Nevada, with its vast deserts and intense sun, is a natural home for solar power. However, the state’s relationship with residential solar has been one of booms, busts, and high-profile regulatory battles. This complex history has created a unique landscape for homeowners, one where the promises made by a solar salesperson can clash with the complex realities of utility policies and state law.
For homeowners left with an underperforming system or a deceptive contract, this history matters. It underscores the importance of a detail-oriented approach to any dispute. If you are considering your next steps and searching for an attorney to sue a solar company in Nevada, understanding the state’s specific pressure points is the key to building a successful case. This guide will cover the critical issues that every Nevada solar homeowner should be aware of.
The Ghost of Net Metering: Are Your Savings Promises Based on Today’s Reality?
Nevada became a national headline years ago when it famously made drastic, sudden changes to its “net metering” policy, which dictates how homeowners are credited for the excess power they send back to the grid. While the policies have since stabilized, this history created an environment ripe for misrepresentation.
A common issue we see is salespeople using outdated charts or proposals that project savings based on old, more favorable net metering rates. The reality of the current tariff with NV Energy might be substantially different. A key part of any case review in Nevada is a forensic audit of the savings promised in your sales proposal versus what is actually possible under the current NV Energy net billing rules. A significant discrepancy can be a clear sign of a deceptive sales practice.
Your Primary Shield: The Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Like most states, Nevada has a powerful consumer protection law to combat fraudulent business practices. The Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act (under NRS Chapter 598) prohibits companies from, among other things:
- Knowingly misrepresenting the quality, benefits, or characteristics of goods or services.
- Advertising goods or services with the intent not to sell them as advertised.
- Failing to disclose material facts in an advertisement or sale.
For a solar dispute, this is the legal foundation for challenging a company that promised you premium “Tier 1” panels but installed a cheaper brand, or a system that was guaranteed to offset 100% of your energy bill but is functionally incapable of doing so. A skilled Nevada solar lawyer will use violations of this act to build the core of your case.
Who to Complain To: The PUCN vs. the State Contractors Board
Knowing where to file a formal complaint is a key strategic step. In Nevada, there are two primary state bodies:
- The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN): This is the place for disputes involving your utility service and billing. If your primary complaint is about how NV Energy is crediting you for your solar production or issues with your interconnection agreement, the PUCN is the correct regulatory body. You can file a complaint here if you haven’t already.
- The Nevada State Contractors Board: This agency handles complaints related to the quality of the installation, shoddy workmanship (like a leaking roof), or if the company that installed your system was not properly licensed.
Understanding which agency to approach, or if a legal case is more appropriate, requires a careful analysis of the facts.
Your Rights vs. Your HOA
Nevada law also provides protection for homeowners living in an HOA. State law (under NRS Chapter 116) generally prohibits an HOA from forbidding the installation of solar panels, though they can impose reasonable restrictions on placement. If your HOA is overstepping its authority and trying to prevent you from installing or maintaining your system, you have legal rights that can be enforced.
Your Next Step: A Strategic Case Analysis
Resolving a solar dispute in Nevada requires a multi-faceted understanding of state law, utility regulations, and contractor obligations. Before you act, you need a clear picture of the strongest arguments in your case.
Our role is to provide that clarity. We perform a comprehensive review of your contract and your situation, analyzing it for violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and discrepancies with current NV Energy policies. We prepare a detailed evidence file so that when we connect you with a qualified attorney to sue a solar company in Nevada, they can proceed from a position of strength and knowledge.