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Washington Solar Contract Cancellation

Trying to Get Out of a Solar Contract in Washington?

Washington has some of the country's most detailed solar-specific contract rules. If you signed and want to cancel, the salesperson did not disclose dealer fees or required contract terms, the utility never approved interconnection, your net-metering credits do not match the sales pitch, financing became more expensive than expected, the installer stopped responding, or solar is complicating a home sale, Solar Exit Washington can help you review the contract, utility records, financing, sales materials, and project timeline together.

  • Three-business-day rescission rights for covered Washington solar installation contracts
  • Solar-specific dealer-fee, cost-per-watt, payment, warranty, and roof disclosures
  • Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, PUD, municipal, cooperative, Avista, and PacifiCorp issues
  • Net-metering threshold and successor-tariff questions
  • Interconnection approval, permits, inspections, and permission-to-operate problems
  • Home-sale, payoff, transfer, UCC, roof, and refinance concerns
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Solar Exit Washington will guide you through the process from the moment you become a client, coordinating with the legal professionals supporting your case as appropriate. We know solar contract disputes can be confusing, especially when financing, credit, installers, and utility issues overlap. You will have a team helping you understand what comes next and working toward the best available resolution for your situation.

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Find the Help You Need

Jump Directly to the Part of Your Solar Problem That Matters Most

Washington solar disputes can involve the state's solar-specific contract law, net-metering thresholds, utility interconnection approval, electrical licensing, financing disclosures, and current tax rules all at once. Use the shortcuts below to jump directly to the issue you need to review.

Common Washington Solar Problems

Does Any of This Sound Familiar?

Solar problems do not always begin and end with the installer. The salesperson, dealer, lender, loan servicer, electric utility, equipment manufacturer, and installation contractor may all play different roles.

You Signed a Washington Solar Contract and Want to Cancel

Washington's solar-specific consumer-protection law requires covered solar energy installation contracts to state that the customer has the right to cancel within three business days of signing. The cancellation must be made in writing and emailed or sent by certified letter to the contacts listed in the contract. The facts and contract type still matter, so homeowners should preserve the signed agreement and proof of timely notice.

  • Find the signed solar installation contract
  • Locate the statutory cancellation notice and listed contacts
  • Save the sent email or certified-mail proof and delivery records
RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts

The Contract Did Not Clearly Disclose Dealer Fees or the True Cost

For covered Washington solar installation contracts, state law requires the contract to disclose the exact amount paid to a lender or third-party financing company as a dealer fee or similar financing inducement. The contract must also show the total contract price and cost per watt. Those disclosures can be important when a homeowner was shown a low interest rate without understanding how financing affected the project price.

  • Compare cash price, financed price, and total contract amount
  • Locate the dealer-fee disclosure and cost-per-watt figure
  • Compare the financing disclosure with the sales proposal
RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts

The Utility Never Approved the Project Before Installation

Washington law requires the applicable electric utility to approve the solar interconnection application before the contractor or subcontractor begins installing the system, unless the utility has waived that requirement for certified contractors. Utility approval and later permission to energize are separate records worth checking when a project stalled, required redesign, or began payments before operation.

  • Request the original interconnection application
  • Confirm the utility approval date compared with the installation date
  • Get final inspection, meter, and permission-to-operate records
RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation ContractsSeattle City Light Solar Installation Process

Your Net-Metering Credits Do Not Match the Sales Pitch

Washington's statewide net-metering law still supports eligible systems up to 100 kW, but utilities can move to successor tariffs after the earlier of June 30, 2029, or reaching the statutory capacity threshold. Commerce reports that several utilities have reached the threshold and some have adopted different treatment. A proposal that simply promised permanent retail-rate credits may not reflect the actual utility tariff.

  • Identify the serving utility and interconnection date
  • Check whether the utility is still on traditional retail-rate net metering
  • Compare actual bill credits with the proposal assumptions
Washington Department of Commerce Net Energy MeteringRCW 80.60.020 Net Metering Availability and Tariffs

The Sales Pitch Relied on a Federal Tax Credit That Is No Longer Available for New 2026 Installations

Current IRS guidance says the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. That matters for Washington homeowners because solar proposals and even older statutory contract language may refer to the prior federal credit. A 2026 review should use the current IRS rule rather than assuming the earlier 30 percent credit still applies.

  • Find the proposal's tax-credit assumptions
  • Confirm when the system was placed in service
  • Use current IRS guidance and consult a qualified tax professional for eligibility questions
IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit

How It Works

Start With a Clear Review of Your Situation

You do not need to know the correct legal, financial, or utility terminology. Tell us what happened and provide the documents you have.

01

Tell Us What Happened

Start with the problem in plain language. You do not need to know whether it is mainly a cancellation issue, missing disclosure, dealer-fee problem, net-metering dispute, interconnection delay, financing issue, or home-sale problem.

02

Match the Deal to the Washington Rules

We compare the proposal, signed agreements, statutory disclosures, utility records, interconnection timeline, net-metering tariff, financing, bills, and project status against the Washington-specific framework.

03

Identify the Practical Next Steps

The next step may involve the seller, installer, lender, utility, Labor & Industries, UTC, Attorney General, Department of Revenue, title company, electrician, tax professional, attorney, or another qualified professional depending on the facts.

Why Washington Solar Problems Are Different

Washington Combines Detailed Solar Contract Rules With Utility-Specific Net-Metering Changes

Washington has a dedicated Solar Energy Consumer Protections chapter that applies to covered residential and commercial solar energy installation contracts over $1,000. The statute goes well beyond a generic home-improvement contract by requiring specific disclosures about financing, dealer fees, project cost, equipment, warranties, payment milestones, cancellation, roof removal and reinstall costs, and other material terms.

At the same time, Washington's net-metering framework is entering a transition period. State law requires traditional net metering until a utility reaches the statutory capacity threshold or June 30, 2029, whichever comes first. Utilities that reach the threshold can develop successor rate or tariff schedules, so homeowners need the actual utility tariff rather than a statewide slogan about one-for-one credits.

Washington also requires utility interconnection approval before installation begins on covered solar projects, subject to a limited utility waiver for certified contractors. That makes interconnection timing a particularly important record when a project was installed incorrectly, redesigned later, or never reached permission to operate.

Chapter 19.95 RCW Solar Energy Consumer ProtectionsChapter 80.60 RCW Net Metering of ElectricityWashington Department of Commerce Net Energy Metering
3 business daysStatutory rescission period stated in covered Washington solar installation contracts
100 kWMaximum AC capacity in the statewide net-metering system definition
4% thresholdUtility-specific 1996 peak-demand threshold that can trigger successor net-metering tariffs before 2029
Before installationUtility interconnection application approval is required by the solar contract law, subject to a limited waiver

Start With the Electric Utility

Washington Solar Billing Depends Heavily on the Serving Utility and Current Tariff

Washington includes investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, public utility districts, and cooperatives. The statewide law provides a framework, but interconnection procedures, successor tariffs, meter requirements, bill presentation, and complaint routes can differ by utility type.

Puget Sound Energy

PSE currently describes customer-connected solar under Rate Schedule 150 and banks excess net-metering credits for future bill periods, with unused credits expiring under the annual state-law cycle. PSE also requires customer-generation applications and schematics to be approved before installation. Because PSE is UTC-regulated and has active tariff activity, homeowners should verify the current schedule before relying on a savings estimate.

PSE Customer Connected Solar

Seattle City Light

City Light currently offers retail-rate net metering for eligible systems up to 100 kW, but network areas in parts of downtown Seattle and nearby neighborhoods can prohibit exporting power and therefore do not offer net metering. City Light also requires an interconnection agreement and permission to operate before permanent energization.

Seattle City Light Solar PowerSeattle City Light Solar Installation Process

PUDs, Municipal Utilities, Cooperatives, Avista, and Pacific Power

Public utility districts, municipal utilities, cooperatives, and other Washington utilities can have their own interconnection procedures and may reach the statutory net-metering threshold at different times. Investor-owned utilities such as Avista and Pacific Power are regulated by the UTC, while PUD and municipal disputes generally stay with the utility or its governing body.

Washington Department of Commerce Net Energy MeteringWashington UTC Consumer Complaints
Why this matters:Washington review question: Which utility serves the home, when was the interconnection agreement entered into, and is that customer on traditional net metering or a successor tariff?

How Washington Net Metering Works

Retail-Rate Net Metering Is Not a Permanent Statewide Promise for Every New Project

Washington law still provides traditional net metering for eligible customer-generators, but the transition rules are utility-specific. A homeowner reviewing a solar savings promise should identify the serving utility, interconnection date, and current tariff before deciding what exported power is actually worth.

RCW 80.60.010 Net Metering DefinitionsRCW 80.60.020 Net Metering Availability and TariffsChapter 80.60 RCW Net Metering of ElectricityWashington Department of Commerce Net Energy Metering

Eligible Net-Metering Systems Are Generally Capped at 100 kW AC

RCW 80.60.010 defines a net-metering system as eligible generation with AC capacity of no more than 100 kW that is located on the customer's premises, interconnected to the utility distribution system, and intended primarily to offset the customer's electricity use.

Traditional Net Metering Continues Until a Utility Reaches Its Trigger

RCW 80.60.020 requires utilities to offer net metering until the earlier of June 30, 2029, or the date cumulative net-metering capacity reaches four percent of the utility's 1996 peak demand. Customers with valid existing agreements can retain statutory credit treatment subject to the law and tariff.

Successor Tariffs Can Differ From Retail-Rate Net Metering

After the statutory trigger, consumer-owned utilities may adopt a different standard rate or tariff, and investor-owned utilities may seek UTC approval for a different tariff. Commerce says utilities that have diverged from retail-rate net metering have generally reduced export compensation, lowered maximum system sizes, or changed credit banking.

Unused Traditional Net-Metering Credits Have an Annual Reset

Under RCW 80.60.030, unused kilowatt-hour credits remaining on March 31 are granted to the utility without compensation. That annual reset can matter when a proposal oversizes a system relative to household use.

For a Washington Net-Metering Dispute, Review These Items

  • Serving electric utility
  • Interconnection application and agreement date
  • Current utility net-metering or successor tariff
  • System AC capacity
  • Imported and exported kWh
  • Banked credit balance and March 31 reset
  • Any export-compensation change after installation
  • Sales proposal assumptions about retail-rate credits
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Interconnection Approval Before Installation

Washington Law Makes the Utility Approval Timeline Part of the Contract Review

Washington's solar consumer-protection statute requires the interconnection application to be approved by the applicable electric utility before the contractor or subcontractor begins installing the solar system. The utility may waive that requirement for contractors it has certified, but otherwise a project that was physically installed before approval deserves a close timeline review.

The same statute requires the contractor to notify the utility of equipment or design changes during the project. That matters when a utility later requires redesign, equipment replacement, service upgrades, or other corrections that were not included in the original proposal.

Final permission to operate is another step. Seattle City Light, for example, says a system must not be permanently energized until the utility issues a permission-to-operate letter, and export credits do not begin before that date.

RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation ContractsSeattle City Light Solar Installation ProcessPSE Customer Connected Solar

For a Washington Interconnection Problem, Review These Items

  • Interconnection application date
  • Utility approval date
  • Physical installation start date
  • Any utility waiver or contractor certification
  • Equipment or design changes sent to the utility
  • Electrical permit and inspection status
  • Permission-to-operate date
  • Financing payment-start date
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Washington Solar Contract Disclosures

The State Requires Far More Than a Total Price and Signature

RCW 19.95.020 requires covered solar installation contracts to be in writing, use the same language principally used in the sales presentation, and include material terms from marketing material given to the customer. A copy must be provided when the customer signs.

Required contract content includes an itemized scope of work, anticipated electrical or utility upgrades, financing terms if incorporated into the contract, dealer fees, total contract price, cost per watt, milestone-based payment schedule, major equipment brands and models, warranty periods, ongoing maintenance costs, subcontracting information, cancellation rights, and roof removal and reinstall disclosures.

Those requirements create a useful document checklist. A missing disclosure does not automatically answer every legal question, but it can help identify where the signed paperwork does not match the state's solar-specific framework.

RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation ContractsChapter 19.95 RCW Solar Energy Consumer Protections

Compare the Signed Washington Solar Contract Against These Required Topics

  • Itemized scope of work and anticipated upgrades
  • Financing terms and amortization if included
  • Exact dealer-fee disclosure
  • Total contract amount and cost per watt
  • Milestone payment schedule and cancellation fees
  • Major equipment brands, models, and warranties
  • Subcontractor disclosure
  • Roof removal and reinstall responsibility
  • Required cancellation notice and other statutory notices

Washington Solar Consumer Protections

Deceptive Solar Solicitation Is Expressly Prohibited Under State Law

Washington's solar consumer-protection chapter says no person may solicit a solar installation using a deceptive statement or representation about costs, financing, terms, or conditions. The Legislature also made violations of the chapter subject to the Washington Consumer Protection Act framework.

The statute's definition of solicitation is broad and includes door-to-door contact, telephone calls, text messages, flyers, internet advertising, social media advertising, and promotional offers that induce the customer to make contact.

For homeowners, the practical review is to compare the sales presentation with the written contract, utility tariff, actual project status, financing, and bills. The Attorney General accepts consumer complaints, but it does not act as a private lawyer for an individual dispute.

RCW 19.95.030 Deceptive Solicitation ProhibitedChapter 19.95 RCW Solar Energy Consumer ProtectionsWashington Attorney General Contractors and Complaints

For a Washington Sales-Practice Problem, Review These Items

  • Written proposal and sales presentation
  • Texts, emails, ads, and promotional claims
  • Savings and production estimates
  • Dealer-fee and financing disclosures
  • Utility and net-metering representations
  • Tax-credit or incentive claims
  • Contract copy and required notices
  • Actual bills, production, and project status
Washington gives homeowners a unusually detailed solar-specific paper trail to compare against what was promised.
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Washington Cancellation Rights

Covered Washington Solar Installation Contracts Carry a Three-Business-Day Rescission Right

RCW 19.95.020 requires covered solar installation contracts to contain a capitalized notice stating that the customer may cancel within three business days of signing. The notice says cancellation must be in writing and emailed or mailed by certified letter to the contacts listed in the contract.

If the customer exercises that rescission right within the statutory window, the contractor may not enforce the contract, may not charge cancellation fees, and must terminate a security interest or release a statutory lien created under the transaction within 20 days after receiving the written rescission.

The statute also prohibits the solar salesperson or contractor from charging any payment before the three-day rescission period expires. Timing and contract coverage still matter, so a homeowner should preserve the signed agreement and proof of when notice was sent.

RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts

What to Look For

  • Contract signing date and time
  • Required rescission notice
  • Email address and certified-mail address listed in the contract
  • Proof the written cancellation was sent within three business days
  • Any cancellation fee charged
  • Any deposit or payment taken before the rescission period expired
  • Any security interest or statutory lien associated with the transaction
Do not rely on a phone call alone when the statute requires written notice. Preserve proof of the email or certified mailing.
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Washington Contractor and Electrical Licensing

Solar Installation Work Can Trigger Both Contractor Registration and Electrical Licensing Requirements

Washington requires construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor & Industries, including bonding and insurance requirements. Solar work also involves electrical licensing. L&I says a business engaging in electrical construction must hold an electrical contractor license, and electrical work must be performed by properly certified electricians.

Washington's solar-specific law separately requires a person or entity doing solar installation, repair, replacement, or maintenance work over $1,000 to be licensed as provided under the electrical contractor statute. Solar system designers over that amount must also meet specified licensing or design-professional requirements.

Homeowners can use L&I's Verify tool to check active contractor registration, electrical licensing, bonds, insurance information, citations, and related public records.

Washington L&I Electrical Contractor LicensingWashington L&I Register as a ContractorWashington L&I Verify a ContractorRCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts

A Washington Solar Project May Involve Several Different Companies

  • Solar salesperson
  • Solar energy contractor
  • Registered general or specialty contractor
  • Licensed electrical contractor
  • Certified electrician
  • Roofing contractor
  • Third-party lender or loan servicer
  • Electric utility
  • Subcontractors

The company that sold the system may not be the same entity that performed electrical work, roofing work, financing, or interconnection. Verify each role separately.

Washington Financing and Dealer Fees

The State Requires Dealer Fees and Incorporated Financing Terms to Be Disclosed

Washington's solar contract statute specifically addresses financing. If financing is incorporated directly into the installation contract, it must be shown as a separate line item and include the terms, conditions, interest rate, APR, amortization schedule, and information about how the loan is secured.

The contract must also disclose the exact amount paid by the solar contractor or salesperson to a lender or third-party financing company as a dealer fee or similar inducement. That creates a direct comparison point when the financed price is materially higher than a cash-price presentation.

The same statute requires a recommendation that customers verify whether loan payments begin before the system is operational. That can be especially important when interconnection or permission to operate is delayed.

  • Cash price and financed contract price
  • Exact dealer-fee disclosure
  • APR and interest rate
  • Loan term and amortization schedule
  • How the loan is secured
  • Payment-start date
  • Project milestone schedule
  • Interconnection and permission-to-operate date
  • Any re-amortization or tax-credit assumption
A low advertised interest rate does not by itself explain the full cost of a financed solar project. Washington requires the dealer fee to be disclosed in covered contracts.
RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts

Washington Tax and Incentive Issues

Washington Still Has a State Solar Sales-Tax Benefit, but the Federal Homeowner Credit Changed After 2025

Washington Department of Revenue guidance says qualifying solar energy systems that generate at least 1 kW and no more than 100 kW AC can receive a 100 percent sales and use tax exemption through December 31, 2029, subject to the statutory requirements. Installation charges can also qualify when applicable requirements are met.

The federal homeowner tax picture is different in 2026. Current IRS guidance states that the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Homeowners should not assume a 2026 installation still qualifies because a salesperson, proposal, utility page, or older state disclosure mentions the prior 30 percent credit.

Tax eligibility depends on federal and state rules and individual facts. Solar Exit Washington does not provide tax advice, and homeowners should use current official guidance and a qualified tax professional for tax questions.

  • System size and installation date
  • Washington sales-tax treatment on the invoice
  • Any state exemption or refund paperwork
  • Federal placed-in-service date
  • Sales proposal tax-credit assumptions
  • Financing re-amortization tied to a tax credit
  • Tax professional advice if the deal relied on federal tax savings
Current IRS guidance controls federal homeowner-credit eligibility. Do not rely on older solar marketing or outdated summaries.
Washington DOR Solar Sales and Use Tax ExemptionIRS Residential Clean Energy Credit
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Selling or Refinancing With Solar in Washington

Transfer, Payoff, Roof, and Filing Issues Should Be Identified Before Closing

A Washington home sale can expose solar issues that were easy to ignore while the homeowner stayed in place. Loans may need payoff or lender coordination, leases and PPAs may require transfer approval, and title or refinance teams may ask for information about a UCC filing or other security interest.

Washington's solar contract statute specifically requires disclosure of whether the installation contract includes the future cost of uninstalling and reinstalling rooftop solar when the roof needs repair or replacement. If that cost is not included, the contract must contain a warning that the homeowner will be responsible for the work and cost.

A UCC filing is not automatically the same thing as a mortgage lien on the entire house. The actual financing agreement, filing, title report, and lender request should be reviewed before drawing conclusions.

  • Loan payoff or transfer requirements
  • Lease or PPA assignment process
  • UCC filing and termination information
  • Roof removal and reinstall disclosure
  • Equipment ownership
  • Warranty transfer rules
  • Buyer or lender conditions
  • Title-company or refinance requests
  • Utility account and interconnection transfer requirements
RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts

If the Solar Company Closed

Installer Closure Does Not Automatically End the Loan, Lease, PPA, or Utility Agreement

Washington homeowners may still have obligations to a lender, lessor, PPA provider, assignee, loan servicer, or utility even if the original salesperson or installer closes. The first task is identifying which company owns or services each agreement now.

Washington law states that a person or entity that purchases or is assigned a solar energy installation contract is subject to claims and defenses the customer could assert against the solar contractor with respect to that contract. How that provision applies to a particular financing structure requires review of the actual documents and facts.

  • Installer and salesperson status
  • Current lender or servicer
  • Any assignment notice
  • Warranty administrator
  • Interconnection and utility records
  • Equipment manufacturer warranties
  • Open permits or inspections
  • Any pending repair or roof work
  • Contract-assignment documents
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Washington Complaint and Regulatory Routes

Different Washington Agencies Handle Different Parts of a Solar Dispute

A solar problem can involve sales practices, electrical licensing, contractor registration, utility billing, or a private financing agreement. The right complaint route depends on the issue and the type of utility involved.

Deceptive sales, unfair business practices, or consumer complaintsWashington State Attorney General

The Attorney General accepts consumer complaints and may investigate patterns of unfair or deceptive conduct under Washington consumer-protection law.

Important: The Attorney General does not act as a private attorney for an individual homeowner or guarantee recovery.

Official Resource
Contractor registration, electrical licensing, permits, or certified electrician issuesWashington Department of Labor & Industries

L&I registers construction contractors, licenses electrical contractors, certifies electricians, and provides tools to verify licensing and certain permit or inspection records.

Important: L&I licensing or enforcement does not automatically resolve a private contract, financing, or damages dispute.

Official Resource
Billing or service dispute with an investor-owned electric utilityWashington Utilities and Transportation Commission

The UTC accepts complaints involving regulated investor-owned utilities, including billing and service disputes, after the customer has first tried to resolve the issue with the utility.

Important: The UTC does not regulate municipal utilities, PUDs, or special districts. Those customers generally need to work with the utility or its governing body.

Official Resource
Net-metering policy, statewide program information, or utility-status researchWashington State Department of Commerce

Commerce maintains the statewide net-energy-metering overview and tracks the transition framework created by RCW 80.60.

Important: Commerce information does not replace the serving utility's current tariff, interconnection agreement, or bill records.

Official Resource
Solar sales and use tax treatmentWashington Department of Revenue

DOR publishes official guidance on the state sales and use tax treatment of qualifying solar energy systems and installation services.

Important: DOR guidance does not answer federal tax-credit eligibility or private financing disputes.

Official Resource
Current Status

Washington Net-Metering Tariffs Are Utility-Specific and Changing

State law allows utilities to move to successor tariffs after a utility-specific capacity threshold or by June 30, 2029. Verify the current serving-utility tariff before relying on any export-credit claim.

Verify With Official Source
Current Status

Federal Residential Solar Credit Changed After 2025

Current IRS guidance says the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Verify current IRS guidance before relying on older solar marketing or statutory summaries.

Verify With Official Source
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What We Review

Your Complete Solar Situation

  • Washington three-business-day solar contract rescission
  • Missing solar-specific contract disclosures
  • Dealer-fee and financing questions
  • Net-metering or successor-tariff issues
  • Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, PUD, municipal, cooperative, Avista, or Pacific Power billing issues
  • Interconnection approval before installation
  • Permission-to-operate delays
  • Sales pitch and contract mismatch
  • System underproduction
  • Payment increased / financing issues
  • Installer delay or abandonment
  • Company closure and warranty issues
  • Washington solar sales-tax treatment
  • Federal tax-credit assumptions
  • Home sale, transfer, payoff, and refinance issues
  • UCC filing questions
  • Roof removal and reinstall responsibility

Prepare the Record

Documents to Gather

  • Signed solar installation, purchase, loan, lease, or PPA agreement
  • Proposal, quote, and savings estimate
  • Washington statutory cancellation notice
  • Cancellation email, certified-mail receipt, or delivery proof
  • Dealer-fee disclosure
  • Cost-per-watt and total-price disclosure
  • Loan disclosure and amortization schedule
  • Interconnection application and utility approval
  • Equipment or design change notices sent to the utility
  • Electrical permit and inspection records
  • Permission-to-operate letter
  • Utility net-metering or successor-tariff information
  • Monthly utility bills before and after solar
  • System production monitoring reports
  • Marketing emails, texts, advertisements, and sales notes
  • Equipment and workmanship warranties
  • Roof removal and reinstall disclosure
  • Payoff, buyout, or transfer quote
  • Title-company or refinance requests
  • UCC filing or termination information
  • Any company closure, assignment, or servicer notices

Washington Solar Contract FAQs

Questions Washington Homeowners Are Asking

The answer often depends on the agreement, financing, timing, utility, project status, and specific facts.

Start My Free Review
Can I cancel a solar contract in Washington?

Covered Washington solar energy installation contracts must state that the customer has the right to cancel within three business days of signing. The statute requires written cancellation by email or certified letter to the contacts listed in the contract. Whether the statute applies to a particular agreement depends on the contract and facts.

RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts
Does Washington require solar dealer fees to be disclosed?

Yes, for covered solar energy installation contracts. RCW 19.95.020 requires disclosure of the exact amount paid by the solar contractor or salesperson to a lender or third-party financing company as a dealer fee or similar inducement.

RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts
Does Washington still have net metering for residential solar?

Yes, but the exact tariff can depend on the utility and interconnection date. State law requires traditional net metering until the earlier of June 30, 2029, or a utility reaching the statutory capacity threshold. Utilities that reach the threshold can move to successor tariffs under the law.

RCW 80.60.020 Net Metering Availability and TariffsWashington Department of Commerce Net Energy Metering
Can a Washington solar installer start before the utility approves interconnection?

Washington's solar consumer-protection law generally requires the applicable utility to approve the interconnection application before the contractor or subcontractor begins installing the system. The utility can waive that requirement for contractors it has certified.

RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts
Do unused Washington net-metering credits expire?

Under the traditional statutory net-metering framework, unused kilowatt-hour credits remaining on March 31 are granted to the utility without compensation. A successor utility tariff may use different treatment, so verify the current tariff for the account.

Chapter 80.60 RCW Net Metering of Electricity
Is the 30% federal residential solar tax credit still available for a new Washington system in 2026?

Current IRS guidance says no for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. A homeowner whose deal relied on the prior federal credit should compare the sales pitch, installation timing, financing, and current IRS rules, and should consult a qualified tax professional for personal tax advice.

IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit
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Review the Washington Solar Deal as a Whole

The Contract, Required Disclosures, Utility Tariff, and Financing Need to Tell the Same Story

Washington gives homeowners more solar-specific contract documentation than many states, but the records still need to be lined up. Start with the signed agreement, dealer-fee and financing disclosures, cancellation notice, utility approval, permission-to-operate date, current net-metering tariff, actual bills, production data, and any home-sale or roof documents. Once those pieces are together, it becomes much easier to identify what changed and what options may be available.

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Official Washington Solar and Consumer Resources

Verify the Rules That Apply to Your Situation

These government, regulator, utility, and first-party resources support the state-specific information on this page.

Chapter 19.95 RCW Solar Energy Consumer Protections

Primary Washington statute governing solar-specific contract requirements, solicitation, disclosures, rescission rights, interconnection approval, and consumer-protection treatment.

Official Resource

RCW 19.95.020 Solar Energy Installation Contracts

Detailed statutory requirements for contract language, dealer fees, payment schedules, equipment disclosures, cancellation, roof costs, and interconnection approval.

Official Resource

Chapter 80.60 RCW Net Metering of Electricity

Primary Washington net-metering statute covering system eligibility, credits, annual credit reset, tariffs, and interconnection framework.

Official Resource

Washington Department of Commerce Net Energy Metering

Current statewide explanation of retail-rate net metering, the 4 percent utility threshold, and successor-tariff transition.

Official Resource

Puget Sound Energy Customer Connected Solar

Utility-specific net-metering and interconnection guidance for PSE customers.

Official Resource

Seattle City Light Solar Power

Utility-specific net-metering, interconnection, and network-area solar guidance for City Light customers.

Official Resource

Seattle City Light Solar Installation Process

Official interconnection, engineering review, customer-cost, and permission-to-operate process.

Official Resource

Washington L&I Electrical Contractor Licensing

Official electrical-contractor licensing requirements for Washington businesses performing electrical construction.

Official Resource

Washington L&I Contractor Registration

Official construction-contractor registration, bonding, insurance, and disclosure requirements.

Official Resource

Washington L&I Verify a Contractor

Official tool for checking contractor registration, licensing, bonds, insurance, citations, and related public information.

Official Resource

Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Consumer Complaints

Official complaint route for billing and service disputes involving UTC-regulated investor-owned utilities.

Official Resource

Washington State Attorney General Contractor Consumer Information

Official Washington consumer complaint and contractor-dispute guidance.

Official Resource

Washington Department of Revenue Solar Sales and Use Tax Exemption

Official state guidance on qualifying solar system sales and use tax treatment through the current statutory period.

Official Resource

Internal Revenue Service Residential Clean Energy Credit

Current federal guidance stating the homeowner credit is unavailable for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

Official Resource

State information reviewed August 20, 2026. Laws, regulations, incentive programs, utility policies, agency responsibilities, and solar billing rules may change. Homeowners should verify current requirements with the appropriate agency, utility, lender, tax professional, attorney, or licensed contractor.