Aaron Sutch from Solar United Neighbors wrote an excellent piece of advice that we are re-posting on our website:
Perhaps you’ve seen the following advertisements in your social media or google searches:
“Affordable Solar Program Launched in Virginia for Middle-Class Homeowners”
The advertisement and others offering similar programs can be misleading. There are no special government or state programs to incentivize middle-class solar installations in VA. If there were such programs, your local installers would be well aware of them.
Here are a few things to look out for – consider these red flags:
- The appearance that the ad is an article from an independent publication
- The overestimation of up-front solar costs
- Clever language that disguises a loan product for solar installations or other home improvements (i.e roof replacements) as a special program sponsored by a government or locality.
- The indication that program ‘funding’ is still available in “your area”
- Request for you to fill out a form with your average electric bill address to see if you “qualify”
These ads are often a hook or way for private companies to generate leads. The information provided is used to follow up with a sales pitch to sell their product which often involves a loan product– that may or may not have an upfront cost. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is, so beware.
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