After major months of public struggles and structural changes, SunPower, one of the country's largest home solar providers, filed for bankruptcy. This leaves the company's nearly 600,000 residential solar customers wondering, "What do I do now?" Contact online >>
After major months of public struggles and structural changes, SunPower, one of the country''s largest home solar providers, filed for bankruptcy. This leaves the company''s nearly 600,000 residential solar customers wondering, "What do I do now?"
To put it simply, it''s complicated. A lot is still up in the air, but here''s what consumers should know about the situation with SunPower and how it impacts their system.
SunPower customers can compile all of their paperwork and SunPower communications, call the SunPower dealer who completed their installation, and contact the equipment manufacturer to understand their system''s status better.
Customers affected by SunPower's bankruptcy may lose some of the initial warranty coverage promised but should still be covered by manufacturing warranties.
Those who own their solar panels can have their systems repaired by other service providers or their initial installer, but finding someone who will take on repairs may be difficult.
First things first, SunPower is not out of business, at least not yet. The company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, which allows a company to restructure while it continues to operate.
Complete Solar, acting as a "stalking horse buyer," was awarded the bid for a portion of SunPower's assets, including Blue Raven Solar, SunPower''s New Homes business, and a portion of SunPower's Dealer network.
SunPower is continuing to operate other portions of the business, but it''s possible SunPower will try to liquidate more of its assets in the future. The total impact of SunPower's bankruptcy remains to be seen and will continue to develop with time.
As of September 20, 2024, SunPower ceased system support through the mySunPower app, web portal, or its phone number, 1-800-SUNPOWER. So, what are you supposed to do now? Here are a few options as you''re finding solutions in the wake of SunPower''s bankruptcy:
Gathering all of your SunPower paperwork is crucial for moving forward. You''ll want your warranty paperwork, signed contracts, and financing agreements handy. If you''ve had any written communications with SunPower, keep them on file.
Familiarize yourself with the equipment on your roof, most notably the equipment brands. You can find this information in your contract. If you don''t have your contract, your local permitting department may have a record of your equipment.
Understanding the fine print of your contracts will make it easier for you down the line if another company takes over your lease or if you need a contractor to come out and fix your system.
Understanding the fine print of your contracts will make it easier for you down the line if another company takes over your lease or if you need a contractor to come out and fix your system.
If your system was installed by a SunPower dealer, now would be a good time to call them if they haven''t already reached out to you. You can ask them questions about your warranty and whether they offer support for their SunPower customers.
Solar equipment often has its own warranties offered by manufacturers. After reviewing your SunPower documents, contact the manufacturers of your solar panels, inverters, and racking equipment to confirm that the manufacturer warranty is still valid after the SunPower bankruptcy news.
Many SunPower installations use Enphase microinverters and Maxeon solar panels. Both Enphase and Maxeon plan to honor their respective manufacturer warranties should any issues arise with your equipment. However, manufacturer warranties don't typically cover costs to ship replacement parts or the labor to install them.
It's fair for consumers to be concerned about SunPower warranties, especially because many were sold on SunPower''s reputation for providing the most comprehensive warranty coverage in the home solar industry.
SunPower customers may lose certain portions of their promised warranty coverage, namely coverage for repair and replacement costs. However, these warranties might have clauses in the fine print that discuss what happens in a transfer of ownership, so be sure to familiarize yourself with what is written in your warranty.
Your equipment should still be covered under manufacturers'' warranties. SunPower installations used equipment from multiple manufacturers, including Maxeon and Enphase. Maxeon released the following statement:
"We will monitor the situation with SunPower Corporation and their asset sale to determine how we can support dealers and partners in the U.S. with their SunPower solar panels manufactured by Maxeon."
You may be able to retain third-party warranty coverage through Solar Insure''s SolarDetect program, so long as the products on your roof are on its Approved Vendor List and you're in a covered service area. Participating in Solar Insure''s program gives you access to a network of companies that will perform maintenance and service on your system, even if your solar company goes out of business.
SunPower was known for its high-quality products and services. Your installation was likely done to SunPower''s high standard, which means there should be very little to worry about in terms of warranty claims. According to our Solar Industry Survey, the top after-installation repairs are related to inverter hardware replacement and software issues, which your manufacturer warranty would cover.
Right now, SunPower is still the servicer for solar lease and PPA contracts through a partnership with Launch Servicing, LLC. You will continue to receive bills through your online billing portal.
However, if your leased system requires maintenance, don''t expect someone at your door when you submit a request. SunPower does not have technicians available for repairs and is in the process of partnering with a new Operations and Maintenance group. Until then, it''s a bit of a waiting game.
When a solar company files for bankruptcy, its solar lease and PPA agreements are sold as assets and taken over by another company. This process is relatively common when solar companies liquidate their assets, and consumer transition is typically seamless.
Homeowners who purchased their systems with cash or a loan can get them serviced by any solar servicing company willing to do the work. If a SunPower dealer installed your system, it may be worthwhile to start there when looking for help with repairs and maintenance. You can also contact the manufacturer of your equipment to see if they have any partners willing to take on the project.
If you have a SunPower lease or PPA and you need a repair, be prepared to wait it out. SunPower is currently looking for an Operations and Maintenance partner to complete repairs on third-party-owned systems, but until then no repairs will be scheduled.
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