Utah legislature considers stronger protections for residential solar customers

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If passed, HB57 would delay a homeowner's financial obligation for a solar system until that system is running and creating usable energy. (KSL TV)

HB57 would also require retailers to install systems that produce at least 80% of the estimated energy production. (KSL TV)

HB57 also requires solar companies to register with the State of Utah as solar retailers and put up a bond. (KSL TV)

SALT LAKE CITY – Over the years, the KSL Investigators have talked to many frustrated Utah homeowners who bought solar panels in hopes of cutting their energy bills. But for one reason or another, they weren't getting the power for which they were paying. “They haven't hooked them into the grid,” Jerrald Sevy, a Utah homeowner, said. “They haven't turned them on.” “It's been about a year-and-a-half. My panels are still not working,” Luis Lopez said about the wait to get his residential solar system activated. Now, Utah lawmakers are mulling over a new bill that would give solar customers more protection. HB57 would delay a homeowner's financial obligation for their panels until their system is actually running and creating usable energy. That protects homeowners like Lopez, Sevy and others who said they had to keep paying for systems that weren’t activated.And solar retailers will need to be careful with their estimates. The bill says once active, if a new system doesn't create at least 80% of the estimated energy production for 18 months, the retailer has to fix it.On the back end, HB57 requires solar companies to register with the state as a solar retailer and to put up a bond. It also requires sales reps to be employed by the solar retailer. So, gone would be those days of a solar company pinning the blame for bad estimates and missed timelines on third-party salespeople.