ANSI Officially Approves Two New SEIA Standards on Consumer Protection and Operations and Maintenance

WASHINGTON D.C. — The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has officially approved two new American National Standards developed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on consumer protection and operations and maintenance for solar and storage projects.

These newly approved standards, ANSI/SEIA 401 and ANSI/SEIA 301, reinforce SEIA’s leadership in setting comprehensive safety, quality, operations and maintenance, training, and sales practices for the industry. As an ANSI-accredited standards developer, these new standards were developed through a rigorous process involving stakeholders from across the solar and storage value chain — including installers, manufacturers, financiers, consumer advocates, national laboratories, and government agencies.

To support the implementation of these standards across the industry, SEIA is launching a new online platform where companies, consumers, and other stakeholders can access the full suite of SEIA standards and upcoming implementation resources. The implementation resources will assist companies to seamlessly integrate these standards into their business practices.   

“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 SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “By setting national standards for consumer protection, technician training, and installation and system maintenance, SEIA is ensuring that every customer receives the value and performance they expect, and that solar and storage is a strong contributor to an affordable, reliable, and secure energy system.”

ANSI/SEIA 401-2025, the Solar and Energy Storage Consumer Protection American National Standard, outlines training requirements ,to establish ethical sales and contracting practices and ensure all solar customers have a thorough understanding of their contract terms and process before committing. Companies and salespeople trained under this standard will provide customers with comprehensive and clear disclosure of costs, key contract terms, and technology information.

ANSI/SEIA 301-2025, the Solar and Energy Storage Operations and Maintenance Technician Training American National Standard, educates technical professionals on maintaining solar and storage systems to maximize performance, longevity, and safety. It also provides specifications for scheduled maintenance, system monitoring, safety checks, and record keeping, ensuring more reliable systems that enhance the resilience of the electric grid.

SEIA will launch its new professional and company certification programs in November 2025, which will provide a pathway for industry-wide recognition of compliance with the ANSI/SEIA standards. For individuals, the certification requires passing an exam to demonstrate understanding of the standard.

As an ANSI-accredited standards developer, SEIA has been convening diverse stakeholders to develop a suite of standards that proactively and responsibly manage the industry’s growth. In addition to these two approved standards, SEIA is developing 9 more industry-wide standards that cover a range of issues, including supply chain traceability and project decommissioning.

Learn more about SEIA’s standards work.