02/11/2026
“Is Solar a Scam? Let’s Talk About It, Houston.”
Hey Houston homeowners — I want to address something that’s been circulating in the news lately.
You may have seen headlines saying “Solar is a scam.”
And I need to say this clearly:
Solar is not a scam. Poor education and improper setup can be.
There’s a big difference.
Solar is not a one-size-fits-all product. It’s an engineered energy system — and when it’s done correctly, it works beautifully. When it’s rushed, oversized, undersized, or paired with the wrong retail electric plan? That’s when people get frustrated.
Let me break this down in a simple way.
Every solar system should be customized based on several key variables:
1️⃣ Your historical electricity usage
How many kilowatt-hours are you actually consuming over a 12-month period? Not guessing — real data.
2️⃣ Your roof layout and shading
Trees, roof pitch, direction your home faces — all of this affects production. A south-facing roof produces differently than a west-facing one. Shade from even one tree can impact output.
3️⃣ Offset vs. Consumption
Solar systems are designed to offset usage — not magically eliminate bills.
If you use 20,000 kWh per year, your system needs to be engineered to produce close to that amount — but never blindly oversized without understanding your buyback plan.
4️⃣ Buyback Plans in Texas
This is HUGE — especially here in Houston.
Not all solar buyback plans are created equal.
• Some plans credit you 1:1 for excess energy.
• Some credit at wholesale rates.
• Some cap how much they’ll pay.
• Some don’t roll credits month to month.
If your system is designed without factoring in the right REP (Retail Electric Provider) buyback structure, you could overproduce and not get fairly compensated.
Solar happiness =
✔️ Proper system sizing
✔️ Realistic offset expectations
✔️ The right buyback plan
✔️ A licensed, bonded, and insured installer
✔️ Transparent financial modeling
When those pieces align, solar works.
When someone sells a system without reviewing your full 12-month usage, without analyzing shading, without explaining buyback structures, and without helping you secure the right REP plan — that’s when homeowners feel misled.
And that’s not a solar problem. That’s a consultation problem.
Houston is in one of the best solar markets in the country because of:
☀️ Our sun exposure
⚡ ERCOT’s competitive retail market
🔋 Growing battery and VPP programs
But education matters.
Before you go solar, ask:
• What percentage of my usage is this system designed to offset?
• What assumptions are you using for production?
• Which buyback plan are you modeling this on?
• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
• What happens if my usage changes?
Solar should be a strategic energy decision — not an emotional one.
If you’re a homeowner who had a bad experience, I genuinely empathize. And if you’re considering solar, just make sure it’s designed properly for your home.
Because when it’s engineered correctly — solar isn’t a scam.
It’s an asset and Houston deserves to understand the difference.