SolarSolar Lease vs Buy vs PPA: Which Is Better for You in 2026?
Owning, leasing or signing a PPA changes who gets the savings, who handles upkeep and what happens when you sell. Here is how they compare in 2026.
Solar company went out of business? What to do now
Several large US solar installers and lenders have closed or gone bankrupt since 2023, leaving many homeowners – “solar orphans” – unsure who services their system, whether warranties still count and where to send payments. Find your company below, then follow the steps.
Find your company
- SunPowerTwo different companies: the bankrupt SunPower Corporation and today’s SunPower Inc.
- Freedom ForeverFiled for Chapter 11 in April 2026; case converted to Chapter 7 liquidation in September 2026
- SunnovaFiled for Chapter 11 in June 2025; customers now serviced by SunStrong Management
- Titan Solar PowerShut down abruptly in June 2024, followed by a Chapter 7 filing
- SolciusFiled for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2024
- Vision SolarFiled for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in December 2023
- ADT SolarWound down its residential solar business in 2024
- MosaicSolar lender: Chapter 11 in June 2025, exit in September 2025; loans serviced by Solar Servicing LLC
| Company | What happened | Who to contact now |
|---|---|---|
| SunPower | Two different companies: the bankrupt SunPower Corporation and today’s SunPower Inc. | Legacy SunPower leases and PPAs are serviced by SunStrong Management. Owned systems can be serviced by any licensed solar company. |
| Freedom Forever | Filed for Chapter 11 in April 2026; case converted to Chapter 7 liquidation in September 2026 | Contact the company that bills you (your lease, PPA or loan provider). For repairs, use a licensed local solar company. |
| Sunnova | Filed for Chapter 11 in June 2025; customers now serviced by SunStrong Management | SunStrong Management services legacy Sunnova solar and storage systems. |
| Titan Solar Power | Shut down abruptly in June 2024, followed by a Chapter 7 filing | No successor installer. Use your lender or lease provider for contract questions and a licensed local company for repairs. |
| Solcius | Filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2024 | No successor installer. Contact your lender or lease provider; hire a licensed local company for repairs. |
| Vision Solar | Filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in December 2023 | No successor installer. Contact your lender or lease provider; hire a licensed local company for repairs. |
| ADT Solar | Wound down its residential solar business in 2024 | Contact ADT or the lender named on your contract; hire a licensed local company for repairs. |
| Mosaic | Solar lender: Chapter 11 in June 2025, exit in September 2025; loans serviced by Solar Servicing LLC | Solar Servicing LLC (a Forbright Bank subsidiary) services Mosaic solar loans. |
Six steps for every solar orphan
- Save your paperwork now. Download your contract, permits, system design, warranty documents and payment history from any customer portal before it closes.
- Work out who you pay. If you have a lease, PPA or loan, the company that bills you (or your lender) is your main contact – not the installer.
- Keep paying. A bankruptcy does not cancel lease, PPA or loan payments. Missing them can hurt your credit.
- Watch your production. If the monitoring app stops working, read your inverter or utility meter, and photograph readings so you can document any outage.
- Use manufacturer warranties. Panel, inverter and battery warranties come from the equipment makers and generally stay valid after an installer closes. Workmanship warranties from the installer usually do not.
- Hire a licensed local solar company for repairs. You are not tied to the original installer. Ask for proof of license and insurance.
Owned vs leased: who is responsible?
If you own the system (cash or loan), repairs are your responsibility, but panel, inverter and battery makers’ warranties still apply. A licensed local installer can file warranty claims for you. If you lease or have a PPA, the system belongs to the company that bills you, and that company – or whoever took over the contract – is responsible for keeping it working under the agreement.
Before you sign with any installer again
- Ask how long the company has been in business and who would service the system if it closed.
- Prefer equipment from manufacturers with strong warranties, since those survive an installer closing.
- Compare at least three quotes with our solar quote checker.
Frequently asked questions
What is a solar orphan?
A homeowner whose solar installer, or the company that owns their lease or PPA, has gone out of business or stopped servicing systems.
Do I still have to pay my solar loan or lease if the company went bankrupt?
Yes. Bankruptcy does not cancel loan, lease or PPA payments. Keep paying and contact whoever now bills you.
Is my solar warranty void if the installer went bankrupt?
The installer’s own workmanship warranty usually ends. Manufacturer warranties on panels, inverters and batteries are separate and generally remain valid.
Who can repair my system if my installer closed?
Any licensed solar company. Ask for proof of license and insurance, and whether they can file manufacturer warranty claims for you.
What if my monitoring app stopped working?
Check readings on your inverter or utility meter, ask your inverter maker about their own monitoring app, and document any production drop with photos.
Related guides
Solar
SolarNet Metering Explained: How Solar Export Credits Work
Net metering credits you for solar power sent to the grid, but export rates and credit rules vary by state and utility. Here is how it works.
Electric BillsHow to Read Your Electric Bill: kWh, Supply vs. Delivery, Fixed Charges and Riders
A line-by-line guide to your electric bill: kWh usage, supply and delivery charges, fixed customer charges, riders and taxes, and how to find your real cost per kWh.
Sources
- EnergySage – SunPower is back. Here’s what happened and what it means for your system
- pv magazine – US-based Complete Solaria rebrands as SunPower (Apr 2025)
- PV Tech – SunPower files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, sells assets
- SolarInsure – Protecting your solar system after an installer closes (PDF, Jun 2026)
- FTC Consumer Advice – Solar power for your home
- Bloomberg – Freedom Forever files bankruptcy as solar industry woes deepen (Apr 2026)
- pv magazine USA – Freedom Forever bankruptcy converted to Chapter 7 liquidation (Sep 2026)
- Solar Power World – What homeowners should do after Freedom Forever filed for bankruptcy (Jun 2026)
- Solar Power World – Court approves sale of Sunnova
- GreenLancer – Solar company bankruptcies
- Sunnova – Closure and support resources
- pv magazine – Another U.S. residential installer announces business closure (Jun 2024)
- Solar Power World – Residential installer Titan Solar Power closes doors
Share your experience or ask a question
Be the first to ask a question or share your experience.