In the Greater Boston area, from the triple-deckers of Dorchester to the suburbs of Newton and Framingham, homeowners are used to high energy costs. This makes the solar pitch incredibly tempting: "Stop paying Eversource's winter spikes" and "Get paid by the state's SMART program." But as we hit 2026, many Bostonians are finding that the Green Dream they signed up for has some gray reality.

Why Massachusetts Homeowners Are Regretting Solar

• →The SMART Confusion: The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target program is great — if you understand it. Many reps promised "free checks from the state," failing to explain that the incentive rate is fixed for 20 years and can be offset by rising energy values. If your installer messed up the SMART 3.0 application, you could be losing thousands.
• →The Zombie Installer Crisis: 2025 and 2026 have seen a wave of bankruptcies for major providers like Sunnova. If your installer has shuttered, you're left with a 25-year loan to a bank but no one to honor the warranty.
• →Winter Production Plummets: Boston winters are tough on solar. If your sales rep used California-style projections that didn't account for Nor'easters, snow cover, or shorter New England days, your system is likely underproducing by 30% or more.
• →Municipal Light Plant Issues: If you live in a town with its own light department like Belmont or Reading, you may not be eligible for the same net metering as Eversource customers. Many out-of-state reps sell systems without checking local utility rules.

Your Legal Rights Under Massachusetts Law

M.G.L. Chapter 93A (Consumer Protection Act)

This is the most powerful tool available. If a solar company used unfair or deceptive acts — lying about tax credits, promising zero-cost systems that were actually loans, or using high-pressure tactics — they violated Chapter 93A. This allows you to seek contract voidance and, in some cases, triple damages.

3-Day Cooling-Off Rule (M.G.L. ch. 93, § 48)

If you signed your contract at your home, you have 3 business days to cancel. The company must provide two copies of a specific "Notice of Cancellation" form. If they didn't, or if the form wasn't in the correct format, your window to cancel may legally still be open.

Companies We Monitor in the Boston Area

• →Sunrun: Many complaints regarding PPA Escalators where the cost per kWh increases every year, eventually exceeding Eversource's standard rates.
• →Tesla Solar: Homeowners frequently report service blackouts where repairs take months, leaving them paying for a non-functional system.
• →Sunnova: Since their reported financial struggles and bankruptcy filings in 2025, many customers are left in legal limbo regarding active leases.
• →Boston Solar (and national partners): Many customers report bait-and-switch equipment changes where the final panels don't match the high-efficiency ones promised.
• →GoodLeap: As a primary lender holding 25-year debt, challenging the underlying sales tactics is the key to stopping payments.