As solar energy expands across the Peach State, many Georgia homeowners are eager to embrace lower energy bills and a cleaner future. The industry is newer here than in states like California or Florida, and the laws governing it have been evolving rapidly. While this can create confusion, recent changes in Georgia law have quietly provided homeowners with some of the most powerful consumer protections in the country.
Unfortunately, many homeowners who have been misled by deceptive sales tactics or left with an underperforming system don’t know these new rights exist. If you’re considering your options and looking for an attorney to sue a solar company in Georgia, understanding this unique legal landscape is the key to victory. This guide will illuminate the specific, powerful statutes that can make all the difference in your case.
Georgia’s Secret Weapon: The 30-Business-Day Right to Cancel
This is, without a doubt, one of the most significant and under-publicized consumer rights in Georgia’s solar market. A law that went into effect in mid-2023 provides an incredible protection for homeowners who sign certain long-term solar agreements.
For many solar financing agreements or leases, Georgia consumers have a 30-business-day right to cancel the contract for any reason, without penalty. This is not 30 regular days; business days exclude weekends and holidays, making the window even longer—often stretching past six calendar weeks. This “cooling-off” period is vastly more generous than the standard 3-day federal rule and is designed to give you ample time to review the fine print, get a second opinion, and back out if you feel you were pressured or misled. If a company failed to properly and clearly inform you of this specific 30-business-day right, a skilled attorney may argue that your cancellation window is even longer.
The Georgia Fair Business Practices Act (FBPA): Your Shield Against Deception
Beyond the new cancellation laws, your primary tool for fighting misrepresentation is the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act (FBPA). This broad statute protects consumers from “unfair or deceptive acts or practices.” In the context of a solar installation, this is the law that holds companies accountable for the promises made in the sales pitch. Violations under the FBPA can include:
- Misrepresenting Energy Savings: Showing you a proposal with wildly optimistic savings projections that are not based on the realities of your home’s energy usage or roof orientation.
- Confusion about Ownership vs. Lease/PPA: Intentionally blurring the lines between you owning the system versus simply leasing it or signing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), leading to confusion about who is responsible for maintenance and who claims the tax credits.
- False Claims about Products: Promising you top-of-the-line, “Tier 1” panels and then installing a cheaper, lower-quality brand without your consent.
- Deceptive Financing Information: Failing to clearly disclose the total cost of the system after financing, or misrepresenting the terms of a loan.
A knowledgeable Georgia solar dispute lawyer will use violations of the FBPA as the core of your legal argument.
Navigating Solar Financing in a Newer Market
The “Solar Power Free-Market Financing Act of 2015” is what opened the door for the complex leases and PPAs common in Georgia today. While this created more options for homeowners, it also created more opportunities for confusing and predatory agreements. It is critical to have any financing document reviewed for hidden escalator clauses (where your payment increases annually), undisclosed fees, and the terms of any potential lien placed on your property.
Your First Step: An Expert Audit of Your Case
Because Georgia’s solar laws are newer and contain powerful but specific provisions like the 30-day cancellation right, you need an expert analysis before you approach a law firm. It is critical to know if your case hinges on these unique statutes.
At SolarDispute.com, this is our expertise. We conduct a thorough forensic review of your contract, your financing, and the sales process, specifically looking for violations of Georgia law. We build a comprehensive case file that gives you a clear understanding of your position. From there, we can connect you with a qualified attorney to sue a solar company in Georgia who can take our findings and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.