Solar Repair, Removal, Installation and Inspection Phoenix, AZ – SolarFIX

SunPower Bankruptcy: What Customers Need to Know

SunPower Bankruptcy

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?” Let SolarFIX help with Solar Protect!

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.

Key takeaways

  • SunPower filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, leaving over half a million customers wondering what will happen to their home solar systems.

  • SunPower customers can compile all of their paperwork and SunPower communications, call 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. Contact SolarFIX!

  • SunPower is still managing its solar lease and PPA systems, but are looking for an Operations and Maintenance partner to complete service requests.

  • 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.

  • The SunPower situation is ongoing, so things may change as it evolves.


 

What SunPower customers can do after the bankruptcy

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:

1. Find all of your installation paperwork and communications

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. 

2. Call your SunPower dealer

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. 

3. Contact SolarFIX about Solar Protect 

Solar equipment often has its own warranties offered by manufacturers. After reviewing your SunPower documents, contact Solar Protect on 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.

What happens to your SunPower warranty?

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.

You may be able to retain third-party warranty coverage through SolarFIX’s Solar Protect program, so long as the products on your roof are on its Approved vender list and you’re in a covered service area. Participating in SolarFIX’s Solar Protect 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 the top after-installation repairs are related to inverter hardware replacement and software issues, which your manufacturer warranty would cover.


What happens to your SunPower lease or PPA agreement?

Right now, SunPower is still the servicer for solar lease and PPA contracts through a partnership with SolarFIX. You will continue to receive bills through your online billing portal.  

According to an email sent by SunPower on September 21, 2024, you can send questions to SunPower through your account 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. Contacting SolarFIX about its Solar Protect Monitoring is your answer! 

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.


What if your SunPower system currently needs repairs?

SunPower is currently unable to service malfunctioning systems. It also shut down it’s service request hotline and online 

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 SolarFIX of your equipment!

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. 

If you were in the process of filing a warranty claim or having your system repaired before the SunPower bankruptcy filing, you may be able to file a Proof of Claim form and potentially get paid out. There is no guarantee you will get money this way, and there is limited time to file.


So, what now? Contact Solar FIX About Solar Protect 

Maintenance Includes:

 ✔ 5 Year EXTENDED Workmanship Warranty (w/ yearly assessment)

✔ FREE Yearly Solar System Assessment ($295 Value)

– Full System Inspection

– Assessment Report

– 1 Hour of Service

Our technicians have been trained to address minor issues on the spot, while for more complex problems, you’ll receive detailed options and recommendations to ensure your system operates at its best.

Monitoring Includes:

✔ 24/7 monitoring

✔ Monthly Monitoring Reports

– Get Alerts! – If anything goes wrong, we will notify you with a game plan!

✔ VIP Priority Service

– Get scheduling priority over non-SolarFIX Protect Member

Perks Includes:

✔ Exclusive 10% Discount ALL products and services we offer

– Potentially saving you thousands!

– Save on Off-Grid AC, System upgrades, Repairs, Battery Backups & more!

✔ Exclusive deals and promotions only for SolarFIX Protect members!

✔ Loyalty Points (+10 points each month of active monitoring)

– Spend points on service calls, cleanings, batteries, generators and more

Protect Your Investment with SolarFIX’s Solar Protect Monitoring – Ensure Maximum Efficiency and Peace of Mind Today!

SOLAR FIX OFFERS SOLAR REPAIR SERVICES IN PHOENIX, AZ

Solar Fix AZ is a group of solar repair technicians that have been in the industry for 10+ years.

We have seen just about every solar inverter, solar panel, or solar racking system out there and have the skills and tools necessary to fix your solar problem professionally and affordably.

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