The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office was part of a $4.3 million settlement with Vivint Solar.
While the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office did not receive any consumer complaints, the office said it participated in the lawsuit due to Vivint Solar’s business activity throughout the Central Valley.
The big picture: The $4.3 million settlement resolves allegations of misleading sales and marketing practices involving residential solar energy agreements between Aug. 3, 2016, and Oct. 8, 2020.
- The settlement includes $1.05 million in civil penalties, $250,000 in investigative costs and $3 million in restitution funds.
Go deeper: Vivint Solar is now prohibited from engaging in unfair or misleading practices due to the settlement.
- The company is barred from misrepresenting relationships with local utility companies, overstating expected energy savings or cost reductions, misleading consumers about their ability to cancel agreements, failing to provide required disclosures or translated contracts when negotiations occur in a language other than English and accessing consumer credit reports or creating customer accounts without proper authorization.
- Vivint became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunrun in 2020. Sunrun was not a party in the settlement.
What we’re watching: The $3 million restitution fund will remain available for four years.
What they’re saying: “Consumers deserve honest and transparent information when making major financial decisions about their homes,” said District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. “Solar energy can offer real benefits, but companies that rely on misleading or aggressive sales tactics harm families and undermine honest businesses that follow the law. This settlement sends a clear message that deceptive practices will not be tolerated.”
