These are the terms under which The Solar Brief ("we", "us", "our") operates its website and matchmaking service. By using the site or chatting with our AI advisor, you accept these terms. We've kept them as plain as we can — if anything is unclear, email hello@thesolarbrief.com.
Last updated: 3 May 2026.
The Solar Brief is an independent residential solar information and matchmaking service operating across the United States. We are not a licensed solar installer, electrical contractor, engineering firm, or financial advisor. We do not install, design, finance, or warranty solar systems. We provide an AI-led advisory tool ("Marcus") and a matching service that connects qualified homeowners to vetted solar installers in our network.
Our website lets you have a conversation with our AI advisor, Marcus, who collects information about your roof, your electric bill, and your goals, and produces an indicative recommendation for system configuration, cost range, and matched installers. A vetted licensed installer in our network then follows up to schedule a site visit, perform a custom design, and provide a real quote.
Until a written quote and installation contract is issued by a licensed installer and signed by you, no installation has been booked. The chat output and any pricing shown on the site are indicative — they show what's typical, not what's confirmed for your specific roof.
Prices, payback periods, system sizes, and incentive amounts shown on the website and in chat are indicative ranges, reflecting typical residential solar installations as of early 2026. Actual numbers depend on:
We do not guarantee any specific savings amount, payback period, or system production. The licensed installer's written quote is the only authoritative number for your project.
References to the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit assume you have sufficient federal income tax liability to claim the credit. The ITC is a non-refundable tax credit, not a rebate. We do not provide tax advice. Whether you can claim the ITC, and how much, depends on your individual tax situation. Consult a qualified tax professional before relying on the ITC in your project economics.
When you accept a written quote from a licensed installer in our network, you enter into a separate contract with that installer. The Solar Brief is not a party to that contract. The installer is solely responsible for system design, equipment, installation work, permitting, interconnection, and equipment warranties. Payment is made directly to the installer on terms set out in the installer's contract — typically a deposit, an installation milestone payment, and a final payment on Permission to Operate (PTO).
No payments are taken on this website. We never ask for credit card or bank account details.
The Solar Brief is paid a flat referral fee by installers in our network when we send a qualified introduction. The fee is the same from every installer regardless of project size, equipment selected, or whether you ultimately move forward. We do not earn commission on sales. We are not paid at all if you do not proceed past the initial introduction. This structure is deliberate — it removes any incentive for us to steer you toward a more expensive system or installer than the one that actually fits your situation.
You are responsible for:
We provide information and matchmaking services. We are not the principal supplier of any solar installation. The installers are independent licensed third parties responsible for the work they perform. We will use reasonable care and skill in vetting the installers in our network and in matching homeowners to appropriate installers. However, we cannot accept liability for matters outside our reasonable control — including but not limited to installer workmanship or business performance, equipment performance or failure, system production variance, utility interconnection delays, regulatory changes, force majeure events, or the outcome of any contract you enter into with an installer.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability arising out of or in connection with our service is limited to the referral fee we have received in respect of the matter in question, or one hundred US dollars (US$100), whichever is greater.
Nothing in these terms limits liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, gross negligence, or any liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.
All content on this website — text, layouts, the chat persona, the journal articles — is owned by or licensed to The Solar Brief and is protected by copyright. You may share links and quote short extracts with attribution. Please do not reproduce substantial portions without permission.
Our chat advisor ("Marcus") is an AI assistant powered by Anthropic's Claude model. While we work hard to keep the information accurate and the tone helpful, AI systems can occasionally make mistakes. Anything material — pricing, incentive eligibility, panel specifications, installer warranty terms — should be confirmed with the licensed installer's written quote and contract before relying on it.
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in San Francisco County, California, unless mandatory consumer-protection law in your state of residence applies. Nothing in this clause limits any rights you have under the consumer-protection laws of your state of residence.
We may update these terms from time to time. The current version is always posted at this URL with a "last updated" date. Continued use of the site after a change constitutes acceptance of the new terms.
The Solar Brief
hello@thesolarbrief.com
San Francisco, CA