What to Do If Your Solar Installer Goes Bankrupt (2026 Guide)

Over the past three years, more than 100 solar installation companies have filed for bankruptcy, shut down, or been acquired under distress. The list includes some of the biggest names in residential solar: SunPower, Sunnova, Titan Solar, Pink Energy, and dozens of regional installers.

If your installer has gone under — or if you are worried it might — here is exactly what to do, step by step.

Why So Many Solar Companies Failed

The residential solar industry went through a brutal correction. Several factors converged:

• Rising interest rates made solar loans more expensive, reducing demand
• The end of the 30% federal ITC for homeowner systems on December 31, 2025, slowed new installations
• Aggressive growth during the 2021–2023 boom left companies overleveraged
• Customer acquisition costs climbed as competition intensified
• Equipment price drops squeezed margins for companies that had locked in higher-priced inventory

The result: a wave of bankruptcies that left tens of thousands of homeowners with solar systems on their roofs and no installer to call if something goes wrong.

Step 1: Determine If Your System Still Works

First things first. If your solar system is currently producing electricity and your monitoring app still works, your immediate situation is fine. Solar panels are solid-state technology with no moving parts. They do not need your installer to function.

Check these:

• Is your inverter showing normal production? (Green lights, normal app readings)
• Is your monitoring system still online? (Enphase, SolarEdge, or Tesla app)
• Is your electric bill still reduced compared to pre-solar?

If everything is working, you have time to sort out the warranty and service situation. There is no emergency.

Step 2: Identify Your Equipment Manufacturers

Your installer is not the same as your equipment manufacturer. This is the most important distinction. Even if your installer is gone, your panels, inverter, and other hardware have manufacturer warranties that are separate from the installer's workmanship warranty.

Find this information:

• Your original solar proposal or contract (lists panel and inverter brands/models)
• Your monitoring app (Enphase and SolarEdge apps show equipment details)
• The physical equipment on your roof and near your electrical panel (labels on inverter, junction boxes)

Common panel manufacturers: LG, REC, Canadian Solar, Q Cells, Silfab, JA Solar, Trina, Jinko

Common inverter manufacturers: Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, SMA, Generac

These manufacturers have their own 12–25 year warranties that survive your installer's bankruptcy.

Step 3: Register Your Equipment Warranties Directly

If you have not already, register your equipment directly with the manufacturer. Many homeowners never did this because their installer handled it — and when the installer disappears, so does the warranty documentation.

Contact the manufacturer directly:

• Enphase: enphase.com/warranty — 25-year microinverter warranty
• SolarEdge: solaredge.com/warranty — 12–25 year inverter warranty (depends on model)
• Panel manufacturers: Check the specific manufacturer's website for warranty registration

You will need your system's serial numbers (found on the equipment or in your monitoring app) and proof of installation date (your original contract or permit).

Step 4: Understand What You Lost (and What You Kept)

What you kept:

• Panel manufacturer warranty (25 years, covers defects and performance)
• Inverter manufacturer warranty (12–25 years, covers defects)
• Your solar panels themselves (they are your property)
• Net metering agreement with your utility (this is between you and the utility, not your installer)
• Any battery warranty (manufacturer warranty, separate from installer)

What you may have lost:

• Workmanship/installation warranty (this was your installer's promise, not the manufacturer's)
• Roof penetration warranty (often provided by the installer, not the panel maker)
• Free maintenance and monitoring (if included in your installer's service agreement)
• A single point of contact for any issue

The workmanship warranty is the biggest loss. If your roof leaks at a panel mounting point, or if wiring fails due to installation error, the manufacturer is not responsible — that was on the installer.

Step 5: Find a New Solar Service Provider

You need a local solar company that does operations and maintenance (O&M) for existing systems. This is a growing business segment specifically because so many installers have gone under.

How to find one:

• Search for "solar maintenance" or "solar O&M" in your area
• Ask on community forums (r/solar on Reddit is particularly helpful)
• Contact your panel or inverter manufacturer — they often maintain lists of authorized service providers
• Check with your state's solar energy association

What to expect:

• A service agreement typically costs $150–$400 per year
• Covers monitoring, annual inspection, and basic maintenance
• Major repairs (inverter replacement, panel replacement) are covered by manufacturer warranty — the service provider handles the warranty claim

Step 6: Check If Your Installer's Warranty Was Transferred

In some bankruptcies, the company's warranty obligations are acquired by another company. This happened with several recent bankruptcies:

• SunPower assets were acquired by Complete Solar (though the extent of warranty coverage transfer is still being resolved in 2026)
• Pink Energy customers were largely left without recourse, though some state attorneys general secured settlements
• Sunnova lease and PPA customers had their contracts transferred to the acquiring entity

Check these resources:

• Your state attorney general's office (may have information about consumer protections in the bankruptcy)
• The bankruptcy court filings (public record, though dense to read)
• Solar consumer advocacy groups like SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association)

How to Protect Yourself Before Signing (For Future Buyers)

If you are shopping for solar now, the installer bankruptcy wave should change how you evaluate companies.

Check Financial Health

• How long has the company been in business? (5+ years is reassuring)
• Are they publicly traded? (Check stock price trends and SEC filings)
• Do they have excessive negative reviews about delayed installations or poor communication? (Early warning signs of financial trouble)
• Are they a local company with deep community roots, or a national chain scaling aggressively? (Local companies with steady growth tend to be more stable)

Protect Your Warranty

• Register all equipment warranties directly with manufacturers at the time of installation
• Get a copy of every permit, inspection report, and equipment serial number
• Ask if the installer offers a third-party workmanship warranty backed by an insurance company (these survive bankruptcy)
• Keep your original contract, proposal, and all communications in a safe place

Prioritize Equipment Quality

• Choose panels from established manufacturers with strong financials (REC, Canadian Solar, Q Cells, Silfab)
• Choose Enphase microinverters or SolarEdge optimizers — both companies are financially stable with long warranty track records
• Avoid proprietary equipment from the installer (if the company fails, proprietary parts may become unavailable)

Consider the Installer's Role

• After installation, your ongoing relationship is really with the equipment manufacturers, your utility, and your monitoring platform
• The installer's main ongoing value is the workmanship warranty and being a local point of contact
• If you own (not lease) your system, you have maximum flexibility to find a new service provider

Key Takeaways

• If your installer went bankrupt, your system still works and your equipment manufacturer warranties are still valid
• Register your warranties directly with panel and inverter manufacturers immediately
• The main loss is the workmanship warranty — consider a third-party service agreement ($150–$400/year)
• Find a new O&M provider through manufacturer referrals, community forums, or solar marketplaces
• Check if your installer's warranties were transferred to an acquiring company during bankruptcy
• For future purchases: register warranties yourself, choose financially stable equipment manufacturers, and ask about third-party warranty insurance
• Your solar panels are solid-state technology — they do not need your installer to keep producing electricity

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