Path-Q Solar

What should I do if my panels produce less than the installer promised?

Answer

First determine whether the promise was a guaranteed production amount or only an estimate, then preserve the records, check for shading or operational changes, and ask the installer to diagnose the shortfall. Compare normalized production against the contract's assumptions and any applicable warranty before making a claim.

Key points

  • Production varies with weather, shading, soiling, outages, equipment availability, and changes to the site.
  • A valid comparison should use the correct time period and account for the system's commissioned capacity and monitoring data.
  • Check whether the contract includes a production guarantee, remedies, exclusions, and a claim procedure.
  • Potential causes include inverter faults, disconnected strings, meter or monitoring errors, shading changes, and installation defects.

What it depends on

  • Contract language and promised production basis
  • Reliable production and system-availability records
  • Weather, shading, and site changes
  • System commissioning and equipment status
  • Warranty and dispute-resolution terms

Risks and trade-offs

  • A weather-related shortfall may not indicate defective equipment.
  • Waiting too long can make diagnosis and documentation more difficult.
  • Self-repair or unauthorized changes may affect warranty or make the cause harder to establish.

Information you may need

  • The signed contract and production guarantee, if any
  • Monitoring and utility-meter records
  • System alerts, maintenance history, and outage dates
  • Any changes to trees, buildings, roof conditions, or electrical loads

Your next step

What to do next

Download the production and alert history, calculate the shortfall against the contract basis, and submit a written diagnostic request following the contract's claim process.

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SQ00196