Solar Installers Go Bankrupt and Leave Homeowners Stuck
24 posts across 5 communities in the last 30 days; 83% from r/solar.
“I bought my residential solar system in South Carolina back in 2017 and purchased a 20-year Extended Service Agreement through SunSystem Technology (SST Home). Since then, the servicing company has been bought and rebranded multiple times, going from SST to NovaSource Power…”
“has anyone actually gone ahead with any of these consumer advocacy groups that claim to either get your contract canceled or get it significantly reduced? I spoke to someone from solar equity solutions and they said that if they don’t get the contract canceled initially then…”
“The company I paid to install my system is in California. They are apparently still in business, but they no longer have a phone number, and the chat is impossible to get results. I have a warranty repair ticket i opened in June 2026, and there have been many lies and…”
Homeowners are experiencing significant stress and financial burden related to solar panel systems. This includes issues with unreliable installers, escalating lease costs, system failures, company bankruptcies, warranty disputes, and the looming expense of roof replacement impacting panel viability.
SOURCES (60)
“I bought my residential solar system in South Carolina back in 2017 and purchased a 20-year Extended Service Agreement through SunSystem Technology (SST Home). Since then, the servicing company has been bought and rebranded multiple times, going from SST to NovaSource Power Services, and now…”
“has anyone actually gone ahead with any of these consumer advocacy groups that claim to either get your contract canceled or get it significantly reduced? I spoke to someone from solar equity solutions and they said that if they don’t get the contract canceled initially then they typically get it reduced to $.10-$.20 on the dollar which would be phenomenal But I cannot find any independent review reviews or feedback on these types of groups to determine if they’re actually legit. and I’m not sur”
“The company I paid to install my system is in California. They are apparently still in business, but they no longer have a phone number, and the chat is impossible to get results. I have a warranty repair ticket i opened in June 2026, and there have been many lies and deflections. I even paid a $300 "deposit" for the repair, and they even opened a workorder with a local company to repair, but failed to pay them, so they canceled the appointment. Powur PBC is the company. I need help! &”
“Inherited a solar PPA when we bought our house a few years ago. We were in year 11 of a 20 year lease. Worked great for the first year and a half. Usually electric bills were only about $20/mo. Got one for $100 during a particularly hot month. The PPA is $250/mo so not bad in a 2500sqft house. Then the bills started creeping up. After year 2 we got a reimbursement check because the panels underproduced by a decent amount. One month we got a $600 electric bill and we contacted the solar company a”
“Hello everyone. I am trying to help my parents out of a solar loan contract. For reasons stated below, I have most information that I believe is accurate but may not have the entire picture. If you make it through this whole post, I truly appreciate the time you took and any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I am not a big Reddit poster, so if I didn’t do this properly, let me know and I will provide any info I can. My dad was recently”
“Are they any good? What are your recommendations for brands that are not too expensive? I have no solar infrastructure, what should I expect to spend for a mid size roof? submitted by /u/variableunlisted [link] [comments]”
“Anyone have luck with Signature Solar design team? Have submitted two requests in the past year. I'm ready to buy - just needed to confirm size and quantity. Called them twice with assurances that someone will reach out - but in the same sentence, advised me to call back in 5 days if no one reaches out. It's a red flag if I'm trying to give them money and they make me call back if no one responds. Same thing with their advantage program partner. If this is the level of service trying”
“After several calls into their office, and an email (without any replies or call backs) about their 5 year workmanship warranty, I am starting to think Next Solar (based in San Carlos, CA.) is not interested in honoring our contract. I am starting to see sealant cracks on my panel anchors and have been trying to contact them for a couple of weeks now. When I call, there is always someone who takes my name and info and promises a call back within a day...but I end up getting nada in terms of call”
“I reside in delhi and before making this huge investment I want to be sure whether it's a right decision or not. Kin chizo ka dhyan rkhna chahiye taki bad m regret na ho... submitted by /u/Akanshakatariya27 [link] [comments]”
“Hello everyone, We decided to go solar and have to decide between solar panels. We decided on an installer that is very well regarded locally. They provide 2 solar panel options: Maxeon 3 415 W and Certainteed Solstice 450 W. The Maxeon panel option is ~8% more expensive. After doing some research and speaking with a friend who worked in R&D in solar panels, it seems like Maxeon's back contact technology is pretty unique. Given the durability, efficiency, degradation rate, and temperatur”
“Wanted to get feedback from the community, our roof got subbed out after we found a contractor that was certified by our solar company. Let me know what you guys think. submitted by /u/TheRousster [link] [comments]”
“The last two posts: (1) Solar Nightmare (2) Continuation of Solar Nightmare TL:DR from before: Solar installers did electrical wrong. They need to fix it. CEO tells me to pay before they do PTO and fix. Legal threats were made: "you will be in violation of the contract." TL:DR now: I found out via email today that the master electrician has requested for an inspection. Which is all confusing because how are they going to pass inspection with undersized backfeed breaker and wire gauge??”
“I am currently 13 years into a 20 year SunRun (formerly Vivint) contract in New Jersey. Unfortunately, my roof is leaking at the mounting points for our Solar Panels. After discussing with SunRun, their "roof penetration" warranty has expired (it only covers the first 10 years). They generate during peak about 300 kWh. Current utility company charges $0.30/kWh (0.10 delivery, 0.20 supply). It is a 13 panel array. Right now, to replace the roof I would need to pay the $500 total Remove”
“Solar installer used snapnrack tile replacement flashing. To me this looks shady, what does the installers in this group think? submitted by /u/Stock-Marionberry692 [link] [comments]”
“Looking for Sunpro Solar warranty sheet pdf from anyone who used them in Texas. I'm filing a lawsuit, and I have all my documents except that one. Seems they sent everything else via docusign. Would have flaired this as "question" but that doesn't seem like an option. submitted by /u/PaleInTexas [link] [comments]”
“Tale as old as time: solar installed in 2019, installer out of business a year later. Been paying on the loan with a pile of broken promises and missed production for 7 years. Finally looked into getting out of my loan and found Covar Law group. Did an initial case review and they accepted it, citing a whole pile of illegal things that happened during the sales and financing process. They have a flat fee of $10k to handle the whole thing, including litigation if the demand letters are unsuccessf”
“I bought a house in 2023 (USA, Northern Utah) with Solar installed, no inverter or battery. The company that installed it went out of business before I even bought the house. The panels are definitely still working, and I pay about 50$/month for energy, now that RMP has eliminated the 1:1 buyback. I get very few blackouts and I'm not super worried about loss of power where I live. My question is that it seems like no one will do maintenance/cleaning etc unless I buy a battery or do a major p”
“I put solar on my roof in 2010. I need to replace this portion of the roof. The few companies I have called wanted an arm and a leg. Ideally I want someone to remove the existing. It would be great to uplift to some more current panels and reset them. What all have you done? Info: in Scottsdale AZ submitted by /u/azguy153 [link] [comments]”
“I am purchasing a house that will have a paid-off solar array of 40 265W panels that were installed in 2016. The catch is that they were removed last year in order to redo the roof on the house. The panels have been stored for the last year in a clean, dry aircraft hangar. I am wondering whether it is even worth paying the $4K-$8K it will cost to have the panels reinstalled on the roof, as well as poking holes and potentially damaging the brand-new roof. It's an asphalt shingle roof if that”
“I had panels through Posigen $50 monthly since 2014. Posigen had problems. I was hit by a hurricane and needed to install a new roof. Posigen didn't do it. I paid out of pocket to have it removed and reinstalled. Posigen didn't maintain it. My inverter had a red light on and my bills were the same as before the install for a few years. I have crud caked up on the panels because Posigen didn't clean them or maintain them. Renewbrook sent me a letter telling me they were taking over th”
“Your CSU Warrenty should still be infect even if your provider goes out of business, if Im not mistaken. Insurance should also pay for coating re-application on affected panels in BC (not sure how they handle extra equipment elsewhere)”
“Most houses are old and many in shit condition, you'd want at least replace shingles before installing solar.Everything becomes harder and expensive - no more standard gutter cleaning fee (200-300 bucks per average roof). For damp subclimates no more moss treatment possible.For many houses you'd need structural engineer assessment to make sure roof can add such a load.Many vents and outlets need to be relocated to cover large and nice area with the panels.Dealing with contractors on standard thi”
“Our solar installation is delayed in putting up the solar panels on our roof due to challenges they can't seem to agree on. Whatever, I'd rather they figure out how to do it right. My concern is the panels that have been sitting stacked on the ground uncovered for 10 days now. Hard to see in the picture, but they are visibly twisted a little. Those bottom panels must be screaming from all that weight on top of them too. Don't think those little cardboard pieces are doing much. I just”
“I’m getting ready to replace my roof and I have an existing solar system that I own. The panels will need to be removed for the roof replacement and then reinstalled afterward. For anyone who has gone through this, what should I be looking for when choosing a roofing company that can also handle the solar removal/reinstallation? A few things I’m particularly wondering about: Is it better to hire one company that handles both roofing and solar, or separate companies? What licenses/certifications”
“I have solar panels that are going to be taken down (roof being replaced). I own them outright. Is there any secondary market for them? Location: Monmouth County submitted by /u/WinstonNeville [link] [comments]”
“I cannot recommend SpartanX as a solar power partner. The package they put together was fair, but the service completely disappeared the minute the sales team left the project. There are elements of the installation that we question and cannot get answers for. There is damage to the roof tiles by the installer that was only discovered by a subsequent inspection. We are being billed by Pepco for service even though all inspections have passed and the interconnect is on. Pepco says they are not se”
“I’m looking into getting solar for my home in Los Angeles County and I’m trying to figure out how to tell which installers are actually trustworthy. It's an old home, 3 bedrooms... What do you usually check before choosing an installer? For example, do you verify the contractor’s license, compare reviews from a few different sources, or ask to see how they calculated the expected production? And when comparing quotes what spec will impact the final decision. Also, how much time should a repu”
“We had solar and Batteries installed earlier in the year. I am thinking of adding 3 additional panels onto a flat roof. I am an electrician so looking at doing myself. Any ideas where I could buy the panels and brackets. We are in s.yorks submitted by /u/Northerner1962 [link] [comments]”
“Hello, Apologies if this has been asked before, I’m confused 😵💫 I just purchased a home with existing solar, and it utilizes MY SOLAR EDGE. I was told the installer has gone out of business, and am trying to determine if I’m able to gain access to the solar production/monitoring. I am reading that you can transfer ownership, but am confused on a few things: Do I need a new “installer”? Meaning; can I gain access to the solar monitoring myself, or do I need an installation company to be the ad”
“I've tried to do this on my own but I just think I can't move forwand. I'm looking into solar for my home (3 bedrooms) in Los Angeles County and I'm trying to figure out how to compare installers, not just the price. I don't know yet If if Want to Go 100% into solar, but would like to cut the costs as much as possible. What do you guys usually look at when comparing quotes? I'm thinking about equipment they're using, expected production, battery options, warranties, m”
“I bought my system from Palmetto. They use subcontractors so it's a bit of a crap shoot what you get on an installation. I have had a lot of issues with my system in the heat of the Texas summer. My system was installed in summer of 2024 and I have had to replace the fuses in my AC shut off box three times. This made me want to take a closer look at my system and what they might have messed up. I have 65 Enphase iq8 plus micro inverters and they have run these on five strings. While technica”
“I have a rental in SC and we had Freedom Forever until they went bankrupt…. Anyone in the state recommended a local solar company? I still have to pay off the loan (ooof). submitted by /u/That_Surprise1885 [link] [comments]”
“Background: Bought a house in 2019 with a 15 panel solar system installed with construction of the house in 2012. System worked fine but I didn't bother tinkering with it much because the previous owners had apparently lost the information on how to access the system and as long as it was generating electricity I wasn't going to tinker with the system. We knew we'd only be there for 2 years because of my job so while it was a rental property I had no idea what the status of the panel”
“Sanity check wanted before I spend two months on this. Short version of the problem. Solar dealers pay reps off funder milestones, and the funder later derates or cancels some of them in a portal no CRM reads. QuotaPath does the commission math at $35 a user plus a $525 platform fee. It just can't see the data that makes the number wrong. So the gap is real. What I keep going back and forth on is whether it's a business or a trap. Every financier exports a differently shaped statement. M”
“Hey Guys, I had been working with someone at Solar Wholesale on a complete DIY package and the guy who I was talking to stopped responding to emails and his phone number is disconnected. When I call the main line I get an answering machine and nobody calls me back. What I like about them is they offered to help with design and permitting and package everything up and ship a complete package to you with wire and everything. Does anyone else offer something like that? Most other places will send y”
“We currently rent solar panels and are thinking about buying them from the company so we can get the SRECs. The alternative is to buy all new panels. Our current ones are 13 years old. Part of the calculation is whether, if we sell the house, a buyer is likely to pay the financial value of the installed panels (including energy savings and SRECs). If so, the new panels would likely pay off because the current ones will have less life in them when we sell. But a realtor told us people don't c”
“Just got this notice today. I was surprised anything has come of what Mr. Waller has done with PowerHome/Pink Energy. https://www.solarricosettlement.com/ I had my system installed by PowerHome right before covid hit. one of their last installs. I think I got lucky, as my system has been reviewed by 2 other solar companies (check ups) and they are impressed with the install. I've had no issues, I was just looking to expand the system and/or batteries. But I know from history that many were s”
“Wanting advice on this underlayment. Roofer says replace, my gutter people say it’s fine. In Cali, 33 year old concrete tile roof. The underlayment or roof and solar bill total is a bit much to stomach. submitted by /u/TPHairyPanda [link] [comments]”
“I'm considering buying a house that has solar panels mounted on the house and garage. The roof has seen better days. The seller's disclosure says it's a single layer of asphalt shingle installed in 2013. I'm assuming it's going to cost more than a typical roof replacement because of the panels. Is that right? How much does it increase the cost? Would I also need to hire a solar company to come remove them for the roofers or how does any of that work? submitted by”
“Has anyone got out of a contract with ION? Hopefully this is the right place but I am in need of serious help. Have had the panels for two years now, after being lied to I now regret it. I pay the same for my electric bill and now with a monthly payment of the panels I am at 475 a month just in electric. submitted by /u/sam_tx96 [link] [comments]”
“Has anyone bought solar panels online and have it delivered to your home and has a qualified electrician come and install them on your roof? If so, how much is the rough charge for that being done? Thanks! submitted by /u/Aggressive_Bake_9956 [link] [comments]”
“I've been getting some quotes this week for installing solar panels on our roof. So far I've talked to National Solar and Green Ridge Solar. Honestly, the former outperformed the latter on every single level (# of panels, wattage of panels, estimated energy offset, financing rates from local credit union, AND overall out-of-pocket price) so it feels like a no-brainer but I'm wondering what others' experience has been with either of these companies (good or bad) to help me discern”
“I purchased solar panels from Invaleon, who also installed them a few years ago. My roof recently developed a leak. My roofer cleaned and caulked everything and the roof still leaked. My roofer said the leak was at the solar panel brackets. I reached out to the installer and they sent a team to address the leak. Unfortunately they didn’t fix the leak and are now pushing back, saying they want to send an inspector to assess whether the panel brackets are actually causing the leak. I said we’re no”
“Apologies if this isn’t the right place to ask for a 2nd opinion but I’m about to lose my mind on this and would be grateful for some input. Had some hail damage on the property a couple years ago. Contractor came out, repaired the siding, installed hail resistant shingles, and reinstalled my enphase solar array. 7 months after the reinstall, one of my panels says the micro inverter has stopped reporting. I don’t think too much of it, figure I’ll get it fixed at some point. Another year goes by”
“I've recently been visited by companies that are offering solar panels. The weird part is they are offering them at no cost that could include possible roof replacement. It definitely screams "too good to be true" vibes. The one company today was InifinitySolarUSA. Does anyone have any experience with these companies? Located in Central Pennsylvania. submitted by /u/Intelligent-Help8946 [link] [comments]”
“Inspected this metal roof on the east side of the Big Island, Hawaii, last week. Homeowner says a solar contractor installed a system about 18 months ago and included roughly $10k for a roof service/tune-up before the panels went on. According to the homeowner, they replaced essentially every exposed fastener on the roof. Now there’s significant rust/corrosion developing around a large number of the screw locations. A lot of the screws look pretty obviously overdriven—the washers are heavily com”
“I already have a post up regarding my 5 year old REC Alpha 360AA panels that are under performing. My question is if REC does grant the replacement of the effected panels, does the installer bill the labor to REC to remove the defectives and install the new panels? How does this work? submitted by /u/BillsSolar [link] [comments]”
“Has anyone had any luck utilizing FTC Holder Rule to get money back after a solar company went under? Trying to get warranty repairs but company was aquired...according to FTC liability then falls with lender. submitted by /u/PaleInTexas [link] [comments]”
“Our family home has a roof solar water heater that is now leaking. I haven’t been able to find someone yet who will even come look at it. It was suggested to me to look into tankless water heater. We have PV panels. Idk if I should be calling plumbers or solar companies or what questions I need answered to decide which route to go. Any insight for this clueless mom would be appreciated. submitted by /u/Fun_Emu5746 [link] [comments]”
“Anyone here who has hybrid solar system installed on their home. Kindly share your experience. Have you faced any issues with hybrid inverter so far? Because of 1 - 2 hours powercuts frequently in summer and 5 - 6 hours few times in a month (in peak summer) so opting for hybrid instead of ongrid. Do share your valuable inputs. Hybrid fits best my needs but because it's always working (compared to ongrid that gets rest at night) so worried if hybrid also reliable stable or not. submitte”
“For the last couple of summers our solaredge 7600 inverter and 22 410 W REC panels frequently clipped at 7600 Watts. This year we’re down one panel because the optimizer died and we haven’t replaced it yet, but max output averages about 6500w. I saw a couple of transient spikes into the 7100w range but that’s about it. Any ideas why we’re seeing such a major drop other than weather? BTW Inverter was replaced about 20 months ago under warranty Edit: 405W not 410W submitted by /u/DownA”
“Hi HN, Shawn here. My rooftop system lost about half a year of production and nobody told me. Not the installer, not the monitoring app, not the utility. I found out from an electric bill that made no sense, then spent weeks digging through the monitoring portal by hand.SunRanker is what I wished existed that day. Connect a system once (Enphase OAuth, or a SolarEdge site ID plus API key) and it reads production daily, shows it in plain language, and emails you when something actually changes. Th”
“Just had a sales rep come out the other day and not sure I’m sold. They’re going to replace our very badly damaged garage roof, cut down a line of dead trees behind it and say they absorb the cost. Federal grants apparently make up the difference. It’s a lease for 25 years and the maximum it will go up is 2.99% every year or two I think. I know electric is going up 15% this year. I’m not sure this is completely legit and the Google reviews are 5.0 which I think is suspect. I tend to be extremely”