Solar Panels Not Working? Here Is Exactly What to Do (2026)
Your solar system has gone quiet. The app shows zero. The electric bill is full price. The solar company is not picking up. You are paying for a system that is not working — and here is exactly what to do about it.
Quick answer
If your solar panels are not working, start by checking your monitoring app for production data, then check your circuit breaker panel for tripped breakers. If the system is confirmed down, send your solar company a formal written demand for repair within 30 days. Document every day of non-production — this is your breach of contract evidence. If the company does not repair the system, you have grounds to demand contract cancellation.
First: Confirm It Is Actually Not Working
Before taking any action, confirm the system is genuinely not producing electricity. Log into your monitoring app — Sunrun's mySunRun, Tesla's app, Enphase Enlighten, SolarEdge monitoring, or your company's portal. Look at today's production and the last 30 days. Zero bars on a sunny day is your confirmation. If you cannot access the app or it shows an error, that itself is a problem worth documenting.
Also check your main electrical panel for any tripped breakers labeled Solar, PV, or Inverter. A tripped breaker is the simplest fix and takes 30 seconds. If the breaker looks fine, the problem is almost certainly with the inverter or equipment — and requires the solar company to respond.
Step 1: Document Everything Starting Today
The moment you confirm your system is down, start a written record. Screenshot your monitoring app showing zero production. Note the date. Pull your utility bill for the previous month — it will show no solar offset. This paper trail is your breach of contract evidence and it starts now.
Step 2: Contact the Company in Writing
Do not just call. Call if you want, but follow it immediately with written notice — email or through the app's messaging system. Write: your system has been producing zero electricity since [date], you are requesting emergency repair service within 30 days, and you are documenting this request. Keep a copy.
Step 3: Escalate to a Formal Written Demand
If you have contacted the company and not received a firm repair timeline within 7 days, send a formal written demand by certified mail to the company's legal address. State: the system has been non-functional since [date], you have made [X] attempts to contact the company, you are demanding repair within 30 days or you will pursue your legal remedies including contract cancellation. This certified mail letter starts the clock on formal legal action.
Step 4: File Complaints While Waiting
Do not wait passively for a repair appointment. While the clock runs on your 30-day demand, file simultaneously with your state contractor licensing board, your state AG, and the BBB. Multiple regulatory complaints create pressure that a single customer service ticket does not. Companies respond faster when regulators are watching.
Step 5: If No Repair — Move to Cancellation
A solar company that fails to repair your system after a formal written 30-day demand is in material breach of the service agreement. At this point you have documented grounds to demand contract cancellation rather than just repairs. Consult a consumer attorney — many take solar breach of contract cases on contingency — and get a free contract review to understand the specific cancellation provisions in your agreement.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my solar panels are actually not working?
Check your monitoring app for today's and last 30 days production. Zero bars on a sunny day confirms the issue. Also check your electrical panel for tripped breakers labeled Solar or PV — a tripped breaker is often the simplest fix.
My solar company is not responding to my repair requests — what do I do?
Send a formal written demand by certified mail to the company legal address. Give them 30 days to repair. While waiting, file simultaneously with your state contractor licensing board, state AG, and BBB. Multiple regulatory complaints create pressure that a single support ticket does not.
Can I cancel my solar contract if the system is not working?
If the company fails to repair your system after a formal 30-day written demand, you likely have grounds for contract cancellation based on material breach. Document every day of non-production and every contact attempt. Consult a consumer attorney.
How long can my solar company wait before repairing my system?
A reasonable repair timeline is typically 30 days for parts-related repairs. Some delays for specialty parts may be longer but require proactive communication. Extended non-repair while you continue making payments — 3 months or more — is almost certainly material breach of the service agreement.
Should I stop paying my solar loan if the system is not working?
Do not stop payments without legal advice — this can trigger default and credit damage. Instead, document the non-performance, send formal demands, and consult a consumer attorney about the FTC Holder Rule which may allow you to assert breach of contract defenses against the lender.
What if my solar monitoring app stopped working too?
Document the monitoring failure with screenshots. If the company is not providing the monitoring services promised in your contract, this is an additional service breach. Include it in your formal demand letter and your contractor licensing board complaint.