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Committee hears broad support for HB 4029 to tighten consumer protections for residential solar
Summary
Proponents, including industry groups and consumer advocates, told the House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee that HB 4029 would require plain-English disclosures, transfer of workmanship warranties on sale, mandatory fee disclosure and stronger remedies under Oregons Unlawful Trade Practices Act.
A House committee heard bipartisan testimony Feb. 3 in favor of House Bill 4,029, a measure that would impose licensing, mandatory disclosures and contract requirements on solar energy contractors and installers to protect residential customers from misleading sales practices.
Proponents including Angela Crowley Cook, executive director of the Oregon Solar and Storage Industries Association, said the bill creates a plain-English disclosure form that lists installer identity, full price (including fees and taxes), installation timelines, expected production and projected bill savings, warranties and rescission rights. Crowley Cook urged a narrow amendment to require transfer of workmanship warranties to new homeowners when the warranty period remains in force and to ensure all financing fees are disclosed.
Consumer advocates and utilities endorsed the bill. Chris Coughlin of Oregon Consumer Justice described the measure as the product of an extensive stakeholder process and called it a pragmatic, negotiated bill ready to move. Jason Heuser of the Eugene Water and Electric Board said two features are especially important to utilities: (1) a good-faith, utility-specific estimate of projected savings that accounts for net metering and local rates, and (2) requiring an approved interconnection agreement before work begins.
A and R Solars Reeves Clifford testified that unclear or misleading sales pitches have damaged trust and driven responsible firms to absorb reputational costs; he said clearer disclosures would level the playing field and help honest companies compete. Andrea Meyer of AARP Oregon said the bill advances meaningful consumer protections (including a three-day right to cancel) but flagged drafting concerns: ambiguous definitions ("customer" vs. "resident"), scope questions about "residential real property," limited finance protections for assignees and the risk that lengthy disclosures could be obscured on small digital devices. Meyer recommended placing required disclosures directly in the contract and making disclosure failures a breach of contract.
Committee Chair Lively closed the public hearing without a vote; committee members may address drafting concerns during a later work session. The committee accepted public testimony in person and remotely and reminded participants they may submit written comments within 48 hours of the hearing start time.
