A Strategic Solar Guide for Customers of Design 1 Group

Are you a Design 1 Group Customer? Maybe this sounds familiar…

• Ever find yourself in a partnership that started with bold promises, only to devolve into a frustrating cycle of missed deadlines and unanswered calls? 
• …What about when that partnership involves a multi-thousand-dollar solar panel system on your home?

If you are a homeowner who chose Design 1 Group for your solar installation, this scenario might be the reality you’re living in right now. 

You entered into a major financial agreement expecting a professional process, but now you may be caught in a cycle of endless delays and a sinking feeling that your project has been abandoned. 

When a solar company goes silent, waiting and hoping might turn into an expensive mistake. It’s time to stop being a passive client and start being the proactive CEO of your project.

Our hope is that this guide can help you understand the issues at Design 1 Group and the strategic, documented actions you can take to protect your investment and compel a resolution.

Looking for more solar installer statuses? View our comprehensive list here.

About Design 1 Group: The Company Profile

Design 1 Group, LLC, is a Texas-based company that has operated in the residential solar installation market. 

They position themselves as a provider of solar energy solutions, managing the process from sales through to installation for homeowners across the state.

The Warning Signs: A Clear Pattern in Customer Reviews

A business’s true operational health is often revealed in the unvarnished feedback of its customers. A dive into the public complaints filed against Design 1 Group on platforms like the Better Business Bureau paints a consistent and alarming picture. These are not isolated incidents; they are a clear pattern of systemic problems.

The most common and serious complaints revolve around:

• Post-Contract Abandonment: Customers consistently report that after signing the contract and making payments, the project grinds to a halt for months or even a year.
• Total Communication Breakdown: Homeowners describe a black hole of communication, with calls and emails going completely unanswered for weeks or months.
• Failure to Achieve Permission to Operate (PTO): A significant number of complaints detail a failure to complete the final, critical steps with the utility company to get the system turned on, leaving homeowners with a non-functioning system.

What Is Going Wrong? An Honest Assessment

A consistent pattern of project delays, communication failures, and an inability to complete the final stages of a project is a sign of a company under severe operational distress. 

These are not the hallmarks of a business that is simply “too busy.” They are often symptoms of deeper issues, which could range from cash flow problems to a fundamental breakdown in project management.

Are They Still in Business?

No. According to the Better Business Bureau, Design 1 is suspected to be out of business as of September 2025.

What About Your Warranty?

Your contract outlines your warranty protections, which are split into two very different categories. Understanding this is critical.

1. Workmanship Warranty: This is provided by Design 1 Group and covers the quality of the installation labor. If they are officially out of business, this warranty would become void.
2. Manufacturer’s Warranty: This is your most secure asset. The physical components of your system (the panels and inverters) were made by large manufacturers and come with their own 20-25-year warranties. These warranties are completely independent of Design 1 Group and remain valid no matter what happens to your installer.

The FTC Holder Rule: Your Powerful Financial Backstop

If you financed your system, you have a powerful financial protection: the FTC Holder Rule. This federal law is crucial, even with an operating company.

It states that your finance company can be held responsible for the seller’s misconduct. If Design 1 Group has breached their contract by failing to provide you with a working solar system, you can bring a legal claim against the lender that holds your loan. This is powerful leverage, as it puts financial pressure on the entire deal, not just the installer.

Your Proactive Legal Action Plan

It is time to take deliberate, documented action. These steps are designed to create a legal record and compel a resolution.

1. Shift to a Paper Trail: Immediately cease relying on phone calls. All communication with Design 1 Group should now be in writing via email. This creates a time-stamped record.
2. Send a Formal Demand Letter: Send a formal, written demand letter to the company (via certified mail for proof of delivery). This letter should professionally outline the history of your project and clearly state your demand: that they provide a detailed plan of action with firm deadlines.
3. Become Your Own Project Auditor: If they blame your utility company for delays, call the utility’s interconnection department yourself. Ask them for the status of the application for your address.
4. Escalate with Formal Complaints: File detailed, factual complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
5. Engage a Consumer Protection Attorney: If the company ignores your demand letter, it is time to seek professional legal help. An experienced attorney can review your contract for breach, advise you on your rights, and, most importantly, prepare a case against your finance company under the FTC Holder Rule.

Take Action

If your Design 1 Group project has stalled, gone silent, or never reached Permission to Operate, you don’t have to guess what to do next. 

At Prevost Law Firm, we focus on holding solar companies and their finance partners accountable when contracts are breached and homeowners are left carrying the risk. A short legal review can help you understand whether the FTC Holder Rule or other consumer protection laws apply to your situation—and what leverage you actually have.

Take the next step:

• Review your contract and financing
• Identify whether a legal breach has already occurred
• Understand your options before the situation gets worse

👉 Request a free consultation with Prevost Law Firm to find out where you stand and what actions make sense for your specific situation.

No pressure. No obligation. Just clarity and a strategic path forward.

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

How long is too long to wait for my system to be turned on (PTO)?

After the physical installation is complete, the PTO process should typically take 30-60 days. If you have been waiting more than three months post-installation with no clear progress, your project is severely stalled.

What if I can’t get anyone at the company to respond to me at all?

This is a form of “constructive breach” of your contract. If a company is completely unresponsive, they are failing to perform their duties. This is when creating a paper trail of your attempted communications becomes the foundation of your legal claim.

Should I stop making my loan payments if the system isn’t working?

I strongly advise against unilaterally stopping your loan payments without first seeking legal counsel. Your loan is a separate legal agreement, and non-payment can severely damage your credit. An attorney can help you leverage the Holder Rule to formally dispute the loan.

What’s the difference between this situation and a company that is fully out of business?

The main difference is your primary target. With an operating company, your initial efforts are directed at compelling them to finish the job. With a company that is out of business, those efforts are futile, and your focus shifts almost exclusively to making a claim against the finance company.

Can a lawyer really help if the company just ignores everyone?

Yes. A formal demand from a law firm signals that the consequences are escalating. Furthermore, an experienced attorney’s primary focus may not be on the installer at all, but on building a powerful, well-documented case against the finance company, which is a much more stable and responsive target.

References

• Design 1 Group, LLC | Better Business Bureau® Profile. bbb.org.
• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) License Search. tdlr.texas.gov.
• Consumer Protection | Office of the Attorney General. texasattorneygeneral.gov.
• Holder Rule | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute. law.cornell.edu.