SunPower Bankruptcy
Survival Guide
What Every Orphaned SunPower Customer Needs to Know
Your system still has value. Your warranties may still be valid.
This guide will help you figure out your options.
1. What Happened & What It Means for You
SunPower Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 5, 2024. The company ceased customer support on September 20, 2024. Complete Solar purchased the SunPower brand and some assets on September 30, 2024 — but they did NOT take responsibility for systems installed before that date.
If your system was installed before September 30, 2024, you are what's called an "orphaned" customer. The company that sold you the system, promised you a 25-year warranty, and was supposed to maintain your equipment no longer exists in a form that can help you.
The Good News
- •Your solar panels are still producing electricity (most likely)
- •Some equipment manufacturers are honoring warranties independently
- •If you have a lease, the leasing company is still obligated to maintain your system
- •Your system likely has many productive years left — the equipment is high quality
The Bad News
- •SunPower's "Complete Confidence" warranty is essentially void
- •The mySunPower monitoring app may stop working or require paid subscription
- •Getting support requires navigating multiple companies instead of one
- •Some manufacturers (e.g. Waaree) have been difficult to reach
2. Who Owns What: The Warranty Breakdown
SunPower didn't manufacture everything in your system. Different components came from different companies, and those companies may still honor their warranties. Here's who to contact for what:
| Component | Manufacturer | Warranty Status |
|---|---|---|
| Microinverters | Enphase Energy | HONORING WARRANTIES — Most responsive |
| Panels (Maxeon) | Maxeon Solar | HONORING WARRANTIES — Registration required |
| Panels (Waaree) | Waaree Energies | CLAIMS DIFFICULT — Says they'll honor, hard to reach |
| Panels (REC) | REC Solar | HONORING WARRANTIES |
| Panels (Qcells) | Qcells | HONORING WARRANTIES |
| SunVault Battery | SunPower (defunct) | UNCLEAR — No manufacturer stepping up |
| Workmanship | SunPower/Installer | VOID — Unless your installer is still in business |
How Do I Know What Panels I Have?
Check your original installation contract or permit. Common SunPower panel types:
- •X-Series, A-Series, E-Series, Maxeon 3/5/6 = Manufactured by Maxeon
- •U-Series = Manufactured by Waaree
- •P-Series = Various manufacturers
If you can't find your contract, your local building department should have your permit on file with equipment specifications.
3. Lease vs. Loan: Your Rights Are Different
If You LEASE Your System (or have a PPA)
You actually have more leverage than you might think. Here's why:
- You don't own the system — the leasing company does
- Maintaining the equipment is THEIR contractual obligation, not yours
- If the system isn't working, they may be in breach of contract
- You may be entitled to payment deferrals, reductions, or lease termination
SunStrong Management acquired SunPower's lease portfolio. Contact them at (833) 514-1858. They've acknowledged a repair backlog but say they're "willing to provide deferrals and extensions."
IMPORTANT:
Don't just stop paying your lease without a plan. Document everything, demand repairs in writing, and consult a consumer protection attorney if SunStrong won't respond. Simply stopping payments can send you to collections.
If You OWN Your System (Cash or Loan)
You have more control but also more responsibility:
- You can hire any solar contractor to service your system
- You can pursue manufacturer warranties directly (Enphase, Maxeon, etc.)
- If you have a loan, you likely still owe payments even if the system has issues
- However, if you were misled during the sale, you may have legal options against the lender
4. The SunVault Problem
CRITICAL FOR SUNVAULT OWNERS: If you have a SunPower SunVault battery, you are in a more difficult situation than other SunPower customers. Please read this section carefully.
Why SunVault Customers Are Stuck
1. Warranty Limbo
The SunVault was a SunPower-branded product with no independent manufacturer stepping up to honor warranties. Unlike panels (Maxeon) or inverters (Enphase), there's no clear warranty path.
2. Monitoring Incompatibility
Enphase offers a monitoring restoration service for orphaned SunPower systems — but it currently does NOT work with SunVault batteries. This means the standard $999 Enphase monitoring kit solution isn't available to you.
3. Limited Options
Your only current monitoring option is SunStrong Connect, the paid successor to mySunPower, which has mixed reviews for reliability and accuracy.
What SunVault Owners Can Do
- Check if your SunVault is actually functioning: Does backup power work during outages? If yes, the battery itself is working even without monitoring.
- Use utility bill analysis to estimate solar production (see Section 5)
- Contact SunStrong about SunStrong Connect monitoring options
- If your battery fails: Get quotes for Enphase IQ Battery replacement — this would also enable Enphase monitoring for your whole system going forward
- Document everything for potential future class action or regulatory relief
5. Is Your System Actually Working? How to Tell
Without monitoring, you need to use your utility bills to estimate whether your system is producing power. Here's how:
The Utility Bill Method
- 1Get 12 months of current utility bills (you can usually download these from your utility's website)
- 2Note your total grid consumption (kWh imported from the utility)
- 3Note any net metering credits (kWh exported back to the grid)
- 4Find your pre-solar consumption if possible (bills from before installation, or use regional averages)
- 5Calculate: Pre-solar usage − Current grid import + Net metering credits = Estimated solar production
What Should Your System Produce?
Use PVWatts to estimate expected production for your location and system size. As a rough guide:
| Region | Annual kWh per kW | 5kW System Example |
|---|---|---|
| Southern California | 1,400-1,500 | 7,000-7,500 kWh/year |
| Northern California | 1,300-1,400 | 6,500-7,000 kWh/year |
| Arizona | 1,500-1,700 | 7,500-8,500 kWh/year |
| Texas | 1,300-1,500 | 6,500-7,500 kWh/year |
| Northeast US | 1,100-1,250 | 5,500-6,250 kWh/year |
How to Interpret Your Results
Above 85% of expected:
Your system is likely working fine — you just lost monitoring
70-85% of expected:
Some degradation or partial failure — worth investigating
Below 70% of expected:
Significant problem — get a professional diagnostic
Near zero production:
System is likely off or has major failure — check breakers first, then call a solar contractor
6. Step-by-Step Action Plan
This Week
- 1Gather your documents: Installation contract, warranty paperwork, permit records, utility bills (12+ months)
- 2Identify your equipment: What panels? What inverters? Do you have a SunVault?
- 3Do the utility bill analysis to estimate if your system is producing
This Month
- 1Register your panels with the manufacturer (Maxeon, REC, Qcells) if not already done
- 2Contact Enphase (510-945-6752) about your microinverter warranty status and monitoring options
- 3If you have a lease with issues, send a formal written repair request to SunStrong
- 4If production looks low, get a diagnostic from a local solar contractor ($150-300)
If You Have Problems
- 1Document everything: Dates, calls, emails, photos, utility bills
- 2File complaints: State Attorney General, FTC (ftc.gov/complaint), BBB, state contractor board
- 3Consider legal consultation: Consumer protection attorneys handle solar disputes, often on contingency
- 4Join online communities: r/solar on Reddit has active discussions about SunPower issues
7. Key Contacts & Resources
Warranty Support
Enphase (Inverters)
510-945-6752
spwrquery@enphaseenergy.com
Maxeon (Panels)
Qcells (Panels)
Waaree (Panels)
1-800-2121-321
waaree@waaree.com
(difficult to reach)
Lease & Monitoring
SunStrong (Lease/PPA)
(833) 514-1858
SunStrong Connect (Monitoring)
App stores
$99/year for full data
Consumer Protection
FTC Complaints
Production Calculator
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. Consult a licensed attorney for legal matters and a licensed contractor for electrical work. Information current as of December 2025.
Need Help With Your Orphaned SunPower System?
Awen Energy LLC specializes in helping homeowners navigate the post-SunPower landscape. Services include:
- •System diagnostic assessments
- •Warranty pathway identification and claims assistance
- •Production analysis and troubleshooting
- •Lease dispute documentation and advocacy