Solar scammers are making the rounds in El Paso, and county leaders say they are done watching neighbors get taken for a ride.
El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez warned Tuesday that a rise in solar panel scams is hitting local families hard, especially seniors and residents on fixed incomes. County officials say they are ramping up efforts to help victims and push clear, no-nonsense information into neighborhoods where aggressive sales pitches have become a regular knock at the door.
As reported by KVIA, Sanchez said the County Attorney’s Criminal Unit will assist victims, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid will talk about the fraud at a press conference on Wednesday. ABC-7 planned to livestream the event at 10 a.m. The county attorney’s office said it will outline how to report scams and connect residents with legal and consumer resources. Community advocates say the outreach is zeroing in on door-to-door sales and high-pressure tactics that can easily confuse older adults.
Spike in complaints statewide
Across Texas, complaints about residential solar deals have jumped in recent years, and El Paso County is among the places logging a heavy share of the grievances. A review by Texas Appleseed found that many complaints center on misleading promises, including claims of free panels, inflated estimates of future savings, and confusing financing terms. The report notes that older adults and non-English speakers are particularly vulnerable, a pattern local advocates say tracks with what they are hearing on the ground and helps explain why county officials are going public with warnings now.
State enforcement picks up pace
At the state level, the Office of the Attorney General announced a new initiative in April that sent civil investigative demands to several residential solar companies as part of a probe into deceptive marketing and billing. The Office of the Attorney General says those demands seek documents on warranties, billing practices, and how companies calculate the projected savings they pitch to homeowners.
How the scams usually work
Locally, officials say the playbook is familiar. Scammers often show up unannounced, push homeowners to sign immediately and dangle government refunds or tax breaks that are exaggerated or flat-out inaccurate. Financing can be buried in paperwork, leaving homeowners locked into long-term deals for systems that do not perform as promised. In some cases, the cost gets tacked onto property taxes or loan balances, a detail that can be easy to miss in a rushed sales pitch.
Federal guidance urges homeowners to get independent estimates from multiple installers, refuse to sign anything at the door and make sure they fully understand any financing that might raise tax bills or mortgage payments. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies list common red flags and practical steps consumers can take before committing to a solar contract.
Where to get help
The county says anyone who thinks they have been targeted or misled can seek help from the Criminal Unit in the County Attorney’s Office, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid offers free civil legal services for qualifying residents. As reported by KVIA, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid is hosting the press conference, and officials recommend that victims gather contracts, receipts and payment records before reaching out.
Residents can also file a complaint with the state through the Office of the Attorney General or report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission. For local legal assistance and more eligibility information, visit Texas RioGrande Legal Aid or call their El Paso office.
