Solar has become one of the services most sold door to door in California, and one of the most complained about. In the episode, Dina Silveira notes that the industry's reputation for fraud is a constant topic online, and guest Tharsio Theodoreli doesn't soften it.

"There are a lot of crooks out there, a lot of scammers. You see people deceiving seniors. But it's not only innocent people who fall for it: builders do too." — Tharsio Theodoreli, in the episode

He says he has worked with builders who had hired another company and got no follow-up: the installer did the job, or part of it, and disappeared. This article brings together the warning signs and the checks any consumer can make.

The most common traps

1. Sizing done to sell, not to work. Tharsio describes both sides of the problem:

"If he can sell 20, he sells 20, when you need 15. Or the opposite: you need 30 and he doesn't have the courage to tell you, because he wants to sell the 20." — Tharsio Theodoreli, in the episode

In the first case, the customer pays for a bigger system than needed. In the second, the quote looks cheaper than the competition's, but the electric bill doesn't drop as promised, and the frustration only shows up after installation.

2. The promise of "free panels" or a "government program." The state contractor licensing agency, the CSLB, has warned for years about flyers, mailers and door-to-door salespeople who present financing or lease contracts as a free benefit or a public program. There's no such thing as free panels: someone is paying, usually the homeowner, for many years.

3. Pressure to sign on the spot. An offer that's "only good today," a signature on a tablet with no copy of the contract and a rush to approve financing are classic tactics.

4. Financing tied to the house. Some home improvement financing programs are billed together with property taxes and can become a lien on the property, which complicates refinancing and selling. Understand exactly how the system will be paid for.

The checklist before you sign

• Look up the license with the CSLB (cslb.ca.gov). Solar installation over $500 requires a licensed contractor, generally in the C-46 (solar) or C-10 (electrical) classification. Check that the license is active, that there's a bond and workers' compensation insurance, and whether any complaints or disciplinary actions are on record.
• Confirm who will do the installation. Many sales are made by marketing companies that pass the job on. The name and license on the contract should be those of whoever performs the work.
• Get at least three quotes, all based on your 12 months of bills. Be wary of anyone who doesn't ask for your consumption history.
• Compare cost per watt (total price ÷ system size), not just the monthly payment.
• Get it in writing: system size, brand and model of panels, inverter and battery, estimated annual production, installation timeline, who handles permits and the utility connection, and the equipment and workmanship warranties.
• Read the California Solar Consumer Protection Guide from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The document summarizes the key points of the proposal and must be signed by the customer in the grid interconnection process of the major utilities.
• Ask for references from customers whose systems have been installed for at least two or three years, to learn how the company responds when something goes wrong.

Signed and regretted it?

In California, home service contracts signed outside the company's place of business, such as at your home, give the consumer the right to cancel within three business days. For consumers 65 or older, the period is five business days. The cancellation notice must be included in the contract. If there's a problem after installation, a complaint can be filed with the CSLB and, in cases of fraud, also with the state attorney general's office.

Trust is built on a track record

Tharsio says he tried ads and other forms of promotion at the start, with no results, and that almost all his clients came through referrals. For him, quality is what keeps a small company standing against competitors with million-dollar budgets, and the way problems get solved is part of that quality.

"Problems happen, but when a problem happens, you have to have the character and professionalism to fix whatever is needed." — Tharsio Theodoreli, in the episode

The lesson applies to any choice, including whoever makes the referral: a referral helps, but it doesn't replace checking the license, a detailed contract and comparing proposals.

Who speaks in the episode: Tharsio Theodoreli, a Brazilian who has lived in the United States for more than 20 years and founder of Solar Freedom USA, a solar design and installation company in the Los Angeles area, where he has worked since 2018. The assessments attributed to him reflect the experience of someone working in the industry.

This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice. If you suspect fraud, contact the CSLB, the CPUC or an attorney.

Sources and verification

• Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — C-46 classification (Solar Contractor); license requirement for work over $500; public license lookup; warnings about misleading solar advertising.
• California Public Utilities Commission — California Solar Consumer Protection Guide, required in the interconnection process for residential systems at regulated utilities.
• Right to cancel home contracts signed outside the place of business: three business days, or five business days for consumers 65 or older (California law and CSLB guidance).
• Transcript and chapters of episode 14 of the Cadê Moradia podcast (May 2026), with Dina Silveira and guest Tharsio Theodoreli (Solar Freedom USA).

Watch this part of the episode:

WARNING: how to identify and avoid fraudulent companies — starting at 27:35 · CADÊ BRAZIL