SEIA secures approval for two national standards focused on solar O&M and consumer protection
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has officially approved two new solar and storage standards developed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), marking a notable step toward formalizing best practices across the growing clean energy industry.
The new American National Standards — ANSI/SEIA 401 and ANSI/SEIA 301 — address consumer protection protocols and operations and maintenance (O&M) technician training, respectively. Developed through ANSI’s rigorous consensus process, the standards reflect input from a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including installers, manufacturers, financiers, consumer advocates, national labs, and regulators.
“These standards mark a major step forward in professionalizing the solar and storage industry, boosting consumer confidence, and building a more resilient energy sector,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA president and CEO.
Solar industry trust
Recent consumer surveys have shown the consumer protection efforts are needed. In the 2023 version of Aurora’s Solar Snapshot, 22% of homeowners said they were unable to find a trustworthy solar company. In 2024, the numbers doubled: 44% of respondents said it is hard to determine which solar companies are trustworthy.
“This is a negative mark for the industry and there needs to be a focus on improving solar’s collective reputation, both via homeowner education and by upholding best practices for sales,” the authors stated in the report.
What’s in the standards?
ANSI/SEIA 401-2025 outlines training and ethical sales practices designed to ensure that solar customers fully understand their contract terms, costs, and system technologies before committing. The standard supports clear disclosure and accountability for sales teams and contractors, with a focus on establishing trust with consumers at the outset.
ANSI/SEIA 301-2025 provides structured guidance for technician training in solar and energy storage system maintenance. It covers best practices for scheduled inspections, safety checks, system performance monitoring, and recordkeeping — all aimed at improving long-term reliability and grid resilience.
Support, certification, and what comes next
To facilitate adoption, SEIA is launching an online hub that will host the standards along with supporting implementation materials to help companies integrate them into their operations.
Later this year, in November 2025, SEIA plans to introduce new professional and company certification programs based on the standards. For individuals, certification will require passing an exam to verify comprehension and competence.
The new additions are part of a larger effort by SEIA, as an ANSI-accredited standards developer, to proactively shape the maturing solar and storage landscape. The group says nine more standards are in development, tackling topics from supply chain traceability to end-of-life project decommissioning.
