Texas. Billy lived in a 14×40-foot single-wide trailer. He was 73 years old and received about $2,100 per month in Social Security benefits. A solar salesperson sold him a $73,000 system. It included 31 panels on a roof that could barely support it. The system never worked properly. Billy ultimately lost his trailer, his land, and the panels. We were able to discharge the debt through bankruptcy, but the damage had been done. In our view, this was a case of elder abuse.

Another client, Patricia, was disabled and living on a fixed income of $1,179/month. The salesperson lied on her application and claimed she made $80,000/year to get her financed. They told her she’d receive a $13,000 rebate…which she never qualified for. The installer went out of business before the system was even turned on.

These cases aren’t rare. We hear stories like them every week.

What Ethical Installers Are Doing Differently

Not all solar companies operate this way. In fact, another guest on our recent podcast goes out of their way to do things right. They offer a 25-year in-house workmanship warranty, a 30-year roof penetration warranty, and full transparency about energy offset and utility savings. When a customer calls them for help, even if Harmon didn’t install the system, they take time to explain the situation and offer honest advice, even if it means turning down the job.

We need more companies like that in the industry. But until the bad actors are weeded out, our job is to hold them accountable, and to help homeowners understand what to watch for.

Red Flags to Watch for Before Signing a Contract

If you’re shopping for solar, here are some red flags that should give you pause:

• High-pressure sales tactics: “This deal is only good today!”
• Companies younger than their warranty: Don’t buy a 25-year warranty from a 2-year-old company.
• No physical office or service department: Avoid remote-only “sales orgs.”
• No cash price disclosure: You should be told the price without financing.
• Overpromised savings or tax rebates: Be wary of projections based on unrealistic energy inflation rates.
• Failure to explain the federal tax credit: Not everyone qualifies for it, especially low-income or retired homeowners.

Always get multiple quotes, ask detailed questions, and read your contract thoroughly. 

And if something feels off? Pause. You don’t have to sign today.

What To Do If You’ve Been Misled

If you believe you were lied to during the sales process, sold an overpriced system, or abandoned by your installer, you may have legal options. At Prevost Law Firm, we focus exclusively on helping solar customers understand their rights and get relief.

We don’t take every case. But if we can help, we’ll guide you through the process and fight to reduce or eliminate your financial burden. Even if we can’t take your case, we’ll give you clear, honest direction on what to do next.

Final Thoughts

Solar can be a fantastic investment when it’s done right. But too many homeowners are being taken advantage of by companies that value profits over people.

If you’ve been misled, abandoned, or stuck with a non-functioning system, visit solarpanelrelief.com to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help, and we won’t stop until the industry changes for good.