Alberta homeowner receives “Predatory Solar Contract” 3x the price of most quotes

The solar industry, celebrated for its commitment to environmental responsibility, is unfortunately not immune to questionable sales practices.

As I discussed in a previous article, door-to-door solar sales can sometimes do more harm than good, especially when vulnerable homeowners are targeted. Recently, Brian Scott, an industry insider and President of Alberta-based residential solar installation company—Solar Dev, shared a troubling example that highlights the ongoing issue.

The Case of the Predatory Solar Contract

Brian recounted a case involving an elderly client in Lethbridge who unknowingly signed a predatory solar contract with a door-to-door salesperson. “These contracts just kind of promise the world,” Brian explained, “but they have a lot of fine print.”

Cropped picture of the predatory quote: A 4.86 kW solar installation priced at $7.35 per watt—well above market rates. Includes 12 LONGi 405 panels and a single SolarEdge inverter. Questionable financing terms with high upfront costs and potential hidden fees raise concerns about the offer’s fairness and transparency. (Provided by Brian Scott)

The client, like many others, was caught off guard and signed the contract without fully understanding the implications.

The predatory nature of these sales tactics is alarming.

“I’m running into so many people that are so full of regret,” Brian said, emphasizing that these practices are creating widespread distrust in the industry. “It’s causing so much distrust… all that really does is create a negative taste in people’s mouths when they start to realize it, and then they spread the word.”

In the specific case Brian shared, the price quoted to the client was nearly three times higher than what other solar companies would offer for a similar system.

“That price was almost three times what we were bidding,” he noted. The inflated cost and misleading promises made it nearly impossible for the solar installation to be a financially sound investment. As Brian put it, “There’s no economics to that. They’ll never pay off.”

The Need for Oversight and Consumer Protection

Brian Scott, President of Solar Dev

This is not an isolated incident.

Brian explained that many companies, particularly those expanding from other markets, are bringing predatory practices with them. “It’s disheartening,” he said. “It just feels like a replay of everything we saw down there [in the U.S.], and even some of the players up here are companies that came from there.”

A significant part of the problem is the lack of regulation.

Brian highlighted the need for legislation to monitor these practices and hold companies accountable, warning that without it, prices in the industry will remain unpredictable and often unjustifiably high. “Without some sort of legislation to kind of police that… all we see is prices that are just so all over the place,” he remarked.

Protecting Homeowners: Brian’s Advice

To protect themselves, homeowners should seek multiple quotes before making a decision.

“I always say, get five quotes,” Brian recommended. He also suggested using reputable brokers who can help vet potential installers and ensure competitive pricing. “They’re forcing people like ourselves to be very competitive with pricing,” he acknowledged, highlighting the value that good brokers bring to the process.

The solar industry in Canada has tremendous potential, but it must be safeguarded from practices that exploit customers. As Brian’s experience shows, there is an urgent need for better oversight and consumer protection to ensure that solar continues to make a positive impact on the environment and the Canadian economy.