Large residential solar companies have failed too: Sunnova and PosiGen both went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2025, according to news reports. If yours is one of them, your system does not stop working. But some of the protections you were sold may now depend on other companies, or on you.
What Survives, What Doesn’t
| Item | Who usually provides it | If the installer closes |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity production | Your panels | Continues |
| Panel warranty | Panel manufacturer | Usually remains |
| Inverter or microinverter warranty | Inverter manufacturer | Usually remains |
| Workmanship warranty (roof penetrations, wiring, installation defects) | Installer | Likely void, unless a successor takes it on |
| Labor for warranty repairs | Often excluded from equipment warranties | You may have to pay |
| Monitoring app or portal | Installer or a third-party platform | May lose support |
| Lease or PPA | The system owner, which may differ from the installer | Contract usually continues; may be transferred |
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) summarizes it this way: manufacturer warranties on panels and inverters generally remain, but a closed installer’s workmanship warranty is “likely void.”
Manufacturer Warranties: Read the Fine Print
Length. SUN says panel warranties often last 20 to 25 years and inverter warranties usually 5 to 15 years. Some microinverters carry longer terms. Enphase’s IQ microinverter warranty, in a version effective September 1, 2019, runs 25 years.
Labor is often not included. That same Enphase warranty “does not include any cost of labor related to… un-installing” the product, and excludes removal, installation or troubleshooting of your electrical system. Enphase separately sells installers a Labor Protection Program that extends labor reimbursement for IQ microinverters to 5 or 10 years from activation. If your installer bought that coverage, ask Enphase whether it still applies to your system.
Registration and transfers. The 2019 Enphase warranty required registration within 45 days of installation, except in states that prohibit that requirement, such as California and Connecticut. If you sell the home, a new owner keeps coverage only if the product stays at the original location and a Change of Ownership Form is submitted, with a transfer fee.
Warranty terms vary by manufacturer and by version. Find the exact warranty that applies to your equipment’s install date.
Leases, PPAs and Loans
If you own your system outright, the installer closing mostly affects service. If you lease, have a power purchase agreement (PPA) or a solar loan, check three things:
- Who owns the system or holds the loan. It is often a financing company, not the installer.
- Who you pay now. In bankruptcy, contracts and their servicing can be sold to another company. Your most recent statement should name it.
- What your contract says about maintenance, production guarantees and transfers.
Keep paying as your contract requires unless you receive documented instructions otherwise. Get legal advice before you stop paying.
In New York, regulators revoked Sunnova’s and PosiGen’s eligibility as distributed energy suppliers on October 15, 2026 and ordered them to show how they will honor existing customer obligations. See our article on the New York action.
Step-by-Step: What to Do Now
- Gather your documents. SUN’s checklist: system design and layout, installation contract and receipts, manufacturer warranties for panels, inverters and other parts, any financing agreement, permits and inspection reports, and monitoring logins.
- Secure monitoring access. Write down your app or portal login. Find out whether the installer or a third-party platform runs your monitoring. If you lose access, independent analytics services can track production.
- Look for a successor company. If another company bought your installer’s customer contracts, it “may honor existing service agreements or warranties,” SUN says.
- Contact manufacturers directly for equipment problems. Have your serial numbers and install date ready.
- Find a new service provider with experience on your equipment. Ask whether they offer operations and maintenance plans, and get a written quote before work starts.
- Watch production. Compare monthly output with your system’s earlier months or the production estimate in your contract. A sudden drop is the early sign of a failed inverter or other fault.
- Check your roof after storms and around any roof penetrations, since workmanship coverage for leaks may be gone.
Before You Buy: Reduce the Risk
- Ask who issues each warranty, and get copies before you sign.
- Prefer equipment from manufacturers that let homeowners file claims and that offer labor coverage.
- Ask whether the installer buys any labor coverage, such as Enphase’s program, and get it in writing.
- Check the installer’s licensing and, in states like New York, its registration with the regulator.
- Compare quotes on equipment and warranty terms, not just price. See our guide to comparing solar quotes.
Limitations
Warranty details here come from one manufacturer’s published warranty (an older version) and program page, plus Solar United Neighbors’ homeowner guide. Your terms may differ. Bankruptcy outcomes vary by case. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Solar United Neighbors, “What to Do if Your Solar Installer Goes Out of Business: A Guide for Homeowners,” March 4, 2025
- Enphase Energy, IQ Microinverter Limited Warranty (effective September 1, 2019), via Solartown
- Enphase Energy, Labor Protection Program
- NY PSC, “PSC Acts Against Fourteen Energy Companies for Failing to Abide by Rules,” October 15, 2026
- Wikipedia, “Sunnova” (citing Reuters)
- ElevenFlo, “PosiGen: Bankruptcy Wind-Down After Fraud Allegations,” March 19, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my solar panels if the installer goes out of business?
They keep working. Solar United Neighbors notes that your panels will keep generating electricity. The main risks are losing the installer's workmanship warranty, monitoring support and service.
Is my solar panel warranty still valid if the installer closed?
Usually, if it is a manufacturer warranty. Panel and inverter warranties are generally issued by the equipment maker. Check the warranty document for registration and transfer requirements, and contact the manufacturer directly.
Who pays for labor on a warranty repair if my installer is gone?
Often you do, unless the manufacturer warranty or a separate labor program covers it. Enphase's IQ microinverter warranty excludes labor for removing and reinstalling the product, and Enphase sells installers a separate labor protection program.
What if I lease my solar system from a company that went bankrupt?
Your lease or PPA may be transferred to another company in bankruptcy. Keep paying according to your contract unless you get documented instructions otherwise, confirm who holds your contract, and get legal advice before stopping payments.
