Of the six Principles of the Consumer Protection Code, Transparency is particularly key as it underpins others such as responsible sales and pricing, fair and respectful treatment, and data privacy. Ensuring transparent operations may be challenging for off-grid solar companies because of low-literacy levels among consumers, operations in markets with diverse and numerous languages, the growth of the PAYGo model – unique for its complex mix of financial, product and service elements, lack of digital connectivity, and agent-based sales models in which the point of sale (POS) may be far removed from the control of a headquarter office.

This briefing note aims to improve transparency – and by extension, Consumer Protection – in the off-grid solar (OGS) industry by identifying and sharing best practice for consumer-facing off-grid solar companies.