Texas made vetting a solar company easier than it used to be: the paperwork a legitimate operator must hold is public, checkable in minutes, and — as of the state's new consumer-protection law — backed by real penalties for the companies that fake it. The panels on most quotes are similar. The companies are not, and the difference shows up after you sign: in how the permits, utility approvals, and warranty years get handled. Here's how to check before you're in that relationship.
The lookups (ten minutes, non-negotiable)
- The electrical contractor license. Texas has no "solar license" — solar is electrical work, done under a TDLR electrical contractor license with a master electrician of record. Ask for the TECL number and verify it on TDLR's license search, active and in good standing. A company that hesitates to hand over its number has answered your real question. Some companies legitimately subcontract the electrical scope — fine, but then verify the subcontractor's license and ask who pulls the permit.
- The sales-side registration. Under the Residential Solar Retailer Regulatory Act (SB 1036), residential solar retailers and salespeople register with TDLR, with registration mandatory from September 1, 2026. Checking registration status is becoming as basic as checking the electrical license.
- Insurance. Ask for certificates of general liability (and workers' comp for their crews). The new TDLR rules put insurance requirements on retailers — legitimate companies produce certificates without drama.
- Track record in your utility's territory. Reviews are noisy; specifics aren't. "How many systems have you taken through [your utility] to Permission to Operate this year?" is the question that separates operators from marketers.
The questions that expose weak operators
The permitting-and-interconnection gauntlet — city permit, inspection, utility application, agreement, PTO — is where good companies earn their price. Ask:
- "Walk me through the timeline for my city and my utility — and what's your current average?" Vague answers ("a few weeks usually") mean they don't measure. The best operators quote you their live numbers for your jurisdiction, because they track every stage of every job.
- "Who submits my utility interconnection, and when?" Right answer: they do, early, in parallel with the permit — not after inspection.
- "What happens if my roof needs work first?" Roof-then-solar sequencing handled honestly is a professionalism tell.
- "What do I sign, and when can I actually turn it on?" They should explain the utility documents needing your signature and be blunt that nothing energizes before PTO.
- "Will you handle my HOA application and my property tax exemption form?" Small favors that reveal whether their process ends at installation or at done.
Red flags the state now polices
The consumer-protection law targets patterns that were epidemic: claiming or implying affiliation with your utility or a government program, pressure to sign same-day, savings promises untethered from your actual export-compensation situation, and financing terms (including liens) glossed over at the kitchen table. You now have a five-business-day cancellation window on residential solar contracts under the Act — but the better move is not needing it. And one structural note: in deregulated Texas, no solar company is "partnered with" Oncor or CenterPoint — the wires companies don't sell or endorse solar, full stop.
(A note to the installers reading their own vetting checklist: everything above is your sales enablement. Companies that measure their pipeline can answer the timeline question with real numbers — installers running TexPTO can show a homeowner exactly where their project stands, stage by stage, which closes more deals than any discount.)
FAQ
Is there a Texas solar installer license I should look for? No solar-specific license exists — verify the TDLR electrical contractor license (and, from September 2026, the solar retailer/salesperson registration).
Should I get multiple quotes? Yes — and compare the process answers, not just price-per-watt. The cheapest quote with the vaguest timeline usually costs the most in months-without-power-on.
What if a salesperson claims to be with my utility? That's a prohibited practice under the new law. End the conversation; report it to TDLR.
Can I cancel after signing? The Act provides a five-business-day cancellation right on covered residential solar contracts — check your contract's notice for the exact mechanics.
Sources
- TDLR license search and electricians program: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/compliance-guide.htm
- TDLR Electricians "At a Glance" (retailer/salesperson registration from Sept. 1, 2026): https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/media/pdf/ELC%20at%20a%20Glance.pdf
- SB 1036 / Occupations Code Ch. 1806 framework (registration, disclosures, prohibited practices, cancellation): https://legiscan.com/TX/supplement/SB1036/id/562702/Texas-2025-SB1036-Analysis_Senate_Committee_Report_.html
- TDLR adopted implementing rules (registration, insurance, contracts, code of conduct): https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/June262026/Adopted%20Rules/16.ECONOMIC%20REGULATION.html
General information, not legal advice. Verify licenses, registrations, and contract rights directly with TDLR and your own documents.