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 Vermont'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 Vermont'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

Vermont cancellation window

3 business days after signing

Vermont's home solicitation law lets you cancel a sale or lease of goods or services of $5 or more until midnight of the third business day after you sign or otherwise agree. It covers sales a seller solicits or completes at your home or workplace, in temporary quarters such as a hotel room, or by phone while you are at home or work. A solar contract signed at your home is generally covered.

Source: 9 V.S.A. §2454 (definitions in 9 V.S.A. §2451a) · Checked November 1, 2026

Conditions that matter

  • Cancel with any written notice that shows you do not want to be bound. A mailed notice counts once it is properly addressed, stamped, and in the mail. Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays.
  • The seller must tell you about your right out loud, and give you a dated contract with a bold cancellation statement and a detachable cancellation form. The three days do not start until the seller does this. Within 10 days after you cancel, the seller must return your payments, any note, and any trade-in, and release any security interest. It cannot charge for services performed before you cancelled, and if it does not collect delivered goods within 20 days, you keep them free.
  • Does not apply to sales that follow negotiations during your visit to the seller's fixed retail store, repair visits you requested, real estate, insurance, or sales by utilities the Vermont Public Utility Commission regulates. It also excludes emergencies you request in a handwritten, signed statement once the seller has substantially performed in good faith and goods cannot be returned.

Vermont has no solar-specific cancellation law as of this check. Section 2454 was last amended effective June 7, 1974, and the definitions in §2451a were last amended in 2021. Breaking §2454 is an unfair act under the Consumer Protection Act. Contractors must register with the state before contracting for residential work, including solar, over $10,000, and must have a written contract.

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.

Where to get help in Vermont

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 registration and complaints

Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), Residential Contractors

Vermont registers residential contractors but does not license them. Registration is required for jobs over $10,000, including solar work. A business whose work is done by trades licensed by the Department of Public Safety, such as electricians, may be exempt. OPR handles fraud and deception complaints against registered contractors.

Visit the official page 802-828-1505

Consumer protection

Vermont Attorney General, Consumer Assistance Program (CAP)

Run with the University of Vermont, it offers complaint mediation and consumer education. It can point you to other help for issues outside OPR's reach.

Visit the official page 800-649-2424

Utility billing and service

Vermont Department of Public Service, Consumer Affairs and Public Information Division

Takes questions and complaints about regulated utilities. The toll-free number works inside Vermont; otherwise call 802-828-2332.

Visit the official page 1-800-622-4496

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.

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.