My Solar System Is Underperforming: What Can I Do?
When a solar system underperforms, it is not just an inconvenience. It is a financial problem — because the savings that were supposed to offset the payment are not showing up.
When a solar system underperforms, it is not just an inconvenience. It is a financial problem — because the savings that were supposed to offset the payment are not showing up. The homeowner is paying for a system that is not delivering what was promised. That is a breach of contract situation in many cases.
How to Know If Your System Is Underperforming
The first step is getting the data. Most solar systems come with monitoring apps that show daily, monthly, and annual production. Compare your actual production to the projections in your original proposal or contract. If actual production is consistently 10-20% or more below projections, that is significant underperformance.
- →Check your monitoring app for actual production data
- →Find the production projections in your original proposal or contract
- →Calculate the percentage gap between projected and actual production
- →Compare your actual utility bills to the projected savings
- →Document the gap over multiple months to establish a pattern
Why Systems Underperform
There are several common causes. Equipment issues — inverter problems, panel degradation, or installation defects — can reduce output. Shading from trees, new construction, or other obstructions can significantly reduce production. But the most common cause of apparent underperformance is simply that the projections were unrealistically optimistic from the start.
Solar Performance Review
If your system is not producing what was promised, find out what options may exist.
Get Free Case Review →💡 Solar production proposals are typically based on historical weather data and optimal conditions. If the salesperson used the most optimistic assumptions — maximum sun hours, no shading, perfect panel orientation — the projections may have been unrealistically high from the start. This can constitute misrepresentation.
What You Can Do
If the underperformance is due to equipment issues, you may have a warranty claim. If the projections were unrealistically optimistic, you may have a misrepresentation claim. If the contract includes a production guarantee that is not being met, you may have a breach of contract claim. A contract review can identify which of these applies to your situation.
⚠ Before pursuing any legal action, make sure you have documented the underperformance thoroughly. Courts and mediators will want to see production data, original projections, and a clear calculation of the gap.
Solar Performance Review
If your system is not producing what was promised, find out what options may exist.
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