Connecticut homeowners whose Sunrun solar contracts were sold through Elevate Solar Solutions are covered by a settlement Sunrun reached with the Connecticut Attorney General in October 2026. Sunrun pays the state $300,000 and must investigate consumers’ fraud claims and respond within 60 days, with no cap on restitution and no claim deadline stated.
What Is This About?
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced on October 23, 2026 that the state had settled its lawsuit against Sunrun, Inc. and Sunrun Installation Services, Inc., along with Elevate Solar Solutions and two salespeople, Dakota Grumet and Sierra Howes. The case, State of Connecticut v. Sunrun, Inc., et al., No. X07-HHD-CV-24-6188068-S, is on the Complex Litigation Docket of the Connecticut Superior Court at Hartford.The state sued in July 2024, alleging deceptive, unfair and unlawful sales of residential solar panel systems in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Home Improvement Act. Under the settlement, Sunrun pays $300,000 to the state and must run a restitution process for affected consumers. According to the Attorney General, the defendants did not admit liability as part of the settlement.
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What the State Alleged
Sunrun contracts with local marketing and installation companies, including Bright Planet Solar and Elevate Solar Solutions, to sell its solar systems door to door. The complaint alleged that salespeople locked Connecticut homeowners into long-term solar contracts without their consent, including by impersonating consumers and applying electronic signatures the homeowners did not authorize, and that systems were installed without required permits and never activated.The complaint described three homeowners in Windsor, Stafford Springs and Wethersfield. In one account, the state alleged a 25-year lease was signed in a homeowner’s name after she and her father had both turned the offer down. In another, it alleged the salespeople did not disclose that monthly lease payments would rise 2.9% a year. The state also alleged that consumers were not given copies of their contracts as state law requires. These were allegations; none was proven in court.
Sunrun contested the case. In June 2025 the court granted part of Sunrun’s motion to strike, ruling that the state had not sufficiently pleaded that the other defendants’ alleged deceptive conduct could be attributed to Sunrun, while letting the counts alleging unfair and willful conduct proceed. The state then sought leave to amend its complaint in September 2025.
How the Restitution Process Works
The settlement requires Sunrun to send notice of the settlement to all consumers whose contracts were solicited by Elevate, Howes or Grumet, or by other individuals associated with them who are believed to have engaged in similar conduct. Consumers may submit claims to Sunrun, and the Attorney General’s announcement lists a Sunrun customer-support address for that purpose.Sunrun must investigate every claim of fraudulent conduct and send the consumer a response within 60 days. If the investigation substantiates fraud, Sunrun must offer one or more forms of relief: cash payments, account credits, cancellation of the contract and/or removal of the system. Consumers who say they never received a copy of their solar contract may cancel it if Sunrun cannot show they received one.
If a consumer and Sunrun disagree, the settlement requires Sunrun to pay for an independent arbitrator. The Attorney General said there is no cap on the restitution Sunrun is obligated to provide, and the announcement does not set a deadline for submitting claims.
Terms for Elevate and the Two Salespeople
Elevate Solar Solutions must dissolve. Elevate, Howes and Grumet are subject to a $200,000 penalty, suspended after $100,000 is paid, to secure ongoing compliance. For 10 years, Grumet, who was a principal and managing member of Elevate, may not own a company whose business involves home solicitation sales and must work under a company’s direct supervision, keeping records of any unsolicited door-to-door or telephone marketing he does. Howes must surrender her Home Improvement Salesperson registrations with the Department of Consumer Protection and may not apply for a new one, or for a Home Improvement Contractor registration, for 10 years.Bright Planet Solar, which marketed and sold solar systems for Sunrun, is not part of the settlement. The Attorney General said Bright Planet is no longer represented by counsel and the case against it remains pending.
Questions
Who can seek restitution under the Sunrun Connecticut settlement?
The settlement requires Sunrun to notify every consumer whose contract was solicited by Elevate Solar Solutions, Sierra Howes or Dakota Grumet, or by other individuals associated with them who are believed to have engaged in similar conduct. According to the Connecticut Attorney General, consumers may submit claims to Sunrun, which must investigate claims of fraudulent conduct.
How long does Sunrun have to respond to a claim?
The settlement requires Sunrun to investigate each claim of fraudulent conduct and send the consumer a response within 60 days. If the investigation substantiates fraud, Sunrun must offer one or more forms of relief: cash payments, account credits, contract cancellation and/or removal of the solar system. If a dispute arises, Sunrun must pay for an independent arbitrator.
Is there a deadline to submit a claim?
The Attorney General’s October 23, 2026 announcement does not state a deadline for submitting claims, and it says there is no cap on the restitution Sunrun is obligated to provide.
Did Sunrun admit wrongdoing?
No. According to the Attorney General’s announcement, the defendants did not admit liability as part of the settlement. The allegations in the state’s lawsuit were not proven in court.
Is this a class action?
It is a state enforcement lawsuit brought by the Connecticut Attorney General under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, not a class action. There is no court-appointed settlement administrator or settlement website; restitution claims are handled by Sunrun under the terms of the settlement.
Sources
• Connecticut Attorney General, settlement announcement (October 23, 2026).• Connecticut Attorney General, lawsuit announcement (July 2024) and the state’s complaint (July 1, 2024).
• State of Connecticut v. Sunrun, Inc., et al., No. X07-HHD-CV-24-6188068-S (Conn. Super. Ct.), State’s request for leave to amend (September 3, 2025), via the Connecticut Judicial Branch.
