Meet David Headley | Owner of Shedding Light on Solar

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Headley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was hired as a solar salesman for a local company in 2022. I was so excited to work in an industry I believed was preparing for the future and putting the power of electricity into the hands of homeowners. Due to the commission only pay structure, I was still bartending four days a week at night to pay my bills. After months of training and appointments with no compensation, It didn’t take long for me to realize that nearly everything I was taught revolved around manipulating homeowners into making unsound financial decisions.

In some ways, I was outright lying about energy bills without even realizing it. After thoroughly researching the industry and the claims I had been taught to make, I realized the residential solar sales industry was not for me. I quit shortly after. Over time, I was recruited by solar sales companies and declined. However, I couldn’t help but feel like their was an opportunity within the industry in telling the truth.

What if instead of selling people solar panels and only getting paid if they sign up, you charged a reasonable amount to consult with homeowners and give them all of the hidden details that salesman would never disclose? That was the initial idea that led to Shedding Light On Solar. Once I found www.opensolar.com I realized I could design systems on my own. This gave me the ability to offer a full mock sales consultation experience while breaking down the tactics used by solar salesman to potentially take advantage of clients.

From their I began to utilize additional software to make sure any one that consults with Shedding Light On Solar understands how to make the most of any potential system and comprehends the various variables involved in making an informed decision on buying solar panels.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I believe that Shedding Light On Solar is the most unique offering in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area pertaining to residential solar consultations. I do not sell solar whatsoever. I go through the entire process as if I were a solar salesman and design a mock system for clients with accurate usage information, just as any solar sales company will do at their consultations.

It is here that I begin to break down exactly what these solar companies will tell you or omit, and hone in on what the client’s actual expectation should be. By using software like pvwatts and pvvalue, and utilizing electrical plan analysis from Texas Power Guide, I then provide a custom presentation for my clients. If solar makes sense to my client after the presentation is completed, then I am able to refer a company that has agreed to offer my clients a price they would most likely not receive on their own, potentially saving them thousands. I receive no referral compensation from this company; therefore, if my clients are interested or not, it has no bearing on my advice or consultations.

This is the difference that homeowners will experience from having someone truly on their side in the solar industry, and I am so excited to prove my value to future clients. However, explaining this difference to potential clients is extremely challenging. By paying the modest fee I am asking for my services, I will provide substantially more insight and benefits than any solar salesman who’s potentially making thousands off convincing them to sign a contract. I hope this interview will help distinguish my business as a premiere service with the client’s best interest at the absolute forefront of my mind, and I am grateful for this opportunity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve lived in Dallas/Fort Worth for about three years now, so I’ll do my best to share some of my favorite spots in the city. If I were visiting Fort Worth, I would definitely recommend spending a night in Grapevine. There’s something about Willhoites in Grapevine on weekends when they have live music that’s hard to describe. If you’re planning a night out in downtown, I’ve always had a good time on seventh street. And if I were in Dallas, I would visit the Perot Museum of Nature and Science for sure. Then I would definitely end the night exploring the amazing bars in Deep Ellum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this dream without the support I received from my family. Specifically, my sister Rebekah and her significant other, Sean, whom I consider a brother. Apart from them, the encouragement I received from the rest of my family, including my brothers John and Vic and my mom Denecia, has helped me to continue on this path. While the company I worked for and the solar sales industry were not the right fit for me, I must acknowledge my then-boss, Cody, for teaching me the technical aspects of the solar industry that I wouldn’t have learned without him.

Website: www.sheddinglightonsolar.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sheddinglightonsolar

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheddinglightonsolar