Your solar installer went bankrupt: what to do next

Solar installers have failed in waves. SunPower Corporation filed for Chapter 11 on August 5, 2024. Sunnova filed in June 2025. Other companies closed without a filing. If your installer is one of them, the system on your roof is still there and usually still working. The problem is who answers the phone when it stops.

This page is general information as of October 2026. It is not legal advice.

Step 1: Find out who owns the system

Everything else follows from this.

• You bought it, with cash or a loan. The system is yours. Any loan is a separate contract with a lender and still has to be paid.
• You lease it or buy the power under a power purchase agreement (PPA). The finance company owns the equipment. Your contract says who must maintain it. When an installer fails, those contracts are often sold or moved to another servicer, so look for a letter or email about a new contact.

For example, after the SunPower filing, EnergySage reported that lease and PPA customers were told to contact their financier, and that systems energized after September 30, 2024 stayed under valid warranties with the company that bought the assets. Owners of earlier systems were told to start with their lender. Rules differ by company, so ask yours.

Step 2: Collect your paperwork

Put these in one folder:

• the signed contract and any change orders
• the city permit and final inspection card
• the utility’s permission to operate letter
• the equipment list with model and serial numbers
• loan or lease papers
• screenshots of your monitoring app
• photos of the inverter label and one panel label

Step 3: Call the equipment makers

Warranties on panels, inverters, microinverters and batteries come from the manufacturers. EnergySage’s coverage of both bankruptcies says the makers’ warranties should not be affected, and tells owners to confirm directly with each manufacturer. Give them serial numbers and ask what remains in force, what it covers and how to file a claim without the installer.

The warranty you are most likely to lose is the installer’s own, which usually covers the roof penetrations, mounting and wiring. That is also where leaks and loose connections show up, so keep your photos.

Step 4: Get the system tested

A licensed contractor can test the array, the inverter, the rapid shutdown devices and the connection to your main panel. Look for a contractor with a suitable license class. CSLB’s solar page names several, including A, B, C-4, C-10 (electrical), C-36, C-46 (solar) and C-53. Use CSLB’s online license check, and see how to verify an electrician license.

Typical SoCal ranges as of October 2026: an electrician repair visit runs $185 to $575, and Fixr’s national guide lists a service call at $176 to $327. Part prices for inverters and gateways vary by brand, so ask for them as a separate line. See the electrician service call cost page. If you lease or have a PPA, do not hire a repair on your own before you call the financier. That can break the contract.

Some older systems use parts that are no longer made. A good contractor will tell you when replacing the part costs more than it is worth.

Step 5: Fix the monitoring

If your monitoring ran on the installer’s platform, ask the inverter or microinverter maker whether you can claim the system under your own account. Without monitoring you may not know a fault has happened until your bill goes up.

Step 6: Know your options for complaints

• CSLB. You can file a complaint about a licensed or unlicensed solar contractor. CSLB received 2,263 solar complaints in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, mostly workmanship and abandonment, so you will not be alone. CSLB says it is no longer accepting new claims to its Solar Energy System Restitution Program, to protect funds for claims already received.
• The bankruptcy court. Claims against the company go through the court process. The notice you receive explains how and by when. Keep your documents.
• Your lender or card company. If you paid by card and never got the work, you may be able to dispute the charge. Ask the issuer soon.
• A lawyer. For a large loss, talk to a consumer attorney or legal aid. A small claims court can handle smaller amounts.

Watch for liens

CSLB’s advice on any project is to get lien release forms from the contractor and from subcontractors and suppliers. If your installer did not pay a subcontractor, that subcontractor can put a lien on your home. If you got a lien notice, a lawyer should read it.

What about tax credits and batteries

As of October 2026, the federal credits for solar and batteries have ended for new 2026 installs. See the federal tax credits status page. If a battery was part of the system and has failed, see home battery installation and the solar inverter and system repair page.