Is Sunrun a Scam? 

If you’re thinking of using Sunrun, you need to know if it’s safe. Is Sunrun a scam? 

Below, we explain whether Sunrun is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this platform. 

What Is Sunrun?

Sunrun is a renewable energy company based in the US that provides residential solar power and battery storage solutions. 

The company offers solar system leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), which enable homeowners to access solar energy with little to no upfront cost. Sunrun installs, owns, and maintains the system, while customers pay a monthly fee. 

Homeowners can also purchase the solar system outright using financing plans, which allows them to claim tax incentives and rebates directly. However, opting for this option means they will bear maintenance responsibilities beyond warranty coverage. 

Sunrun was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco. 

Is Sunrun a Scam?

No, Sunrun is not a scam. It’s a legitimate, publicly traded, and the largest residential solar installer in the US. 

However, the company’s business model and widespread customer complaints mean that it may not be the right choice for everyone. 

Several third-party publications and review sites have reviewed Sunrun. 

For example, a Forbes review gave Sunrun a rating of 3.9 out of 5.0 stars. 

The review said: “The company offers standout perks for subscribers, like 25-year service coverage and performance guarantees, that take a lot of the guesswork out of going solar. But for buyers who prefer to own their systems, warranty coverage is a bit more limited, and service expectations aren’t as hands-on unless you opt in to added protection.”

And NerdWallet rated Sunrun as 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. 

Good Housekeeping also reviewed Sunrun. Although it didn’t assign a rating, it was generally favorable towards the company, particularly for those who cannot afford the upfront cost of solar and value predictable payments, as well as maintenance coverage. 

Good Housekeeping noted that Sunrun may not be the ideal choice if you want maximum long-term savings, control over your equipment, or plan to sell your home soon.

User reviews of Sunrun are very mixed: 

• 4.2 out of 5.0 stars (from 3,366 reviews) on Consumer Affairs. 
• 3.8 out of 5.0 stars (from 291 reviews) on Trustpilot.
• 2.8 out of 5.0 stars (from 3,182 reviews) on SolarReviews. 
• 2.2 out of 5.0 stars (from 66 reviews) on Yelp. 
• 2.59 out of 5.0 stars (from 1,212 reviews) on Better Business Bureau. 

On internet forums like Reddit, people report overwhelmingly negative experiences. 

Recurring complaints include high-pressure sales tactics, contract “gotchas,” poor installation quality, non-functioning solar panels, and inadequate customer service. 

Quotes that are significantly higher than those of competitors are also a recurring theme. 

One person said: “We looked at them [Sunrun] as an option but they were a lot more expensive than the company (a small local one) that we went with.”

A minority of people (especially Costco channel or direct lease) said they had a good experience. They quote a smooth process and say their bills dropped noticeably.  

One person said: “I went through Sunrun directly as well 6 years ago and leased the panels through them. So far I have 0 complaints and everything is working as they told me it will. I have saved money on my electric bill and the panels aren’t my responsibility which is less stressful for me plus I could t afford a loan at the time. If things change I will update this.”

Sunrun is a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business and holds an “A+” rating. It has received a total of 4,099 complaints on the BBB website over the last three years, with 1,323 of these complaints closed in the past 12 months. (See our review of whether the BBB is a scam).

The BBB website features an alert of pending government action. The alert says that in 2024, the Connecticut Attorney General filed a pending lawsuit against Sunrun, Inc. and related parties, alleging deceptive sales practices, forged signatures, undisclosed charges, and permit-related delays. Sunrun denies direct involvement, citing subcontractor misconduct and pledging cooperation to resolve customer issues.

Legal actions and lawsuits

A GBH News investigation found that since 2023, Sunrun has filed more than 420 lawsuits against its customers in Massachusetts courts who stopped paying under solar power agreements, claiming that they breached the terms of their long-term contracts by not paying for all the power produced. 

Customers claimed misrepresentations around expected savings, tax credits (which did not apply to leased panels), and poor system performance. Some also reported damage to their homes from installations or systems that did not function properly.

The Connecticut Attorney General sued Sunrun and its partner companies in 2024 for engaging in deceptive and illegal sales tactics, including forging signatures, impersonating consumers, failing to obtain necessary permits, and installing non-functional systems. 

Security

In its privacy policy, Sunrun says it has “implemented measures designed to secure your information,” but does not go into detail as to what these measures are.

We were unable to find additional information about Sunrun’s security controls elsewhere on its website. 

In 2017, Sunrun experienced a spear-phishing attack where a hacker, imitating the company’s CEO, tricked the payroll department into sharing W-2 tax forms for some of its workforce. The breach did not impact customer data. 

Privacy

Sunrun describes the kind of data it collects, for what purposes, and with whom it shares it in its privacy policy. 

It collects the following information:

• Identifiers: Name, address, email address, phone number, social security number, government identification information, account identifiers, login credentials, etc. 
• Protected characteristics: Age and date of birth.
• Commercial information: Payment card or bank account information, account history, service profile information relating to an individual’s purchases and interests, feedback information, communication preferences, etc. 
• Electronic network activity information: IP address, log data, analytics data, application data, and device ID.
• Geolocation: General and, when allowed, precise location.
• Media & recordings: Call recordings, photos, videos, visitor images.
• Employment data: Company, title, and role.
• Sensitive information: SSN, precise geolocation, financial details, account credentials.
• Demographic information: Age and date of birth.
• Inferences: Predictions about interests and preferences.

Sunrun uses this information for service delivery, communications, marketing and advertising, energy programs, research, analytics, and for legal and compliance purposes. 

The company may share your data with affiliates, service providers, and third parties (including marketing partners, advertisers, energy providers, and nonprofits for solar advocacy).

It may also share it for legal and safety purposes and in business transfers (such as mergers and acquisitions). 

Sunrun may share aggregated/de-identified data for analytics or research. 

Energy data may be shared without consent if necessary to provide or bill for power services, comply with legal or regulatory requirements, support demand response or efficiency programs, or respond to emergencies.

Sunrun retains your data as long as necessary to provide services, fulfill legal obligations, and support business operations. Your data is deleted or de-identified when it is no longer needed.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails, mail, and telemarketing and manage preferences for targeted ads and cookies via Sunrun’s site or third-party tools.

Depending on where you reside, you may have additional rights to access and control your personal information. 

So, Should You Use Sunrun?

Depends.

Although not a scam, Sunrun has mixed reviews, has faced legal issues, and is known for offering long-term contracts that can be costly and restrictive. 

If you cannot afford upfront solar panel costs and don’t want to have to deal with maintenance, then Sunrun can be a good choice. 

However, you’ll likely save more and may have fewer headaches by getting quotes from local installers or purchasing panels outright.

How to Use Sunrun Safely and Privately 

• Compare offers. Get quotes from at least two other solar providers to avoid overpaying.
• Avoid high-pressure sales. Don’t sign anything on the spot. Instead, take time to review the contract independently.
• Understand ownership vs. leasing. If you lease, you won’t get tax credits and may face resale complications. Buying often saves more in the long term.
• Get everything in writing. Ask for detailed quotes, production guarantees, and clear terms before signing.
• Read the contract carefully. Watch for early termination fees, long-term obligations, and transfer rules if you sell your home.
• Limit personal data sharing. Only share what’s required. 
• Use Sunrun’s privacy tools. Manage targeted ads, cookie settings, and unsubscribe from promotional communications.
• Exercise your privacy rights. Depending on where you reside, you may have additional privacy rights, like the right to correct inaccurate personal information Sunrun has about you and the right to request that the company delete any data they have collected about you. 
• Document everything. Keep emails, call logs, and photos of installations in case of disputes.