Oregon at a glance

Oregon's first solar consumer protection law, HB 4029, took effect June 5, 2026. It requires licensed sales agents, a short plain-language disclosure before you sign, dealer fees listed in the costs, and a three business day cancellation right. Portland General Electric and Pacific Power still credit exported solar one-for-one, but credits left at the end of the yearly cycle go to low-income programs instead of being paid to you.

If you were misled, you have options

Being told your bill would disappear, that the system was free, that a tax credit would pay off the loan, or that you were only signing up for an inspection can all matter, even long after a cancellation window has closed.

  1. Your state's consumer protection law. Every state has a law against deceptive and unfair business practices. False promises about savings, costs, tax credits, or who you were dealing with may fall under Oregon's law.
  2. Missing paperwork and disclosures. Many states require specific disclosures and a written cancellation notice. If you never received them, a deadline may not have started, or the contract may have other problems.
  3. Your lender may share responsibility. When a seller arranges your financing, federal rules often let you raise the same claims against the lender that you have against the seller, up to the amount you paid. Check your loan for a notice about the FTC Holder Rule.
  4. Official complaints. Complaints to Oregon's agencies are free, create a record, and can lead to mediation or an investigation.
  5. Professional help. A solar attorney or solar exit company can review your documents and tell you which of these options fit your situation.

Not sure which option fits? Tell us what happened and we will help you see your options. It takes about two minutes.

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Your right to cancel

Oregon cancellation window

3 business days after you sign

You can rescind a contract to install a solar system on your home within three business days after you sign it. Once you rescind, the company cannot enforce the contract, charge you for labor or materials, or charge a cancellation fee.

Source: Oregon Laws 2026, ch. 11 (HB 4029), §5 · Checked November 7, 2026

Conditions that matter

  • Send written notice by email or certified mail to the person the contract names for cancellations. For email, the date you send it counts as the date of your notice.
  • The company cannot charge or collect any payment during the three days, and any lien or security interest recorded against your property must be released within 20 days after it receives your notice.
  • Applies to installation contracts over $1,000 signed on or after June 5, 2026, including systems with battery storage.

Lease and power purchase agreement disclosures must also explain the cancellation right, but the law ties the rescission right itself to installation contracts. Violations are unlawful trade practices under ORS 646.608.

Canceling one agreement does not always cancel another. A separate loan, lease, or power purchase agreement can have its own terms, so check each document you signed. If the sale was made in Spanish or another language, read your rights when a contract is not in your language. To compare deadlines, see the cancellation period in every state.

Laws that protect you in Oregon

These are the state laws that come up most often in solar disputes here. Each one links to the official text or the agency that enforces it.

Oregon Laws 2026, ch. 11

Residential solar consumer protections (HB 4029)

Contracts must be sold by licensed sales agents or contractors. Before you sign, you get a plain-language disclosure of no more than four pages covering total cost, fees, payment milestones, dealer fees, loan interest, and repayment terms. Contracts must state the cost per watt and price any roof work separately. You can cancel within three business days without paying, and the seller must release any lien within 20 days. Violations are unlawful trade practices.

How your utility credits solar in Oregon

One-for-one credits for 12 months, then donated

For Portland General Electric and Pacific Power customers, excess power is carried forward as kilowatt-hour credits from month to month. At the end of the annual billing cycle, any unused credits are transferred to low-income bill assistance programs, not paid to you. Residential systems can be up to 25 kW. Co-ops and public utilities set their own rules, and Idaho Power customers follow Idaho's rules.

Source: ORS 757.300

Check your Oregon solar contract

Pull out your paperwork and look for these. Anything missing is worth noting in a complaint or showing to an attorney.

  • The salesperson and installer hold Oregon licenses (check with the Construction Contractors Board).
  • You received a plain-language disclosure of four pages or less before signing.
  • Dealer fees and loan costs are itemized.
  • The contract states the cost per watt and prices roof work separately.
  • The system is sized to your use, since extra credits are donated at year end.
  • Nothing was collected during your three business day cancellation window.

Where to get help in Oregon

These are official agencies. Filing a complaint is free. An agency can investigate or mediate, but most cannot act as your lawyer or guarantee a refund.

Installer and contractor complaints

Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)

Licenses contractors and mediates disputes with licensed contractors. Send a 30-day pre-complaint notice by certified mail first, and for work on an existing home, file within one year of substantial completion or when work stopped.

Visit the official page 503-378-4621

Consumer protection

Oregon Department of Justice, Consumer Protection

Takes consumer complaints online, by phone, or by email. For legal action, contact a private attorney or small claims court.

Visit the official page 877-877-9392

Utility billing and service

Oregon Public Utility Commission, Consumer Services

For investor-owned utilities such as PGE, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power. Contact your utility first. Toll free: 800-522-2404.

Visit the official page 503-378-6600

Before you contact anyone

  1. Gather every document you signed. The sales or installation agreement, any loan, lease, or power purchase agreement, and any change orders.
  2. Identify each company. The seller, installer, lender, and current servicer may be different businesses. Your latest statement shows who services your account now.
  3. Write down the timeline. When you were contacted, when you signed, when work started, and every promise made about savings or cost.
  4. Keep proof of every notice. Save emails, certified mail receipts, and the date you sent anything.

Guides for your situation

Questions to ask

  • Which agreement am I trying to cancel or change, and who is the other party to it?
  • What does my agreement say about cancellation, notice, and where to send it?
  • Did the seller give me the cancellation notice and disclosures required in my state?
  • Is my loan separate from my installation contract, and what happens to it if the contract is canceled?
  • Was a dealer fee built into my loan? Estimate it with our calculator.

Oregon solar questions

My contract was signed before June 5, 2026. Does HB 4029 apply?

The new law applies going forward. Older contracts are still covered by Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act and general cancellation rules.

What happens to my extra solar credits?

With PGE and Pacific Power, unused credits roll over month to month during the year. At the end of the annual cycle, leftovers go to low-income assistance programs. An oversized system doesn't earn you cash.

Who do I complain to in Oregon?

Licensing and workmanship problems go to the Construction Contractors Board. Sales and contract problems go to the Oregon Department of Justice, Consumer Protection.

National resources

General information, not legal advice.

This page can’t tell you whether a right applies to your agreement. For that, contact a licensed attorney or the agencies above.

Other states

Solar rules change at the state line. See every state and the review status of each.