Scam Detective
Scam verdict · Educational pattern check
Scam Detective research desk · Updated October 2026
Not free — read what you sign

Are “Free Solar Panels” a Scam? The Panels Aren't Free — the Question Is What You're Signing

“Free” never means free — it's a lease or a power purchase agreement, often 20 years. That can be a legitimate product; the scam lives in the pressure and the fine print: you don't own the system or its tax credits, payments can escalate, and getting out early is expensive. The FTC's line is the defense: never deal with a company that demands a quick decision or cash — get several written bids, compare the contract terms, and never sign same-day.

Educational verdict from documented scam patterns — not a live report. For a 0–100 risk score on the exact link in your hand, run the checker.

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The record · Quoted verbatim

Straight from the source

The verdict stands on the public record — the line below is quoted verbatim from the source named under it.

“Never deal with a power or home repair company that pressures you for a quick decision, tells you to sign a contract without time to review, or asks you to pay in cash.”

— FTC, “Solar Power for Your Home.”

The durable question

Why this question never goes away

There are three ways to get rooftop solar: buy the system, lease it, or sign a power purchase agreement (PPA). “Free solar” means one of the second two — a company installs panels on your roof and you sign a contract that typically runs 20 years. Under a lease or PPA you don't own the system, so you don't get the tax credits or renewable energy certificates; your payments can increase over time; and getting out early can be difficult and expensive. The sales math deserves suspicion too: savings projections that assume future utility rates are guesses, not promises. If PACE financing is offered, know what it is — a property tax lien that takes priority over your mortgage, where a missed tax payment can mean foreclosure. The defense is the FTC's: research the company with your state consumer protection agencies and contractors licensing board, get several detailed written bids, compare contract terms — escalators, warranties, early-termination fees, what happens when you sell the house — and never sign same-day.

The checklist

Five red flags — any one is enough

“Free solar panels” framing — it's a 20-year lease or PPA, not a gift.
Same-day signing pressure or a cash ask — the FTC's never-deal line.
Savings projections built on assumed future utility rates — guesses sold as promises.
PACE financing that puts a tax lien ahead of your mortgage.
Contract silence on payment escalators, early termination, roof repairs, and what happens when you sell.
What to do now

Your next three moves

1
Verify through a channel you open yourself — research the company with your state consumer protection agencies and contractors licensing board, and get several detailed written bids before you compare anything. Never rely on the door-knocker, ad, or mailer as your source of truth.
2
Refuse the ask: no same-day signature, no contract signed without time to review, and no cash payment — the FTC's never-deal line. Compare the terms in writing: escalators, warranties, early-termination fees, and what happens when you sell the house.
3
Report problems to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general — and paste any link the offer sent into the $2 instant check for a 0–100 scam risk score.
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Follow-up questions

People also ask

Are “free solar panels” really free?

No — “free solar” means a lease or a power purchase agreement, typically 20 years. A company installs panels on your roof and you sign the contract; you don't own the system.

Is a solar lease or PPA always a bad deal?

Not automatically — it can be a legitimate product. The scam lives in the pressure and the fine print: you don't get the tax credits or renewable energy certificates, payments can increase over time, and getting out early can be difficult and expensive.

What is PACE financing, and why is it risky?

A property tax lien that takes priority over your mortgage — a missed tax payment can mean foreclosure. Know what it is before it's in your paperwork.

How do I shop for solar without getting burned?

The FTC's defense: research the company with your state consumer protection agencies and contractors licensing board, get several detailed written bids, compare contract terms — escalators, warranties, early-termination fees, what happens when you sell — and never sign same-day. Savings projections built on assumed future utility rates are guesses, not promises.

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