New York's consumer protection law covers the exact deceptions used in solar sales. Con Edison and PSEG rates are complex — and most reps get the math wrong.
Under the FTC Cooling-Off Rule. New York Home Improvement Contractor Law (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 770) requires licensing. An unlicensed contractor may render the contract void.
New York has some of the highest electricity rates in the country and a robust solar incentive program (NY-Sun). But the complexity of Con Edison, PSEG, and National Grid rate structures — combined with the NY-Sun program's capacity caps and incentive tiers — creates significant opportunities for misrepresentation. GBL § 349 is New York's primary consumer protection weapon, and it has been used successfully against solar companies.
NY-Sun offers incentives that vary by utility territory, system size, and capacity block. Many sales reps promise "NY-Sun funding" as if it covers the entire system cost. In reality, NY-Sun incentives typically reduce the cost by $0.20–$0.40 per watt — meaningful, but not "free solar." If a rep implied that NY-Sun was paying for your system, that is a material misrepresentation.
Under N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 770, solar installers in New York must be licensed as home improvement contractors. The license number must appear on the contract. If your installer was not licensed, or if the number is missing, the contract may be unenforceable.
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