Bay Area SunPower solar customers claim they're out thousands amid company's bankruptcy

Bay Area residents say they're out thousands of dollars for solar systems that either aren't working properly, weren't fully installed, or had installations that caused damage to their homes. SunPower solar is one of the largest and most well-known solar providers. Now the company has filed for bankruptcy and is also facing an accusation by the Contractors State License Board that could result in having its contractor license revoked. abc7ne.ws/4830InM
#news #solar #solarpower #solarpanel #sunpower #business #abc7news

[@bikedawg]

They keep coming by to sell me their shit.

[@techlord5573]

I was thinking about going with this company six months ago because youtubers said they were a good company, and their solar panels were great. So happy I did not run with that idea

[@duckling4393]

It's because they are youtubers, just like tiktokers.

[@chiquita683]

Yea trust KZbin ads

[@silent1967]

Trust ytr's ???? Do your own research.

[@clintonlamar1503]

This is not the green new deal. Its the new GREED deal

[@safeandeffectivelol]

green raw deal cheap solar panels from China + untrained illegal immigrant labor = disaster

[@portcybertryx222]

Solar power is good. But poor management is not

[@kenjones6046]

Good. Get these companies out of business.

[@ralphpal]

Why. Are you nuts

[@frankm7707]

Nope, they will get a name changed and moved on to other victims

[@safeandeffectivelol]

@@ralphpal Most of them are scammers. This has been going on for 15-20 years. Either what they install doesn't work as advertised or they don't finish the job after getting the money.

[@celebrityrog]

Never trust solar companies or installers. Honestly you’re better off buying them yourself and install them with an electrician friend.

[@adrianjimenez6034]

False.

[@alant5757]

And it’s like jewelry…. HUGE markups

[@adrianjimenez6034]

@@alant5757 False yet again.

[@francismarion6400]

And it will destroy the integrity of your roof.

[@adrianjimenez6034]

@@francismarion6400 Wrong again.

[@maestrovso]

The scams are renewable, over and over again.

[@brandonxiong1940]

Thank you for putting it out there for us to know.😮

[@MH_6160]

Is this sun power or bad sellers/contractors? Solar has become a total shit show in this state… I don't regret going solar on my current home but I will think twice on going solar on the home I am currently building.

[@dannyn.3539]

All new building in California must have solar. Think twice or 3 times but if u dont have it. You aint getting a permit to build.

[@MarkT1700]

Sun Power is the contractor

[@jpmcfrosty]

@@MarkT1700Sunpower is the financier. Thousands of solar company subcontract through them and use their own 3rd party installers

[@safeandeffectivelol]

It's the same in every state. It's a coinflip whether you end up getting screwed or not

[@propblast82nd]

The green new SCAM

[@salluna1957]

Green by a third party. There are resources available on how to and what you need to build your own solar panel system for like half of whatever is on the market right now.

[@SeanWork]

@@salluna1957 Let me guess. You use Linux for computing.

[@francismarion6400]

​@@salluna1957Where is it made? China?

[@kennethmicojoepanganibanvl5161]

SunPower's third party Contractor is the problem here not replying those customer complains.

[@janc4176]

​​@@salluna1957 they said it's free if you live in this blah blah blah zipcode, i keep getting that annoying lady commercial.

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

I have Sunpower, they also leaked after the rain storm, and now almost a decade later, they leaked again. Both times the sent someone out same day to repair. I don’t know how common it is to have leaks but they were definitely responsive. I am concerned about future warranty issue though, I think shutting them down may not be a good option for those of us under warranty.

[@handimanjay6642]

They should probably check their home titles. They may have signed over an easement to their property and roof to SunPower.

[@Pilikoa]

It’s usually not a good idea for a customer to stop paying bills because of a separate dispute. Better to continue paying monthly bills while seeking legal recourse for the other issue. Two wrongs don’t make a right. This is similar to HOA disputes, oftentimes residents stop paying and dig themselves into a deeper hole. 113k for that one couple due sounds like late penalties, etc. I heard of horror stories with certain solar companies. Glad they will face consequences too.

[@casparhughey5651]

This is exactly what you should do.

[@bebopc95]

Im sorry to hear about your cancer hope you get better.

[@adenher5814]

Lol solar is a joke you have to pay for the solar and still pay pgnE to carry your power and you only get to use it when they let you

[@sharon94503]

The IDEA of solar power is great...the REALITY of solar power is not. Until the day (I'll most likely be dead) solar is integrated INTO the roofing and not on top of, I would not even consider it. My roof cost $12,000 to install and the last thing I want is for the warranty for it to be voided by having some knuckleheads cut into it, let alone urnish8ng off asphalt/gravel OR the added risk of fire.

[@kenbob1071]

Good news for you... Tesla already has an integrated solar tile that replaces the roof shingles and the photovoltaics are guaranteed for I believe 25-30 years, with the roof itself likely lasting longer..

[@supertec2023]

​@@kenbob1071I don't believe anything Elon musk says about Tesla he's a scam artist

[@warriorplutotrent3827]

All over priced junk. Tesla panels have major issues too. Just go cheap with the chinese. Atleast they can fix their panels​ and have better service @@kenbob1071

[@JBoy340a]

@@kenbob1071 Yes. We have a solar roof and Powerwalls. Electricity bill went from $400/mo. to $10/mo. Payback in 7 years, currently on year 4. And never any worries about the power outages that seem to occur every few months.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

@@kenbob1071 Yeah but they cost $100K to $150K for a regular sized house. A regular roof costs $10K to $15K on average depending on the material used. I might do it for $70K since lifetime energy savings is estimated at $35K. I'll be happy with a $35K roof that lasts 30 years.

[@DaleMeese]

Where have we heard this before. I just realized this the other day on solar with the couple down the street with solar, what happens when you need a new roof? They were not expecting it to be 3x the cost of someone without solar, never thought of that before.

[@OWK000]

Stick up a few panels in your back yard, you can take with you when you move (into your van?) or gazebo porch if want to get ambitious and then for easy buy a battery power station or watch Will Prowse on KZbin and DIY entirely. Enough to run your fridge and air conditioning during peak or during a black out. It's over with sleezy solar providers.

[@G7130]

PEOPLE, it does not make sense to spend 40-60K on solar to save $200 per month. Period.

[@casparhughey5651]

It does. And that's ridiculous price for solar. It doesn't cost that much

[@zugabop]

Yeah I $200 bill should only cost you 20k ish

[@casparhughey5651]

@@zugabop huh

[@joeyjoey22]

It’s more than $200? That’s the price for a 1BR apartment

[@ginyilee6538]

why the CEO didn`t need to be in jail?

[@ninersnation3298]

this is a democracy country. ceo is just a worker of the company.

[@ginyilee6538]

@@ninersnation3298 so? ceo is just human. what’s your point? if u committed fraud, u should be punished.

[@pumpkingirl4229]

I get 2-4 salesmen every month ....Beware these are Scams..do your homework.🍀

[@anthonyrose6686]

Why did the bankruptcy judge grant SunPower a bankruptcy for . File charges against the bankruptcy judge

[@kennethmicojoepanganibanvl5161]

To save last asset of SunPower. To reduce workforce cut off. To prevent layoff happened last 2017 at SunPower Module Manufacturing Philippines. Almost 2000 employees layoff that time including me. When Trump Administration moves in. Priorities Fossil Fuel businesses rather than renewable energy.

[@safeandeffectivelol]

That's what happens when a company is bankrupt

[@RomanBarba-v8v]

The judge granted sun power a bankruptcy shame on this judge. Look the judge should of told them fix your customers problems first and then come back too the courts and we will see if I grant you bankruptcy. Looks like the judge left people problems with the solar company hanging.

[@kennethmicojoepanganibanvl5161]

@@RomanBarba-v8v ASK Trump .. Because Trump wants oil rather than Renewable energy since 2017. When Trump wins presidency last 2017. That is the start of the fall down of SUNPOWER CORPORATION. They layoff thousand employees here in SUNPOWER PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING including me.

[@kennethmicojoepanganibanvl5161]

@@RomanBarba-v8v ASK Trump .. Because Trump wants oil rather than Renewable energy since 2017. When Trump wins presidency last 2017. That is the start of the fall down of SUNPOWER CORPORATION. They layoff thousand employees here in SUNPOWER PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING including me.

[@mdb1239]

I think SunPower will be no more. I'm shocked they have stayed in existence this long. I expected them to be gone 5 years ago.

[@abelincoln3261]

We need to take these company owners to court long before they can get to this point... Why can't our state Ds and FEDS and FBI and AGs offices get of their asses and address these companies,,, they are destroying faith in the industry...

[@interamerica6027]

Too of these type of stories with solar panel companies for me to comfortably invest in this energy.

[@MrYfrank14]

57,000.00 TO SAVE THE PLANET! First, where do you get that kind of money to just throw around like this? Second, what kind of any idiot spends , what, four times what electricity would cost them for ten years?

[@celebrityrog]

Because the cost of fuel in 10 years will be more than you believe. Oil and gas are limited and the world at war drives up costs. Solar is better overall but these companies are scams.

[@ffs6158]

A lot, my neighbor spent $35k on them and it was built into the mortgage of the people who have bought it since. People are very easy to scam and deceive.

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

Lots of solar scams out there. Sun Power wanted $32,000 to put panels on my roof. A local company did it for half that. BTW, I didn’t do it to save the planet. I did it to save money. The system paid for itself after 5 years and now saves me about $2000 a year

[@plantsplantz2116]

generational wealth

[@MrYfrank14]

@@plantsplantz2116 - I wish I was from that generation.

[@blcsfo]

In December 2019, I purchased 12 solar panels from Sunrun thru Costco. Received $500 Costco Gift Card and 2% back using the Costco VISA card. The installation was done within one month. The Sunrun installation placed upon my roof was completed with five hours. In the years since, I’ve never had a by problems with the solar panels which were Made In China. Sunrun is still being sold at Costco. Sunrun installed hundreds of solar panels at the San Francisco Costco 3rd floor parking lot. If Costco trusts Sunrun, that was good enough for me.

[@dannyn.3539]

I had a different experience with Sunrun through Costco. They came and install the panels. They came back and install the battery. Then they disappeared and nothing is turn on. I was told the battery need to be connected to the panel and a specialist electrician need to do that. Waited months and then a year. Called costco they connect to sunrun same answer. You need to wait for a specialist. Meanwhile they damage the roof tiles and the roof need repairs. Called costco many times and all costco can do is transfer to Sunrun. About almost 2yrs later. They finally came and connect everything and fix the roof. Everything works now but it was a stressful 2yrs.

[@davidiverson4072]

For most single family homes, the A/C is the top energy user. If you were to get a smaller ground setup, enough to counter the A/C use plus 10 to 15% more, you would have a much smaller solar bill and utility bill. And no one damaging your roof. It is doable.

[@brody8838]

"Everyone is saying the earth is warming" and everyone is also saying stay away from solar companies. Just a little due diligence on the buyers behalf could have saved all of them.

[@gallopingsalmon]

Solar works, unfortunately this industry is riddled with scammers.

[@casparhughey5651]

Contractor industries riddled with scammers

[@davidb3271]

This is the problem with subcontractors, which are very prevalent in the solar industry. There is no accountability for the work.

[@xlpaintplr1]

They don't care we are going through this with all these companies

[@harmonk8012]

The Green movement is mostly a scam. I pity the fool.

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

Con artists ruin a lot of good things including the Republican Party of today.

[@SeanWork]

I don't think that's it. I think we're living in an era of incompetence. I can't get ATT to call me back or schedule an appointment for my business internet, no one can take phone orders at restaurants, hell even Toyota's are getting worse lol.

[@kenbob1071]

Sorry. The biggest scam is the fossil fuel industry. They are destroying our entire planet. One incompetent contractor preying on individuals doesn't mean the whole movement is a scam. There are plenty of wind and solar projects that are legitimately making the world a better place.

[@francismarion6400]

Al Gore. nuff said.

[@harmonk8012]

@@SeanWork The movie Ideocracy predicted this future, our present. There are more efficient, cleaner methods to generate energy than solar, but we can't do that because reasons. So yeah, the eco movement is all a scam. People are getting stupider. Everything is dumbed down. Thanks for your support.

[@debl9957]

Solar panel installation can damage your roof. Otherwise, need your roof replaced or repaired? Then you'll have to find and pay someone to remove the solar panels. Then re-install them after your roof has been replaced/repaired. Sounds like fun.

[@Phillipnoogen]

California pretty much screwed over solar companies and going green initiative when they cut the 90% energy surplus sell rate to electric companies. I wanted solar panels but when they did that, i changed my mind.

[@casparhughey5651]

The reason to have solar is not to sell it

[@Phillipnoogen]

@casparhughey5651 if you're overproducing what you're using. You can sell the energy back to electric company and get credit on your next statement or bank them/Store them

[@JBoy340a]

Yes. NEM3 has been a disaster for power users. Great to power companies.

[@JBoy340a]

NEM3 shows the corruption in the CA PUC. All driven by the power companies (PGE, LADWP, SCE) lobbying money.

[@tuomasholo]

Unfortunately there’s a contract. You’ll have to take them to court to claim breach of contract.

[@christiandunn9715]

Mild compared to Solyndra scam.

[@robertjohnson-mt8pz]

That was Obama's scam. This one is the current Administration's scam.

[@att2976]

Damm. Close to sign contract with Sunpower last year but changed my mind in last second. Can’t trust any out there..

[@anthonyrose6686]

According to recent news, Complete Solaria is taking over payment responsibility for certain SunPower solar assets, including their Blue Raven Solar, New Homes, and Dealer businesses, after SunPower filed for bankruptcy and entered into an agreement to sell these divisions to Complete Solaria; this means that customers with contracts under these specific SunPower business units will now be making payments to Complete Solaria.

[@tyronearnold6692]

All the ugly and house damaging garbage e waste. Nobody listened to me that I always saw the disconnects in the off position on commercial buildings with solar panels. Enjoy your roof leaks and ugly ugly ugly garbage left on your home which will fail before 10 years has passed.

[@Jimmyjimjimjim]

Solar power is the titty job of home improvement. You never want to be the guy who pays for it. You want it be the guy who comes in next that enjoys it.

[@geoall2710]

They’re going through bankruptcy, give them a chance to reorganize, geez

[@justme6275]

sorry to hear but most of the SunPower customers are out of luck...

[@ShakeNBake8869]

find all these hidden scam businesses, dont just shut them down take their money under penalty of prison rawr

[@peterkn2]

My guess is that Sun Power chose inferrior inverters to rebrand and they decided to cut their losses.

[@DouglasHeyen]

Illinois going through the same 💩show. Fly by night contractors need to put their homes up for collateral. They need to feel the pain they are inflicting upon folks who just want to do the right thing. Anymore today solar is a joke. Banks solar contractors and the salesman make all you savings and stuff it in their pockets. Too good to be true it’s always is

[@casparhughey5651]

This is a problem with contractors it's been going on for decades

[@mrgylex123]

Roof installs will need to become secondary to wall, fences, and ground mount systems (vetical systems are gaining popularity). It's not worth the risk dealing with 3rdparties and your roof...the 2 don't match

[@lesliepropheter5040]

Don’t forget that you have to get the solar guys to switch your panels to home use in case of a fire or power outage in your area.

[@67rome]

You could thank gavin newsom and nem3.0 for all of this.

[@hounddog410amms]

That's for saving the earth with your money!

[@BuhodePiedra]

The state policy just changed to go against our carbon neutral goals. Anything for the bottom line. They didn’t need to crush this industry. Greed!

[@tyronearnold6692]

Oh, did the scammers run out of subsidies for their uneconomical e waste?

[@BuhodePiedra]

@@tyronearnold6692 ur deluded. Noiseless, emissionless, unlimited clean renewable energy from the sun.. If any other country has invented this tech, they would be the only manufactures. Germany is farther north in latitude yet energized more % of national electric needs with solar.. entirely due to policy decisions. Meanwhile Hawaii, which should be 100% solar already is way way behind. Again, due to policy decisions. Not a lack of sun energy.

[@francismarion6400]

Carbon neutral is stupidity. Plants need carbon.

[@tyronearnold6692]

@@BuhodePiedra you are ignorant as F. Noiseless cooling fans and chirpy inverters? So full of shit.

[@jameshernandez5766]

DON'T OPEN YOUR DOOR!

[@sdrammm696969]

Hell nooo! They are crazy

[@cho9171]

But i thought these solar programs were "free" and that it would be subsidized by government program for going green? 🤔

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

Guess your research sucked

[@kenbob1071]

Who said they would be free?? I think currently the feds will reimburse for up to 30% of the installation costs.

[@Fedgery007]

Subsidized by taxpayers.

[@xynonners]

​@@Fedgery007you will go green, whether you like it or not. If not, your neighbor will go green, using your money 😂

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

@@Fedgery007 So is a lot of stuff especially for big corporations getting corporate welfare. Farmers paid to not grow stuff what’s your point again?

[@darren1922]

I have a lease with SunPower. My inverter has been broken since May 2024. They have not honored their lease agreement obligations, which is warranty repairs on equipment and parts for their system. I can't get ahold of anyone to resolve this problem.

[@supertec2023]

I still get like one call a day for somebody trying to scam me to buy solar stuff for my house

[@dmsteele92831]

Without government subsidies this "green" stuff doesn't make sense

[@honeydavis5568]

Sunpower was actually a great company that the US government let fail, like so many others. If domestic silicon production is important to us then we should subsidize it. It is a national defense issue.

[@jimmurphy5355]

In 2020, Sunpower split into two companies. Under the Sunpower name, they continued installing solar systems. A new company called Maxeon took over making cells and panels. Maxeon is the silicon production company now, not Sunpower.

[@garywhittaker6575]

When does the disciplinary phase begin? Fast track the process so people can get their lives back!

[@mr.d7237]

Sad

[@Mac7504-OG]

People are also having issues getting g payoffs in order to complete their real estate transactions. No one is pricing up or answering anything

[@chasingsunsets87]

Maxeon is taking over the warrnaties for sunpower depeneing when you did the installation

[@an123456t]

Don't be left off so easy need to finish the promise they make can't leave us stranded

[@truegrit7697]

Jeeze - you can't trust anybody anymore. I'm glad I didn't install solar panels.

[@ClearGlassStudios281]

Enron of solar panels.

[@762-m9b]

Slap on the wrist a fine and nothing for the consumer.

[@vince1738]

They did this for years buying companies and than not honoring warranties same game different day

[@thekaollle]

reason why you dont buy from solar company's you get the stuff your self and try and hook it up the best you can till the time for the house hook up and have electricion come in to finish it

[@diegolara4202]

Yet all these KZbin solar panel door to door guys talk about "25-year warranty" when half these companies go bankrupt before the 25-year period.

[@thomaskim5008]

Solar energy does not work like what is advertised

[@retrogametech1626]

If there outta business why would they need a license

[@abelincoln3261]

The United States much change our LLC corp protection laws.. make owners of llc legally accountable.

[@anthonyrose6686]

Who is taking over for payments what creditor should go after them if your making your payments. Whoever the creditor is go after them

[@total2199]

Thanks to California greed deal sht😢

[@anthonyrose6686]

Don’t pay if they put it on your credit report Sue get a good lawyer

[@Tewthpaste]

*if i can installed 12 solar panels myself by just watching youtube video's than you can too. my solar panel is still working for the last 3 years. All you do is connect and snap connector to connector and than you are done. it's easy as that.*

[@janc4176]

They're targeting old people and scamming them

[@ThomasOsaki]

just amazes me how people get suckered into solar on rooftop. if you do simple homeownership math and know anything about cost of reroofing you know that solar is for suckers. next time do your due diligence.

[@bills6946]

Correct. Also, the panels useful service life is 20 years. The loan is usually for 20 years, so just as you are about to pay off the loan, you need a new system complete with ANOTHER 20 year loan . Every 20 years, you might as well replace the roof because they will have to remove the panels when you get a leak anyway.

[@dmsteele92831]

I save $300 a month on solar as I use my AC a lot! Bought it for $13k and have had it for 6 years. It paid itself off in just over 3 1/2 years...your math is off.

[@bills6946]

@@dmsteele92831 How much does your loan cost a month? Probably a close offset. Almost as soon as you finally pay it off, your system needs replacement and your loan starts all over again. Solar panels have a efficient lifespan of 20 years.

[@anthonyrose6686]

Sunpower ran a good game on customers get a lawyer and sue individually bastards

[@anthonyrose6686]

It’s funny the CFO mismanaged money in the company so much nonsense

[@alhkcblack9617]

Anybody who wants solar there are lots of diy kits out there nowadays. It's not too complicated to do. Watch some videos on KZbin to know what to look for. If you want to mount it to the roof just hire some roofers to do it for you properly and get an electrician to hook it up to your electrical system. Don't use these shadey solar companies.

[@jobturkey7418]

Licensed dudes hire straight up immigrants lol. Those guys go up there with a drill with no training and ruin your roof. Expect leaks

[@JW-mx3qg]

You think Sunpower is bad! Try Tesla, even more incompetent.

[@MH_6160]

how so

[@kenbob1071]

Care to elaborate? I don't put any weight in purely conclusory statements.

[@adrianjimenez6034]

You and thousands agree to that. Unfortunately many will learn as they did with SunPower

[@JW-mx3qg]

@@MH_6160 They installed solar panels and the first winter everything in the kitchen and bathroom leaked and got destroyed. They had someone come by, and said, it's your roof, not "us"....(with panels on they claimed it was the roof without actually investigating) I had them un-install the panels, and asked my roofer (high end roofer) to check, and sure enough, they stripped off partially and we found all their "pucks" or flashing attachments, not anchored on anything structural, and they did't fill 70% of these devices filled with the special compound that would seal them to the actual roofing materials. Had to report to the CSLB and provided letter from roofer, and video and pictures documenting everything wrong. (BTW Tesla employees did the installation, and not some sub contractor) Tesla finally admitted fault (they had to based on evidence) and only partially paid out. (may I say that this is a span of a 1.5 year to get decent communications (they rather communicate through an app then a real person!) I had them also install an extra power wall, and still awaiting a final inspection...the city still has not approved the project, and they are demanding a full payment!!!!! I told them a full payment will be given once the city approved ALL inspections (per contract). they had to reapply for the now expired permit, and since then no one has done anything to finalize inspections!!!! Very incompetent company and not following CA state law.

[@JW-mx3qg]

@@kenbob1071 Please read my reply. and NO I am not some idiot in his basement making empty statements.

[@MrBakakeng]

Newsome killed solar

[@PereiraMichael19]

Nem3 from pge caused all this bankrupt these companies

[@deanhenthorn1890]

Classic case of if you want something done right to do it yourself. Learn the solar business, take some classes or don’t get involved with something you have no experience in.

[@buxy_buxy]

these solar company are all scams i have sunrun here in san diego and they have scammed me also i dont know what to do 😢😢😢

[@robertmalone3997]

File bankruptcy start over again and change the name😂😂

[@RacerX1971]

"Everybody says the worlds warming"😂😂😂

[@kenbob1071]

Uh, it is.

[@robertjohnson-mt8pz]

LOL

[@RacerX1971]

@@kenbob1071 , you don't get it, do you?

[@LanceMan6012]

A rip off.

[@JL-rj5jx]

Sue them too the 3rd power of the sun,😮 all solar is a ripoff 😢

[@denningmp37]

First mistake is doing it for the environment I did it to save money

[@anthonyrose6686]

Correct

[@janc4176]

Obama pushed this hard, way way back in 2010s and the economic stimulus during biden.

[@tonylinh3791]

Such a scam

[@PlatinumPeasant]

I’m doing just fine because I didn’t buy into the bullshit 💀

[@warriorplutotrent3827]

Don't buy a solar system for your house thats over 10k. These things arent worth anything over that. My eyes were opened when i came to africa to see that an whole house with solar panels with three batteries and an inverter is $3500 in west africa from the same place the company in the video probably get their solar panels from and thats china😂or maybe not since the chinese panels have no problem in hot Africa.

[@Nicola-uy2cl]

A scam

[@jerrypolverino6025]

Great concept, poorly done.

[@Benjamin_Gellman]

that's definitely a man. and holy shit they're like space aliens

[@Fedgery007]

I feel sorry for these liberals.

[@kenbob1071]

I guess that means you're voting for the convicted felon and orange con-man. Enjoy your $400 golden sneakers and your worthless Trump bucks, Trump bitcoin, Trump NFTs, etc.!

[@Mr7141983]

Sunburn power.