The solar system isn't producing the electricity the installer promised — what recourse do I have?

It depends on what the contract says about generation performance. A well-drafted solar installation contract includes a generation guarantee: the installer commits to a minimum kWh output per month or per year for the first 1-3 years, and if the actual output falls below that (measured against a benchmark that accounts for irradiance variance), the installer must investigate and fix. Without such a clause, the customer's recourse is limited to installation defects and equipment warranty — much weaker. Insist on a generation guarantee for any material solar investment.

What happens to the warranty if the installer goes out of business?

The manufacturer's warranty on the panels and the inverter continues (it is a direct warranty from the manufacturer to the end-user) — you just need the original purchase and serial-number documentation to claim it, so keep those safely. But the installer's own workmanship warranty and any generation guarantee die when the installer disappears, which is why (a) buying from an installer with a long trading history matters, and (b) many customers prefer installers who partner with a large panel manufacturer that offers direct after-sales support.

Energy & Solar

Energy and solar agreements — solar-panel installation and maintenance, generator sale / hire, IPS (instant power supply) installation, battery-back-up service, solar-battery leasing, off-grid electrification for rural areas — sit at the intersection of a technical installation contract, an equipment warranty and (in the solar case) a long-term generation-and-return relationship. Because a solar installation is a 15-25 year asset with real generation risk and warranty obligations, the written contract's job is to fix installation specifications, commissioning acceptance criteria, generation-performance guarantees, warranty on both panels and inverters, and the after-sale servicing responsibilities.

Stamp & registrationMost installation / servicing contracts run on non-judicial stamp of the value appropriate to the contract amount. Solar installations connected to the grid (net-metering) sit within the framework of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) and BREB / DPDC net-metering rules — the contract with the installer should include their assistance with the net-metering application. Panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturer, but the customer's contract is with the installer; ensure the installer takes responsibility for handling warranty claims with the manufacturer.

Contract types in this category

Frequently asked questions

The solar system isn't producing the electricity the installer promised — what recourse do I have?: It depends on what the contract says about generation performance. A well-drafted solar installation contract includes a generation guarantee: the installer commits to a minimum kWh output per month or per year for the first 1-3 years, and if the actual output falls below that (measured against a benchmark that accounts for irradiance variance), the installer must investigate and fix. Without such a clause, the customer's recourse is limited to installation defects and equipment warranty — much weaker. Insist on a generation guarantee for any material solar investment.
What happens to the warranty if the installer goes out of business?: The manufacturer's warranty on the panels and the inverter continues (it is a direct warranty from the manufacturer to the end-user) — you just need the original purchase and serial-number documentation to claim it, so keep those safely. But the installer's own workmanship warranty and any generation guarantee die when the installer disappears, which is why (a) buying from an installer with a long trading history matters, and (b) many customers prefer installers who partner with a large panel manufacturer that offers direct after-sales support.

Energy & Solar

Frequently asked questions

The solar system isn't producing the electricity the installer promised — what recourse do I have?: It depends on what the contract says about generation performance. A well-drafted solar installation contract includes a generation guarantee: the installer commits to a minimum kWh output per month or per year for the first 1-3 years, and if the actual output falls below that (measured against a benchmark that accounts for irradiance variance), the installer must investigate and fix. Without such a clause, the customer's recourse is limited to installation defects and equipment warranty — much weaker. Insist on a generation guarantee for any material solar investment.
What happens to the warranty if the installer goes out of business?: The manufacturer's warranty on the panels and the inverter continues (it is a direct warranty from the manufacturer to the end-user) — you just need the original purchase and serial-number documentation to claim it, so keep those safely. But the installer's own workmanship warranty and any generation guarantee die when the installer disappears, which is why (a) buying from an installer with a long trading history matters, and (b) many customers prefer installers who partner with a large panel manufacturer that offers direct after-sales support.