Committee advances consumer‑protection and permitting proposals for residential solar and backup systems

Lede: The committee heard extended testimony on a cluster of bills intended to protect residential consumers from deceptive solar‑sales practices and to streamline permitting and deployment of home solar/backup systems.

Nut graf: SB 10 36 (Sen. Zaffarini) would require registration of solar salespersons and retail sellers, set consumer‑protection disclosures and a short rescission window, require insurance and continuing education, and authorize penalties — with enhanced penalties for senior victims. SB 16 97 (companion) directs the Public Utility Commission to publish a consumer guide and requires utilities to link to it. SB 12 02 (Vice Chair King) allows a homeowner to use an authorized third‑party licensed engineer to conduct plan review and inspections for solar/generator/backup systems rather than waiting for local government review, while preserving utilities’ interconnection and tariff authority.

Body: SB 10 36: Supporters (solar‑industry association, IEC, roofing contractors, consumer groups such as AARP and Texas Appleseed, and a range of trade groups) described pervasive scams and deceptive sales tactics — especially targeting older Texans — and urged licensing, disclosures, insurance and a right to cancel. AARP and consumer advocates asked for additional protections for older adults (paper copies of contracts, in‑office execution, clearer rescission rights and remedies for fraudulent transactions), and raised concerns about third‑party finance dealer fees that may not appear in APR disclosures. Industry trade groups (IEC, roofing contractors) supported the bill with negotiated carve‑outs for new‑home construction and said TDLR already regulates electrical contractors; roofing and IEC witnesses described harms created by fly‑by‑night sellers and urged statewide standards.

SB 16 97: Senators and witnesses told the committee that a PUC‑hosted consumer guide (modeled on the state’s Power to Choose structure) would provide an unbiased clearinghouse of information on installers, rebate programs, interconnection rules, and consumer questions; Sierra Club and industry witnesses supported the idea and suggested providing Spanish translations.

SB 12 02: Vice Chair King explained that permitting delays at the municipal level can slow installations; the committee substitute lets homeowners hire authorized third‑party reviewers/inspectors (licensed engineers or other authorized personnel) for plan review and final inspection, while preserving utility interconnection and tariff authority. Proponents (Tesla, industry groups, Texas Solar and Storage Association, Texas Association of Builders) said the change would reduce long delays and costs, speed resilience‑building installations, and preserve safety because licensed engineers would certify code compliance. Municipal and public‑power witnesses asked for explicit provisions to preserve line‑worker safety and tariff enforcement; the substitute incorporated clarifying language.

Ending: After broad testimony from industry groups, consumer advocates and state resources (comptroller, TDLR), the committee left these bills pending and requested technical followup and rule‑making details for enforcement, rescission rights, and how financers/manufacturers would be held accountable.