Picture this: You and your family installed a new home solar system. You’re pleased with your investment, and you’re already seeing the returns on your energy bill. Then one day, you get the news: Your solar installer went out of business.
Who will you turn to for monitoring or maintenance issues? Who will help you upgrade your system or help you navigate your roof replacement a few years down the line?
Unfortunately, Washington solar customers are increasingly facing these questions as their solar installers file for bankruptcy or leave the market entirely. If you’re a Washington solar system owner asking, “What happens if my solar installer goes out of business?”, here’s what you should know about your system’s future — and your support options through local providers like Western Solar.
Why is My Solar Contractor Gone?
Some solar installers in northwest Washington are closing up shop, echoing a larger national trend that’s affecting solar customers across state lines.
Brandon Provalenko, general manager at Bellingham’s Western Solar, said that for several years, solar providers were showing up in northwest Washington and marketing their services with aggressive door-to-door sales, prices that they claimed were low but were actually much higher than local providers, and the suggestion that local companies couldn’t compete with their offerings.
The tactics worked with many customers, who have been left stranded as each of these companies restructured, left the local market, or went bankrupt. The providers are just some of the dozens of solar contractors across the nation that have disappeared in recent years, a trend that’s partially due to high interest rates that have squeezed customers and contractors alike.
Western Solar is now seeing a steady stream of customers from Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and San Juan counties who installed solar projects with these companies and now don’t know who to go to for quality maintenance service.
“At this point, it’s not isolated. It’s widespread enough that it’s become a real issue in our community,” Provalenko said. “We’ve been here for 24 years, and a big part of what we’re doing now is stepping in to help people get their systems back on track and supported, with us as their long-term solar maintenance provider.”
For solar customers, the connection with a solar installer should be a trusted, long-term relationship. Of course, a provider will help install the right system, but they can also help with ongoing technical and monitoring issues, troubleshooting, system cleanings, and even removal and reinstallation for a customer who’s getting a new roof.
“In a lot of cases, people just want someone they can call. When the original installer is gone, that point of contact disappears, and that’s the biggest gap we’re stepping in to fill,” Provalenko said.
So My Solar Installer Disappeared — Now What?
If you’re a current solar system owner whose solar installer is now out of business, here’s what to do.
First, don’t panic, Provalenko said — your system is likely still operating as it should. Before you move forward, you’ll just want to take inventory of your system with these steps:
- Check to make sure your monitoring system is still working. You can address the issue with Western Solar if the system is down.
- Check your electric bill to see if your costs or usage have changed unexpectedly.
- Gather all the available documentation on your system (your contract and warranties, equipment information, any energy bills, etc.). Anything you can share with a new provider will help give that organization the fullest possible picture of your system.
Then, if you have questions about any issues or new considerations, call Western Solar. The well-established solar designer, installer, and servicer has served northwest Washington for nearly 25 years, and can even provide solar system maintenance and repair for Washington customers who installed their systems through another company.
In fact, Western Solar has an entire service team dedicated to solar service for existing systems, providing a path forward for solar customers who have moved on from or been left behind by their installers.
If your solar installer went out of business or disappeared, Western Solar’s team is available to look at your system, confirm everything’s running correctly, help you reconnect monitoring services, and then be there long-term to help with any upgrades, expansions, or repairs. While the service is a longstanding offering from Western Solar, the team is now more relevant than ever. For example, most solar systems require a cleaning every three years, something Western Solar can help with in addition to general maintenance.
“We’ve always had a service department and have supported customers whose systems we did not originally install. That part is not new,” Provalenko said. “What’s changed is the level of need we’re seeing in the community. With more companies leaving the market, we’re getting a much higher volume of calls from homeowners who don’t know where to turn.”
Across more than 24 years in the industry, Western Solar has seen it all. That level of experience means Western’s team is always knowledgeable and ready to assist a new customer with a system installed by another company, treating the project with the same mindset as any original installation.
“We’re not installing a system and moving on,” Provalenko said. “We’re installing something we expect to see again, service, and stand behind for the next 20 or 30 years. That mindset shows up in how we design systems, how we install them, and how we support our customers after the fact.”
Whether you’re picking a provider for an initial solar installation or trying to find a provider who will replace your now-defunct installer, you’ll want to look for that focus on longevity, Provalenko said. Solar systems are decades-long investments, and the solar provider who helps service, maintain, and expand your system will matter just as much as the actual system you got installed.
“Look for a company with a real track record in your community,” Provalenko said. “How long have they been here? Do they have a service team? What you want is a solar partner who answers all your questions and helps you decide what to do next with your solar project, and that’s what we are here for.” You’ll get all that and more with Western Solar.
