Sunrun CT Settlement: What Sellers Should Do Now

A Solar Contract You Don't Remember Signing: What Connecticut Sellers Should Do Before Listing

Picture a Connecticut seller two weeks into escrow. The title company calls about the solar contract tied to her roof. She opens the file and does not recognize the signature on it. This is an illustration, not a client story. But it is the kind of problem behind a settlement the Connecticut Attorney General announced on October 23, 2026.

What the Attorney General announced

On October 23, 2026, Attorney General William Tong announced settlements with Sunrun, Inc., Sunrun Installation Services, Inc., Elevate Solar Solutions, and two salespeople. According to the Attorney General's office, the state sued in July 2024, alleging deceptive, unfair and unlawful sales of solar panel systems. The allegations included locking consumers into long term contracts without consent by impersonating them, and installing systems that did not work. The complaint alleged violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Home Improvement Act.

Attorney General Tong said the office sued "following shocking consumer complaints, including forged signatures, impersonations of consumers, non-permitted work, and non-functioning systems."

These are allegations. The defendants did not admit liability as part of the settlement.

What the settlement requires of Sunrun

Based on the Attorney General's press release, the settlement requires Sunrun to:

Pay $300,000 to the state.
Give notice of the settlement to consumers whose contracts were solicited by Elevate, two named salespeople, or others associated with those defendants who are believed to be engaging in similar conduct.
Investigate all claims of fraudulent conduct and give the consumer a response within 60 days.
Offer one or more forms of relief if the investigation substantiates fraud, including cash payments, account credits, contract cancellation, or removal of the system.
Allow a consumer who says they never received a copy of their solar contract to cancel it if Sunrun cannot provide proof that the consumer received one.
Pay for an independent arbitrator if there is a dispute. The release says there is no cap on the restitution Sunrun will owe.

Claims go to CTSupport@sunrun.com. Separately, Elevate must dissolve, and Elevate and the two salespeople face a $200,000 penalty that is suspended after $100,000. The case against a third company, Bright Planet Solar Inc., remains pending.

Why this matters when a house is for sale

A sale needs clean answers to three questions. What contract is attached to this home? Who signed it? Who has to sign off for the closing to happen?

In 2022, Connecticut's Attorney General and Department of Consumer Protection warned that homeowners with leased panels or power purchase agreements may have difficulty selling, because the new buyer and the solar company both need to agree to transfer the agreement. Add a contract the seller does not remember, or never received a copy of, and the question can surface at the worst time, after an offer is accepted.

I am not saying any particular home has a problem. I am saying a seller should find the contract before the listing photos are taken, not after the buyer's attorney asks for it.

What a seller or agent should do before listing

This is general practice, not legal advice. Where a step is tied to a primary source, the source is named.

Find the full signed contract. Every page, every exhibit, every addendum. Connecticut's Home Improvement Act says a home improvement contractor must provide and deliver a completed copy of the contract to the owner when it is signed (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 20-429(c)). Whether that section applies to a particular solar agreement is a question for an attorney. If no copy can be found, ask the solar company for one in writing and keep the request.
Look at who signed and when. Compare the names, signatures and dates to what the owners remember. If anything does not match, stop and call an attorney before listing. The Attorney General's complaint page is ct.gov/agcomplaints and the Department of Consumer Protection has its own complaint center.
Check for a UCC fixture filing. Under Connecticut's Uniform Commercial Code, a fixture filing is recorded in the office that records mortgages on the property, which is usually the town clerk's land records (confirm with your title company). Other UCC financing statements are filed with the Secretary of the State (Conn. Gen. Stat. section 42a-9-501). A search of one office will not show what is in the other, so check both.
Ask the lender and the title company early. This is general practice from my work with agents: raise the solar contract at the listing appointment, not at attorney review. Payoffs, releases and consents take time.
Keep a paper trail. Save every request and reply about the contract in one folder.

What this does not mean

This article is general information. It is not legal advice, and it does not tell you whether your contract is covered by this settlement. If you think a solar contract was signed without your consent, or you cannot find your copy, talk to a Connecticut attorney and consider filing a complaint with the Attorney General or the Department of Consumer Protection.

It's never the panels. It's the paperwork, and who's left to sign it when the house sells.

Frequently asked questions

What did the Connecticut Attorney General announce on October 23, 2026?
Settlements with Sunrun, Elevate Solar Solutions and two salespeople over alleged deceptive and unlawful solar sales, including alleged contracts signed without the consumer's consent. The defendants did not admit liability.

What should I do if I think a solar contract on my home is not mine?
Gather every document you have, then talk to a Connecticut attorney. The Attorney General's release says consumers can submit claims to CTSupport@sunrun.com and can file complaints with the Attorney General's office or the Department of Consumer Protection.

Can a solar contract affect selling a Connecticut home?
It can. The Attorney General and Department of Consumer Protection said in 2022 that homeowners with leased panels or PPAs may have difficulty selling, because the buyer and the company need to agree to transfer the agreement. A UCC fixture filing can also show up in a title search.

About the author

Christina Mathieson Segura

The Solar Lady of Real Estate™

Since 2010 I have watched what the solar industry has done to real estate transactions, and I work this specialized sector from three sides: real estate, mortgage and solar.

Sources

Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, "Attorney General Tong Announces Settlements with SunRun Solar and Others to Require Consumer Relief, Financial Penalties Following Deceptive Sales Tactics," Oct 23, 2026: https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-announces-settlements-with-sunrun-solar-and-others-to-require-consumer-relief
Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, "Attorney General Tong, DCP Commissioner Seagull Urge Caution in Reviewing Residential Solar Contracts," Jun 21, 2022: https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2022-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-urges-caution-in-reviewing-residential-solar-contracts
Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 400, section 20-429(c) (home improvement contract copy to owner): https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/Chap_400.htm
Connecticut General Statutes, Title 42a, Article 9, sections 42a-9-102 (definitions of fixture filing and fixtures) and 42a-9-501 (filing office): https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/PUB/art_009.htm
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Home Improvement Contracts: https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/consumer/consumers----home-improvement-contracts