My Solar Installer Went Out of Business — Now What?

Your installer went out of business. Now what?

It happens. Big-name installers like Vivint Solar (acquired into Sunrun, fragmented support), ADT Solar (ceased solar ops late 2023), Sungevity (bankruptcy 2017), Pink Solar, Sunworks, and dozens of regional installers have all gone under in the past 10 years. If you're left holding a contract, manufacturer warranty, and a 25-year asset with no installer to call, here's the playbook.

What you still have (the good news)

• Manufacturer warranties — panels (25-year), inverter (10-25 year), battery (10-15 year), racking (25 year). These survive the installer's bankruptcy.
• Federal tax credit — if claimed, doesn't get clawed back.
• Net metering / interconnection agreement with utility — survives.
• The system itself — physically running.
• Monitoring — usually still works through manufacturer's portal (Enphase Enlighten, SolarEdge, Tesla, Generac).
• SolarInsure SI-30 or similar third-party warranty if you bought one. This is exactly what it's for.

What you've lost (the bad news)

• Workmanship warranty — the 10-25 year warranty against install errors (leaks, mounting failures, conduit failures). Gone.
• Labor coverage on parts replacements — manufacturer pays for parts but installer used to pay for labor. Now retail labor.
• Production guarantee — the 90% / 95% production promise. Unenforceable against bankrupt entity.
• Free service calls for monitoring/troubleshooting.
• Active monitoring — some installers monitor your system and proactively alert; that's gone.

Step-by-step: what to do

Step 1: Confirm the bankruptcy / closure

• Search your state's secretary of state business registry for "active/dissolved" status.
• Look up the bankruptcy filing (PACER, SEC if public, or local court).
• Was it Chapter 7 (liquidation) or Chapter 11 (reorganization)? Chapter 11 sometimes leaves a successor entity.
• Check if it was acquired (Vivint → Sunrun is an acquisition; warranties theoretically transferred).

Step 2: Document everything you have

• Original contract (PDF or paper).
• Installation drawings / system layout.
• Equipment list (panels, inverters, batteries, racking) with serial numbers.
• Permits + final inspection sign-offs.
• Interconnection / PTO letter.
• Tax credit Form 5695 (if filed).
• Monitoring login credentials (manufacturer portal).
• Any correspondence about issues (production drops, alerts).

Save everything to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox). Print critical docs.

Step 3: Set up direct manufacturer relationships

• Inverter: register with Enphase Enlighten (enlighten.enphaseenergy.com), SolarEdge monitoring (monitoring.solaredge.com), Tesla account, etc. directly.
• Panels: register with manufacturer (REC, Q Cells, Aiko, Maxeon) using serial numbers. Confirms warranty in your name.
• Battery: register Powerwall / FranklinWH / Enphase Battery / Generac PWRcell directly.

Step 4: Find a replacement service installer

• Search "solar O&M / service / RMA" specialists in your area.
• Many local installers will service systems they didn't install (for a service fee). Service rates: $150-250/hr typical.
• Manufacturer-authorized service partners: Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla all have certified service partners directories on their websites.
• Get a "system health check" service call (usually $200-500) to baseline current state and identify any deferred maintenance.

Step 5: Address known issues NOW

If you've been ignoring monitoring alerts or weird production patterns, address them now:

• Underperforming panels / strings.
• Inverter alerts.
• Visible damage (cracked panels, sagging conduit).
• Battery alerts.

The cost of preventive service ($300-500) is much lower than the cost of cascade failures ($2,000-10,000) once you're paying retail.

Step 6: Verify your warranties chain to you

• Contact panel manufacturer customer service (Q Cells, REC, etc.) and verify your name + system on file.
• Same for inverter, battery, racking.
• Some manufacturers require a transfer form when ownership changes hands — not strictly necessary if you're the original owner, but verify they have current contact info.

Step 7: If covered by SolarInsure or third-party warranty — activate it

SolarInsure SI-30 specifically covers installer default. Submit:

1. Original install date and contract.
2. Documentation of installer closure.
3. Description of any current issues.

SolarInsure assigns you a new "service partner" from their network and the warranty continues uninterrupted.

Step 8: File any pending claims with bankruptcy estate

If installer is in formal bankruptcy and you have an unfulfilled obligation (workmanship warranty, refund, deferred work):

• File a "proof of claim" form with the bankruptcy court (forms available on PACER or court website).
• Include amount, supporting documentation.
• Most consumer claims are unsecured and recover little ($0.10-0.30 on the dollar typical, sometimes nothing).
• Worth the 30 minutes of paperwork; rarely recoups much.

Common scenarios

Vivint Solar / Sunrun acquisition

Sunrun acquired Vivint Solar in 2020. Vivint customers should now have warranty coverage through Sunrun. If you can't get response: contact Sunrun customer service directly with original Vivint contract.

ADT Solar (ceased Dec 2023)

ADT Inc retained warranty obligations for existing ADT Solar customers but no new installations. Service calls handled by certified third-party network. Customers reporting mixed service quality.

Pink Solar (FL, ceased 2023)

No successor entity; bankruptcy filed. Customers turn to manufacturer warranties + third-party service for repairs.

Sungevity (Chapter 11, 2017)

Chapter 11 with asset sale; leases acquired by Spruce. Equipment service handled through manufacturer warranties.

Smaller regional installers

Most common scenario. No successor; you're on your own with manufacturer warranties + third-party service installers.

Key local-installer resources by state

Many states have solar industry associations that can recommend service providers when you've lost yours. Examples:

• California: California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) — calssa.org member directory
• Florida: Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) — flaseia.org
• Texas: Texas Solar Energy Society — txses.org
• Minnesota: Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA) — mnseia.org
• National: SEIA member directory at seia.org/state-members
• NABCEP: nabcep.org/find-an-installer for certified installers in your area

How to avoid this in the future

• Buy from installers with 10+ year track record — not 2-year-old aggressively-growing companies.
• Buy from privately-held local companies often more stable than VC-backed national companies that may pivot or fold.
• Buy SolarInsure SI-30 or equivalent third-party warranty — designed for installer default.
• Use manufacturer-authorized installers — they get manufacturer support continuity even if installer changes.
• Check installer's BBB, state licensing, and lawsuits before signing.
• Verify the installer has $1M+ general liability insurance.

Frequently asked questions