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How to Cancel a Sunrun Contract 2026 | Step-by-Step | Solar Freedom

Step-by-step guide to canceling a Sunrun solar contract in 2026. Learn your legal rights, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, and how to get out of a Sunrun lease or loan.

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Sunrun is the largest residential solar company in the US — and one of the most complained-about. Here is exactly how to cancel a Sunrun contract, whether you are before or after installation.

Sunrun is the largest residential solar company in the United States — and it consistently ranks among the most complained-about. If you are looking for how to cancel a Sunrun contract, you are not alone. Thousands of homeowners have found themselves locked into Sunrun leases, PPAs, or loan agreements that cost more than their old electric bills, underperform their projections, or were sold using misleading tactics.

This guide covers every realistic path to canceling a Sunrun contract in 2026, from the FTC Cooling-Off Rule to legal grounds under state consumer protection law. The options available to you depend on where you are in the process and what happened during your sale.

Step 1: Identify What Type of Sunrun Agreement You Have

Sunrun offers three main contract types, and the cancellation path differs for each:

• Sunrun Lease — You pay a fixed monthly fee to lease the panels. Sunrun owns the system. Leases typically run 20–25 years with an annual escalator clause (often 2.9% per year).
• Sunrun Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) — You pay per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. Sunrun owns the system. PPAs also run 20–25 years.
• Sunrun BrightAdvantage Loan — You own the panels but financed them through Sunrun's lending partner. The loan is typically 10–25 years.

Leases and PPAs are harder to cancel than loans because Sunrun retains ownership of the equipment. Loans are treated more like home improvement financing and have different legal remedies.

Step 2: Check If You Are Within the Cancellation Window

The FTC Cooling-Off Rule (3 Business Days)

If you signed your Sunrun contract at your home (not at a Sunrun office), federal law gives you 3 business days to cancel for any reason. This is the FTC Cooling-Off Rule, codified at 16 C.F.R. Part 429. Sunrun is required to give you a written Notice of Cancellation form at the time of signing. If they did not, the 3-day window may never have legally started — meaning you may still be able to cancel even months later.

Critical: If Sunrun's salesperson did not give you a written Notice of Cancellation at signing, your 3-day window may not have started. This is a documented violation that consumer protection attorneys use to void contracts.

State-Level Cooling-Off Periods

Many states have their own cooling-off periods that extend beyond the federal 3-day rule. California, for example, gives homeowners 3 business days for home solicitation sales but also has additional protections under the Home Solicitation Sales Act. Texas, Florida, and Nevada have similar provisions. Check your state's consumer protection statutes — or request a free case review to have an attorney check for you.

Step 3: Document the Grounds for Cancellation

If you are past the cooling-off window, you need legal grounds to cancel. The most common grounds for Sunrun contract cancellation are:

• Misrepresentation of savings — Salesperson promised "zero electric bill" or specific dollar savings that never materialized.
• False tax credit claims — Salesperson told you the federal tax credit would apply to your loan balance, but you did not qualify or the credit was smaller than promised.
• Undisclosed escalator clause — The 2.9%/year payment increase was never verbally disclosed, only buried in the contract.
• Production shortfall — System is producing significantly less than the written proposal projected.
• Failure to provide Notice of Cancellation — Sunrun did not give you the required FTC cancellation form at signing.
• TILA violations — The Truth in Lending Act requires specific disclosures for financed solar systems. Missing disclosures can void the financing agreement.

Step 4: Send a Formal Cancellation Notice

If you are within the cooling-off window, send a written cancellation notice to Sunrun via certified mail (return receipt requested) and email. Use the Notice of Cancellation form if Sunrun provided one. If they did not provide the form, write your own letter stating clearly: "I hereby cancel the solar agreement dated [date] for the property at [address]."

If you are past the cooling-off window and have legal grounds, your cancellation notice should reference the specific misrepresentations or violations and demand rescission of the contract. At this stage, having an attorney send the letter significantly increases the likelihood of a response.

Step 5: File Complaints to Create a Paper Trail

Regardless of where you are in the process, file complaints with:

• Your state Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division
• The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) if your loan is involved
• Your state's Public Utilities Commission if net metering misrepresentations were involved

These complaints create a public record that strengthens any legal action and sometimes prompts Sunrun to negotiate directly to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

Step 6: Consult a Consumer Protection Attorney

For post-installation cancellations, the most effective path is through a consumer protection attorney who specializes in solar contracts. Many work on contingency for strong cases — meaning no upfront cost to you. They can send demand letters, negotiate directly with Sunrun's legal team, and file suit if necessary under your state's consumer protection statute.

Sunrun has settled thousands of individual cases quietly. They prefer settlement to public litigation that creates precedent. An attorney who knows Sunrun's standard contract terms and complaint history can identify the strongest grounds in your specific case.

What Happens to the Panels If You Cancel?

For leases and PPAs, Sunrun is responsible for removing the panels if the contract is cancelled. This is written into their standard agreement. For loans where you own the panels, you keep the system — but the financing agreement may be voided separately from the equipment ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions