Episode
Residential Solar Finance Under Intensifying Scrutiny: Key Regulatory and Litigation Trends
- Podcast
- Consumer Finance Monitor
- Published
- Mar 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2670
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Summary
In today's episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Show, our host, Ballard Spahr's Alan Kaplinsky, was joined by colleagues Steven Burt and Melanie Vartabedian to explore a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex area of consumer financial services: residential solar finance. Building on prior discussions of the broader solar finance landscape, this episode zeroes in on the regulatory and litigation developments that are reshaping the residential solar market in real time. The discussion highlights how an industry that experienced explosive growth over the past decade is now facing heightened scrutiny from regulators, enforcement agencies, and private litigants alike. From Rapid Growth to Market Headwinds As Steven explained, the residential solar industry expanded dramatically between 2015 and 2022, driven by: Federal and state tax incentives Declining equipment costs Innovative financing models Aggressive direct-to-consumer sales strategies Growth peaked around 2023, but the market began to slow in 2024 and beyond due to several converging factors: Changes to net energy metering policies (particularly in California) Rising interest rates impacting financing affordability Supply chain constraints Increased emphasis on battery storage solutions Federal policy shifts, including reduced support for renewable energy and changes to tax credits These developments have forced industry participants to adapt quickly—often while still operating under legacy business models that are now attracting scrutiny. A Surge in Government Investigations and Enforcement One of the most significant themes discussed in the podcast is the sharp rise in government scrutiny. State attorneys general and consumer protection agencies across the country have launched investigations and en…