Homeowners are now slightly less mistrustful of solar companies, report claims

A new quarterly survey suggests homeowners are feeling a bit better about solar installers, though wariness is still common. The survey, called "Trust Signal" and run by software company Aurora Solar, asks about 1,000 homeowners each quarter whether they've had a bad experience with a solar company in the past three months. The share reporting no negative experience rose from 20.2% in the spring of 2025 to 37.5% in the spring of 2026. Even with that improvement, concern about installer trustworthiness remains higher than it has historically been, and in Aurora's related annual survey, 36% of people actively shopping for solar named trustworthiness as a top worry.

This shift comes as the federal Section 25D solar tax credit ended at the close of 2025, which has slowed new home solar installations, pushed some installers out of business, and left the remaining companies competing harder for customers. In Aurora's survey of installers, 54% said competition has increased over the past year. One figure homeowners consistently raise: 57% say they want solar companies to be upfront about installation costs and savings estimates before they commit to anything.

Aurora has also launched an online tool that gives homeowners rough cost and savings estimates for solar based on their address, using satellite images of rooftops and average electric bills, without requiring a login or personal information. Installers who work with Aurora can set baseline pricing shown in the tool. One installer described it as still an early-stage effort, with light homeowner interest so far in his area.