Consumer Protection Guide

California law requires solar contractors to provide customers with specific disclosures and the California Solar Consumer Protection Guide before signing a contract. This page summarizes your rights as a California solar customer and explains what to look for before, during, and after your installation. Links to official state resources are provided throughout.

BEFORE YOU SIGN A CONTRACT

Verify the contractor's license. All solar contractors in California must hold a valid CSLB license. You can verify any contractor's license at cslb.ca.gov. A solar contractor typically holds a C-46 Solar Contractor license, a C-10 Electrical Contractor license, or both. Do not hire a contractor whose license is expired, suspended, or does not cover solar work. Revolt Services's CSLB license number and classification are listed at revolt-services.com/license-insurance.

Get multiple quotes. California law does not require you to accept the first offer or sign on the day of the consultation. Take time to compare proposals. A reputable contractor will not pressure you to sign the same day you receive the quote.

Understand what you are buying or leasing. There is a fundamental difference between owning a solar system outright and entering a lease or power purchase agreement. Ownership means the system is yours. A lease means the financing company owns the system and you are purchasing energy from it at a contracted rate. These two paths have different implications for tax credits, rebates, home sales, and long-term costs. Revolt Services explains both options clearly before any contract is signed. See How It Works for a full comparison.

Understand the financial projections. Any savings estimate in a solar proposal is a projection, not a guarantee. Actual savings depend on your energy usage, electricity rates, solar production, and utility billing rules. Ask the contractor to explain the assumptions behind every number in the proposal.

Confirm the system is sized from your actual usage. A properly designed system is sized from at least 12 months of your actual electricity bills, not from a square footage estimate or a standard package. Ask for documentation showing the production modeling methodology.

WHAT YOUR CONTRACT MUST INCLUDE

Under California Business and Professions Code §7169, every residential solar contract must include the following:

• The Solar Energy System Disclosure Document, printed in boldface 16-point type on the front or cover page of the contract
• The contractor's exact CSLB registered business name and license number, printed legibly on every page
• A Notice of Cancellation providing your 3-day right to cancel (5 days if you are 65 years of age or older)
• The California Solar Consumer Protection Guide (current version)
• A written description of all work to be performed and materials to be used, including make, model, and specifications of equipment
• The total contract price, a payment schedule, and any financing terms
• The estimated system size, annual production, and the methodology used to calculate that estimate
• Warranty terms for panels, inverters, and workmanship
• A description of permits required and who is responsible for obtaining them

If a contractor presents you with a contract that is missing any of these items, do not sign it. Contact the CSLB at 1-800-321-2752 to report an incomplete contract.

YOUR RIGHT TO CANCEL

California law gives you the right to cancel a home solicitation contract within three business days of signing without penalty. This applies to solar contracts signed at your home or at a location other than the contractor's permanent place of business.

If you are 65 years of age or older, you have five business days to cancel a home solicitation contract under California Civil Code §1689.6.

To cancel, you must deliver a written notice of cancellation to the contractor before midnight of the third (or fifth) business day after signing. The contractor is required to provide you with two copies of a Notice of Cancellation form at the time of signing. If you cancel, the contractor must return any deposit or payment you made within 10 days.

For full details on your cancellation rights and how to submit a cancellation, see our Complaints and Cancellation page.

PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS

All solar and battery installations in California require a building permit from your local jurisdiction. It is the contractor's responsibility to obtain permits before work begins. Work performed without a permit is illegal and may result in the installation being ordered removed at your expense.

After installation, a city or county building inspector must inspect and approve the work. The contractor is responsible for scheduling and passing inspection. Final utility interconnection (Permission to Operate) cannot proceed until the permit is finaled.

Revolt Services pulls all required permits and manages all inspections for every installation. We do not begin work before permits are issued.

WARRANTIES

A complete solar and battery installation should include the following warranties at minimum:

• Panel production warranty. Most modern solar panels carry a 25-year production warranty guaranteeing a minimum output (typically 80 to 90% of rated output) at year 25.
• Panel equipment warranty. Typically 10 to 25 years covering manufacturing defects.
• Inverter warranty. Typically 10 to 25 years depending on manufacturer.
• Battery warranty. Tesla Powerwall 3 carries a 10-year warranty covering capacity retention. Enphase IQ Battery 5P carries a 15-year warranty.
• Workmanship warranty. Covers labor and installation quality for a period specified in the contract. Revolt Services's workmanship warranty terms are stated in every contract.

All warranties must be described in writing in your contract. Ask for the full written warranty terms for every piece of equipment before signing.

FINANCING DISCLOSURES

If you are financing your solar system through a loan, lease, or power purchase agreement, the contractor must clearly disclose all financing terms in writing, including:

• The total amount financed and the total amount you will pay over the life of the agreement
• The interest rate or lease rate, and whether it escalates over time
• Who owns the system (you, if you take a loan; the financing company, if you lease)
• What happens to the financing obligation if you sell your home
• Whether a UCC-1 financing statement will be filed against your property (note: a properly structured prepaid lease does not require a UCC-1)
• Any automatic renewal provisions

Revolt Services does not use high-pressure financing tactics. We present both the $0 down lease path and the cash purchase path side by side before any contract is signed, and we answer all questions about financing terms before you make a decision.

TAX CREDIT AND INCENTIVE DISCLOSURES

Tax credits and incentives are subject to change. Revolt Services will not make claims about federal or state tax credits, rebates, or incentives that are not accurate as of the date of your contract. As of the date this page was last updated:

• The federal §25D Residential Clean Energy Credit (30%) expired December 31, 2025 for cash purchasers and is no longer available to homeowners buying systems directly. Cash buyers in 2026 receive no federal credit.
• The federal §48E Investment Tax Credit remains available through 2027 for qualifying third-party owned systems (prepaid leases and PPAs). This credit is claimed by the financing company and reflected in the pricing of the lease, not claimed directly by the homeowner.
• The SMUD My Energy Optimizer Partner+ battery rebate of up to $10,000 is available to qualifying SMUD residential customers. Funds are first come, first served.
• The California Property Tax Exclusion under Revenue and Taxation Code §73 is scheduled to sunset January 1, 2027.

Any tax credit projections in your proposal reflect the law as of the proposal date. Tax law can change. Consult a qualified tax professional before making any purchasing decision based on tax credit projections.

YOUR RIGHT TO COMPLAIN

If you have a dispute with a solar contractor that cannot be resolved directly with the company, you have the right to file a complaint with the following agencies:

• CSLB (Contractors State License Board): For licensing violations, unlicensed contractors, permit issues, abandonment of work, or contract violations. File at cslb.ca.gov or call 1-800-321-2752.
• California Attorney General: For consumer fraud, deceptive advertising, or false claims. File at oag.ca.gov.
• CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission): For disputes related to utility interconnection, net metering, or utility billing following a solar installation. File at cpuc.ca.gov.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): For disputes about financing agreements. File at consumerfinance.gov.

For complaints directed to Revolt Services, see our Complaints and Cancellation page.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Verify a contractor's CSLB license
• California Solar Consumer Protection Guide — search "Solar Consumer Protection Guide" at cpuc.ca.gov
• SMUD Battery Storage Rebate Program
• California Property Tax Exclusion for Solar (BOE)

CONTACT Revolt Services

Questions about this guide, your contract, or your rights as a customer:

Revolt Services
Owner: Eric Warner
4925 Robert J Mathews Pkwy, Ste 100C, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Phone: (916) 461-9961
Email: [email protected]