Pennsylvania at a glance

Pennsylvania has no solar-specific sales law. Solar installations are home improvements, so the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act applies: contractors must register with the Attorney General, contracts must meet set requirements, and you can cancel within three business days. In 2026 the state Supreme Court ruled that cancellation under that law doesn't have to be in writing. Net metering credits excess power at the full retail rate during the year.

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 Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania'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

Pennsylvania cancellation window

3 business days after signing

You can cancel a home improvement contract without penalty within three business days after you sign it, no matter where you signed. Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act expressly lists solar energy systems as home improvement work.

Source: 73 P.S. §517.7(b) · Checked November 7, 2026

Conditions that matter

  • The contract must include a notice of your right to cancel, and the contractor must give you a completed copy at signing.
  • In April 2026 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that cancellation does not have to be in writing. Telling the contractor by phone, in person, or in writing works, as long as the contractor actually receives notice. Putting it in writing still gives you proof.
  • Does not apply to emergency work, or to work with a total price of $500 or less.

A contract missing required information is not enforceable against you. On contracts over $5,000, a contractor generally cannot take a deposit of more than one-third of the price, plus any special order materials (73 P.S. §517.9(10)). Case: Commonwealth v. Gillece Services, 32 WAP 2024, decided April 30, 2026.

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 Pennsylvania

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.

73 P.S. §517.1 et seq.

Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act

Contractors who do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must register with the Attorney General and put their registration number on contracts and ads. Contracts must include set terms, and a contract missing required information can't be enforced against you. You can cancel within three business days of signing.

Commonwealth v. Gillece Services (Pa. 2026)

Supreme Court ruling on how you can cancel

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed that homeowners can cancel a home improvement contract within three business days by any method, including verbally, not only in writing.

How your utility credits solar in Pennsylvania

Retail credits during the year, lower payout at year end

Pennsylvania's investor-owned utilities credit excess solar at the full retail rate, and credits carry forward month to month through the yearly cycle that ends with May. Excess left at the end of the year is paid at the price to compare, which leaves out distribution charges and is well below retail. Residential systems can be up to 50 kW.

Source: Pennsylvania PUC, Using Alternative Energy at Home

Check your Pennsylvania solar contract

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

  • The contractor's Attorney General registration number is on the contract.
  • The contract includes the start and completion dates and the total price.
  • The deposit is no more than one-third of the price on contracts over $5,000, plus special order materials.
  • You were told about your three business day right to cancel.
  • The system is sized to your use, since year-end excess is paid at a lower rate.

Where to get help in Pennsylvania

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.

Contractor registration and complaints

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Home Improvement Contractor Registration

Registers home improvement contractors and lets you verify a registration. Report unregistered contractors by phone or at HIC@attorneygeneral.gov. Registration is not an endorsement of quality.

Visit the official page 1-888-520-6680

Consumer protection

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection

Mediates complaints with businesses, usually by letter, to seek refunds or other relief. It cannot act as your private attorney.

Visit the official page 1-800-441-2555

Utility billing and service

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Bureau of Consumer Services

Only accepts complaints from customers who have first contacted their utility about the problem.

Visit the official page 1-800-692-7380

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.

Pennsylvania solar questions

Can I cancel a Pennsylvania solar contract by phone?

Under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has said yes, within three business days. Follow up in writing anyway so you have proof.

How do I check a contractor's registration?

Use the Attorney General's Home Improvement Contractor registration lookup or call 1-888-520-6680.

Does Pennsylvania pay for my extra solar power?

During the year, extra power is credited at retail. Whatever is left at the end of the yearly cycle is paid at the price to compare, which is lower.

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.