Your Solar Installer Went Out of Business. Now What?

You got a letter. Or the number stopped working. Or you searched the company name and found a bankruptcy filing instead of a website.

This has happened to a lot of Minnesota homeowners over the last few years, and it is unsettling. You made a significant investment in something bolted to your roof, and the company that put it there no longer exists.

The good news is real: your solar installer going out of business does not mean your system stops working, and it usually does not mean your warranties evaporate. It means you have homework to do and calls to make. Let’s walk through it in order.

First: Nothing Is Broken

Your panels do not know your installer is gone. They are still converting sunlight, your inverter is still doing its job, and your utility is still crediting your production under Minnesota’s 1:1 net metering.

Nothing about your system’s operation depends on the installer continuing to exist. What you have lost is a service relationship, not equipment.

Second: You Have Three Separate Warranties

This is the most misunderstood part of the situation, and where most of the relief lives. A solar installation is covered by three distinct warranties from three distinct parties:

Panel warranty. Comes from the panel manufacturer, not the installer. Typically covers both product defects and production performance, commonly for around 25 years. If the manufacturer is still in business, this warranty is still alive.

Inverter or microinverter warranty. Comes from the inverter manufacturer. Terms vary by product and often run in the 10 to 25 year range. Again, this is the manufacturer’s obligation, not your installer’s.

Workmanship warranty. This one comes from the installer, and this is the one that is genuinely at risk when a company closes. It covers the labor and installation quality: mounting, flashing, wiring, roof penetrations.

So the honest summary is that two of your three warranties probably survived intact and one probably did not. That is a much better position than “I have no warranty,” which is what most people assume on day one.

Third: Find Your Paperwork

Before you call anyone, gather what you have. You will need it for every conversation that follows.

• Your original contract or purchase agreement
• The system design or as-built documents
• Equipment list with manufacturer, model numbers, and quantities
• Serial numbers for panels and inverters, if you have them
• Your interconnection agreement with your utility
• Monitoring platform login credentials
• Any permit and inspection records from your city

If you cannot find the contract, do not panic. Your city’s building department has permit and inspection records. Your utility has the interconnection agreement. Your monitoring platform login often reveals equipment makes and models directly.

Every solar owner should keep this in one folder regardless of installer status. If you are still shopping, our solar installation checklist covers what to collect at handoff.

Fourth: Reconnect Your Monitoring

Monitoring is the thing most likely to actually break, because platforms are often set up under the installer’s account.

Depending on the manufacturer, you may be able to claim ownership of your site directly, or you may need a certified installer to transfer it. Either way it is fixable, and it should be a priority. Without monitoring you have no way to know whether a panel or microinverter has quietly stopped producing, and a dead microinverter can go unnoticed for a year. If production has been flat, our guide to solar panels not producing covers what to check first.

Fifth: Find a Company That Services Other People’s Systems

Not every solar company will touch a system it did not install. You are looking for one that will:

• Perform a full inspection of the existing installation
• Document current condition, production, and any code or workmanship issues
• Handle manufacturer warranty claims on your behalf
• Take over monitoring and ongoing service
• Tell you plainly what is fine and what is not

That last one matters. A company inspecting an orphaned system is in a position to tell you the sky is falling and sell you a full replacement. A good one will tell you when the answer is “this was installed well, here is your paperwork, call us if something changes.”

Centauri Systems services systems we did not install, and we have written before about the closures the industry has produced and bad actors in a booming industry. More on how we work at the Centauri homepage.

What About My Loan or Lease?

This is where people worry most, and the answer is simpler than expected.

If you financed with a solar loan, your loan is with the lender, not the installer. The closure does not change what you owe or who you pay. If you are unsure who services the loan, the lender named on your original documents is the place to start.

If you have a lease or power purchase agreement, the agreement is an asset that typically transfers if the company is sold or its portfolio is acquired. You should receive written notice of who is taking over. Keep it, especially the sections on maintenance obligations and what happens if you sell the home.

If you paid cash, you own the equipment outright and there is nothing to transfer.

In every case, keep paying whoever you are contractually obligated to pay until you have written confirmation otherwise. Our overview of solar financing in Minnesota explains how each structure works.

If You Have an Unfinished Install or an Unresolved Complaint

The hardest version: you paid a deposit, the job was half finished, or there was an active warranty dispute when the company closed. A few avenues worth knowing:

• The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office accepts consumer complaints and has taken action against solar companies before, as we covered in our post on the attorney general judgment against solar companies.
• The Minnesota Department of Commerce at mn.gov/commerce handles consumer questions in the energy space.
• The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry licenses residential contractors and can confirm licensing status and complaint history.
• If you paid by credit card recently, your issuer’s dispute process may still be available depending on timing.
• In a formal bankruptcy there is a claims process, though unsecured consumer claims often recover little. Know that going in.

None of this is legal advice, and if real money is at stake it is worth an hour with an attorney who handles consumer contracts.

How to Avoid This the Next Time

If you are reading this before you buy rather than after, the pattern is consistent. Companies that closed tended to share traits: aggressive door-to-door sales, quotes built on incentives that were expiring or already gone, unusually large upfront deposits, no local physical presence, and rapid expansion funded by growth rather than profitable work.

The counter-signals are boring and reliable. How long has the company been installing in Minnesota? Is there a physical location you could drive to? Will they service systems they did not install? Do they show real production data instead of best-case estimates? Are their incentive assumptions current, including the fact that the federal residential tax credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025?

Our guide to vetting a solar company goes through this in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do my solar panels stop working if the installer goes out of business?
No. Your system continues operating exactly as before. Panels, inverters, and your utility interconnection are all independent of the installer’s business status. What you lose is a service relationship, not functionality.

Are my solar warranties still valid if the company closed?
Panel and inverter warranties come from the equipment manufacturers and generally remain valid as long as those manufacturers are in business. The workmanship warranty comes from the installer and is the one most likely to be affected by a closure.

Who services my solar system now?
Any qualified solar company willing to work on systems it did not install. Look for one that will inspect the installation, document its condition, take over monitoring, and handle manufacturer warranty claims for you. Ask directly whether they service third-party systems before booking.

Do I still have to pay my solar loan if the installer went out of business?
Yes. Your loan is a separate agreement with a lender, not with the installer. The balance, rate, and payment schedule are unchanged. Continue paying as agreed unless you receive written notice from the lender itself.

What happens to my solar lease if the company is sold?
Lease and power purchase agreements are typically transferred to whoever acquires the portfolio, and you should receive written notice identifying the new counterparty. Keep that notice and review the maintenance obligations and home-sale transfer terms carefully.

You Are in Better Shape Than You Think

The industry has produced more closures than anyone would like, and if you got caught in one, that is a legitimate frustration. But the system on your roof is still an asset, most of your warranty coverage is still intact, and the problem in front of you is a paperwork and service problem rather than an equipment problem.

If you want someone to look at an orphaned system in Minnesota or Wisconsin and tell you honestly where you stand, that is a service we provide. Start at the Centauri homepage or reach out directly.