THE ORIGINAL FIGURE
Production estimate
12,000kWh
Solar Disputes
THE PLACE YOU CALL HOMEYour concern deserves a closer look.
UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN
What was explained?
What happened afterward?
A solar concern may involve the sale, the system, the written terms, or an unanswered request. These topics can overlap. Use the four starting points below to identify the difference you want explained, then connect it with the relevant records. You do not need to decide whether the problem has a particular legal label.
01
Identify the statement you relied on.
Explain what you were told about the price, electricity savings, continuing utility bills, included equipment, or service. Identify whether the information was presented as an estimate, a condition, or a firm promise. Keep the original wording when available and explain how it affected your decision.
- The source: the proposal, advertisement, email, text, or person who gave the explanation.
- The expectation: what you understood you would pay, receive, or save, and any conditions you were told about.
- The difference: the later bill, document, project status, or response that raised your concern.
Illustrative example: A sales message says you will no longer have an electric bill, but utility charges continue. Keep the message and bills so the statement and actual billing can be considered together.
Get your records ready02
Compare the same dates and the right figures.
System production is the electricity the solar equipment generates. Household use is the electricity your home consumes. A utility bill reflects its billing rules and account activity, rather than simply reporting total solar production. Start by identifying what each record measures and the period it covers.
- The system record: the production report, date range, and any recorded interruption or service notice.
- The household and bill: available usage records, utility charges, and any solar-company or loan payments for the relevant period.
- The comparison: the written estimate or commitment you are questioning and why you believe the actual experience differs.
Illustrative example: Your proposal contains an annual production estimate, while the bill that concerns you covers one month. Keep both and identify their different time periods before drawing a conclusion.
Get your records ready03
Find out which company agreed to do what.
Locate the purchase, lease, or power purchase agreement and any separate financing documents. Identify the equipment and work included, the named companies, and the terms about installation, operation, maintenance, and repairs. A sales proposal, an equipment warranty, and an installation agreement may address different parts of the project.
- The arrangement: whether you bought the system, leased it, or agreed to buy the electricity it produces.
- The written commitment: the work, service, warranty, or production term you want explained, including its conditions.
- The project status: what has been installed, what approval or work is reportedly outstanding, and who has given you that information.
Illustrative example: The panels are installed, but you have been told that approval to operate is still pending. Keep the installation records, utility messages, and the company’s explanation of the remaining step.
Get your records ready04
Show what you asked and what remains open.
Create a short timeline of the problem, your requests for help, and the responses. Identify the company you contacted each time, particularly if the seller, installer, equipment manufacturer, and service provider are different businesses. Describe the condition you observed without assuming its technical cause.
- The request: the issue reported, the date, and any service or ticket reference.
- The response: what the company said, any appointment or repair proposed, and what actually occurred.
- The current status: what is still unresolved, any new notice, and the explanation or help you want to discuss.
Illustrative example: You reported that the monitoring app stopped showing production, and an appointment was arranged but did not take place. Save the app record and messages and explain what remains unanswered.
Get your records readySix solar terms, in plain language
- Purchase
- You buy the solar system, using cash or financing. If a loan is involved, keep the financing agreement with the system’s purchase and installation documents.
- Lease
- You pay to use a solar system owned by another company. The lease describes the payments, term, and responsibilities; check its actual conditions.
- Power purchase agreement (PPA)
- You buy electricity generated by a system owned by another company. The agreement explains the energy price, payment terms, and any changes over time.
- Production and kilowatt-hours (kWh)
- Production is the electricity the system generates. Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure an amount of electrical energy. Kilowatts (kW) measure power: the rate at which energy is produced or used.
- Household electricity use
- The electricity consumed in your home. It may come from solar, the utility grid, or a battery. Total household use is different from electricity purchased from the grid.
- Utility approval to operate
- For a grid-connected system, this is the utility’s authorization for operation under its connection process. Installation and utility approval are separate steps; confirm your system’s status with your provider.
SOLAR RECORD LENS
See the difference.
Understand the context.
Your proposal and your production report need to tell the same part of the story. Explore three record comparisons, then bring your own figures and questions into focus.
Read the solar examples and records guide, or contact the office. Enable JavaScript to explore the interactive production comparison.
These simplified records are fictional. Switch examples to see what changes when the dates or coverage do not align.
THE COMPARISON
Ready to compare
Based on the entered recordsTHE REPORTED FIGURE
Recorded production
10,800kWh
WHAT THE ENTERED FIGURES SHOW
1,200 kWh lower
Example figures
Both bars use the same scale. The difference is a question to explain, not a diagnosis.
Adjust the demonstration recordsChange the dates, figures, or report coverage and explore the result.
These edits affect the fictional example only.
Use the actual start and end dates shown by each record (2000–2100). Equal-length periods with different dates are not treated as a match. Do not divide an annual estimate by 12 to fill in a missing monthly estimate.
kWh means kilowatt-hours of electricity generated. Use total solar production, not kW capacity, dollars, or electricity bought from or sent to the grid. Enter 0 only if the record confirms zero. Leave unknown amounts blank. Figures may range from 0 to 1,000,000 kWh, with up to two decimal places.
CONNECT THE RECORDS, THEN ASK THE QUESTION
YOUR EXPERIENCE
You do not need every figure to reach out.
Describe what you expected, what you observed, and any response from the company. If the concern is about approval, bills, installation, or service, explain that here even if this production comparison does not apply.
A CLEARER STARTING POINT
Turn the comparison
into a conversation.
Your figures, record status, and question become a short summary. Add it to the inquiry, then review and edit it before submitting.
Find the supporting records Call (888) 742-2880Example summary · not sent0 / 1,800
Examples cannot be transferred to an inquiry. Start with your own records when ready.
This tool compares entered figures and dates; it does not verify records or diagnose equipment. Matching dates and complete readings do not establish that assumptions, operating conditions, or contract terms are comparable. A numerical difference does not establish a broken promise, a claim, or an amount recoverable. Exploring sends nothing and uses no browser storage. Your entries last only while this page stays open. You choose whether to add them to the contact form and submit an inquiry; doing so does not create an attorney-client relationship.
SOLAR USE CASES
Common solar concerns.
Explained step by step.
Choose the situation closest to your solar experience. Each fictional example explains the concern, useful records, questions to clarify, and a practical next step. More than one may apply, especially when the sale, installation, bills, and service are connected.
SELECT A SITUATION TO EXPLORE
Swipe through the choices, then tap one to read it below.
EXAMPLE 01 / PROJECT STATUS & ACTIVATION
The panels are installed, but the next step toward operation is unclear.
Separate physical installation from inspection, utility approval, and the system’s actual operating status. For a grid-connected project, the fact that panels are on the roof does not answer whether all required steps are complete. Identify the latest written status, what is reportedly pending, and which company agreed to coordinate that step.
A fictional homeowner example
A homeowner is told the installation is finished. Weeks later, they still have no confirmation that the system is approved to operate. The installer says a utility-related step is pending, but the homeowner has not received a clear explanation. A related bill arrives, making the homeowner want to understand both the project status and the promised timing.
Records that can help
- Agreements and milestones: The project scope, expected dates or conditions, and messages identifying who would handle inspections and utility coordination.
- Available status documents: Installation-completion messages, inspection results, utility correspondence, and any notice describing an outstanding item.
- Requests and related bills: Your status inquiries, company responses, and bills or notices that relate to the delay.
Questions to clarify
- Which step is complete, and which specific step does the latest record say is still pending?
- Who agreed to coordinate that step, and what explanation has that company provided?
- How does the current status compare with the date or condition you were told to expect?
EXAMPLE 02 / SYSTEM PRODUCTION
The reported electricity production appears lower than the proposal described.
Compare the same measurement and time period. Production reports describe electricity generated, usually in kilowatt-hours, while a proposal may give an annual estimate or a commitment with stated conditions. Weather, shading, interruptions, and the completeness of the records can matter. A difference needs explanation; it does not by itself identify a defect or broken guarantee.
A fictional homeowner example
A homeowner compares a full-year production report with the annual estimate in the original proposal and notices a shortfall. The report also shows a period with missing data. The company mentions seasonal conditions, but has not explained the comparison or the missing period. The homeowner wants to understand what the records can reliably show.
Records that can help
- The original estimate or commitment: The dated proposal, production figure, period covered, assumptions, and any guarantee terms or qualifications.
- Production reports for matching dates: Available reports showing the units, start and end dates, and gaps in the data.
- System and service history: Known interruptions, service findings, and company explanations about conditions affecting the period being compared.
Questions to clarify
- Are the proposed and actual figures measuring production in the same units over comparable periods?
- Is the proposed figure an estimate or a written commitment, and what conditions accompany it?
- Which interruptions or missing records have been explained, and what remains uncertain?
EXAMPLE 03 / SALES ESTIMATES & TOTAL COSTS
Your combined electricity and solar costs differ from the savings you expected.
Identify whether the sales figure described utility savings, the solar payment, or the combined cost. Continued utility charges can exist alongside loan, lease, or power-purchase payments. Compare the periods, usage assumptions, and charges behind the estimate. A bill in dollars is not the same measure as the system’s electricity production.
A fictional homeowner example
A homeowner understands a proposal to mean their overall monthly energy cost will fall. After the system begins operating, they receive both utility statements and solar-provider bills. The combined amount is higher than expected for the period reviewed. The homeowner wants to know which costs the sales comparison included and why the actual experience differs.
Records that can help
- The savings explanation: The original worksheet, advertisement, or message showing the promised comparison, assumptions, and any qualifications.
- Bills for the relevant periods: Utility statements and applicable solar-company or loan bills, with dates and charge descriptions visible.
- Usage and company explanations: Available household-use information, production reports, and responses explaining the charges or comparison.
Questions to clarify
- Was the sales figure about utility savings alone or the combined cost of utility and solar payments?
- Do the comparison and actual bills cover matching periods and comparable household use?
- Which particular charge or assumption explains the difference, and which still needs an answer?
EXAMPLE 04 / MONITORING & SYSTEM INFORMATION
The monitoring app has missing readings, an error message, or no accessible account.
Describe exactly what information is missing and when you last had a usable record. A blank screen, lost account access, or a gap in reports does not establish that the system stopped producing electricity. The question may concern access to information, equipment operation, or both; the available records and provider’s explanation help distinguish them.
A fictional homeowner example
A homeowner previously saw daily production in the monitoring app. The app now displays no recent readings, and a support request has not resolved the gap. Utility statements continue to arrive, but the homeowner cannot tell what happened to the system data. They want access restored and a clear explanation of the missing period.
Records that can help
- Dated screenshots and messages: The displayed error, missing date range, or access message, without including passwords or security codes.
- Earlier reports and account setup: The last available report, setup or handover information, and the service terms describing monitoring access.
- Support and service responses: Ticket references, appointment records, and any findings about the monitoring issue or system operation.
Questions to clarify
- Is the issue lost access, missing readings, an error message, or a documented operating problem?
- When was the last complete report, and which dates or information are now unavailable?
- What has the provider actually confirmed about the data gap and the system’s status?
EXAMPLE 05 / PRODUCTS, FEATURES & CHANGES
The installed equipment or included feature differs from what you understood.
Identify the exact model, quantity, capacity, or feature in the proposal and any approved changes. Then compare that description with the installation records and the company’s explanation. A product substitution and a missing feature are different questions. Avoid assuming that a battery or another component provides every function described in a broad sales conversation.
A fictional homeowner example
A homeowner accepts a solar proposal that identifies a particular battery package and describes backup for selected circuits. The handover paperwork lists a different model, and the installer gives a narrower explanation of the backup feature. The homeowner cannot find an approved change and wants the installed package compared with the original description.
Records that can help
- The agreed specifications: The itemized proposal, equipment schedule, feature description, and any documented approval of a substitution or change.
- Installation and handover documents: Available model information, delivery records, manuals, and the explanation of what was installed and enabled.
- Questions and company responses: Messages about the difference, reasons for a substitution, or instructions describing the promised feature.
Questions to clarify
- Which exact model, quantity, capacity, or function was described before you agreed?
- What document identifies the installed equipment or available feature, and how does it differ?
- Was a change explained or approved, and what effect does the company say it has?
EXAMPLE 06 / ROOF & PROPERTY CONCERNS
You notice a leak or other property damage after solar installation work.
Describe the location, condition, and dates you observed. The sequence can help explain your concern, but timing alone does not establish that the solar installation caused the damage. Keep your observations separate from any findings made by an inspector, roofer, installer, or other qualified professional.
A fictional homeowner example
After solar installation, a homeowner notices a ceiling stain following rain. They photograph the visible condition from inside the home and report it to the installer. The installer has not provided a finding about the cause, while the homeowner is concerned about the affected area and wants to understand the response and repair responsibilities.
Records that can help
- Existing condition photographs: Dated images taken from a safe location and any earlier photographs showing the same area before the work.
- Installation and property records: The work dates, project scope, relevant roof or workmanship terms, and any previous condition information you have.
- Reports, requests, and costs: Professional findings already obtained, company replies, repair records, and relevant invoices or estimates.
Questions to clarify
- What condition did you observe, where is it, and when did it first appear or change?
- What is known about the condition before the work and any later professional findings?
- What response or repair has been proposed, performed, or left unresolved?
EXAMPLE 07 / SERVICE & WARRANTY RESPONSES
You reported a solar problem, but the promised repair or coverage answer remains open.
Bring the reported problem, the applicable service terms, and the response history together. Equipment warranties, installation coverage, and ongoing service agreements can address different responsibilities. Identify the company that issued each promise and the reason given for any delay, referral, fee, or denial rather than assuming every provider covers the same work.
A fictional homeowner example
A homeowner reports repeated system interruptions. A service visit is arranged, then rescheduled. The installer refers to the equipment manufacturer, while the manufacturer asks for a diagnostic report the homeowner has not received. The homeowner has an open request but no clear explanation of the next step or who will arrange it.
Records that can help
- The relevant coverage terms: Complete equipment, workmanship, and service documents identifying the provider and any conditions cited in the response.
- Requests and appointments: Service tickets, dated messages, confirmations, missed or rescheduled visits, and promised follow-up.
- Findings and current status: Existing service reports, stated reasons for a referral or denial, attempted repairs, and what happened afterward.
Questions to clarify
- Which specific problem or service did you report, and to which company?
- What coverage, condition, or technical finding has each provider cited in its response?
- What action was promised, what actually occurred, and what remains unresolved now?
EXAMPLE 08 / SERVICE CONTINUITY
The installer has closed, changed, or stopped responding, and you need help identifying the next contact.
Start with what is known about the company’s status and the businesses named in your documents. An unanswered call is different from a confirmed closure or a notice naming a new service provider. The installer, equipment manufacturer, system owner, and finance company may have separate roles. Neither continued coverage nor a replacement service provider should be assumed.
A fictional homeowner example
A homeowner receives a notice that the installation company is no longer operating. A service concern remains unresolved. The equipment documents name a manufacturer, and a separate company continues sending financing statements. The homeowner does not know whether another provider was assigned or which agreement addresses the needed service.
Records that can help
- Complete agreements and warranties: Documents identifying the seller, installer, equipment manufacturer, system owner if different, and any separate lender or service provider.
- Company-status information: Closure or transition notices, returned correspondence, and records of contact attempts or any named replacement provider.
- The unresolved service file: The current problem, earlier tickets or findings, and responses from other companies already contacted.
Questions to clarify
- Is the company’s status confirmed by a notice, or is it currently unclear because contact attempts went unanswered?
- Which document identifies responsibility for the particular equipment or service you need?
- Has another provider been named, and what has that company or the manufacturer actually confirmed?
These fictional examples help organize an inquiry; they are not the firm’s cases or results and do not determine whether a legal claim exists. Selecting a situation does not submit an inquiry, cancel an agreement, or change payment obligations. Use the contact form to describe your own concern.
MAKE THE INFORMATION CLEARER
Connect the promises,
the records, and the replies.
A useful file shows the information you received, what happened with the project, and how the companies responded. Select a category below to see what each group of records can help explain. Keep dates and company names with each item.
CONNECT THE DETAILS / 01
What did you understand you were agreeing to?
Keep the complete proposal and signed agreement together, including attachments and later changes. Identify the statement or term that matters to your concern instead of relying on a single page without its context.
If the explanation was spoken, note who said it, approximately when, and what you remember. Distinguish your recollection from an exact quotation. If an expected tax benefit was part of the sale, preserve that statement without assuming that it establishes eligibility.
WHAT TO LOCATE AND WHY
- Sales materials: proposals, estimates, advertisements, presentations, and written answers to your questions.
- Project agreements: purchase, lease, or power purchase terms, equipment descriptions, and approved changes.
- Related commitments: loan documents, service terms, warranty documents, and any written production commitment.
CONNECT THE DETAILS / 02
What was completed, measured, and charged?
Organize records of the installation and the dates when the system was reported ready or began operating. If the concern is about performance, identify the period you want reviewed and keep the available production and billing records for that period.
Include any interruption, repair visit, or change in household electricity use that you know about. If you lack monitoring access or a report is incomplete, say so. An absent reading is something to clarify, rather than a conclusion about equipment failure.
WHAT TO LOCATE AND WHY
- Installation and status: dated photographs, completion messages, inspection records, and utility approval or pending-item notices you have.
- System information: production reports, dated monitoring screenshots, and service findings or interruption notices.
- Bills and payments: utility statements, solar-provider bills, financing statements, and relevant payment confirmations.
CONNECT THE DETAILS / 03
What has been explained or left unresolved?
Put requests and responses in date order. Include the company’s explanation even if you disagree with it, and note whether promised follow-up occurred. This helps show the current status of the concern.
List the role of each business as you understand it. If you were referred to another company or told that a provider is no longer available, keep that notice and the later contact attempts with your timeline.
WHAT TO LOCATE AND WHY
- Your requests: emails, texts, service tickets, and dated notes of calls or appointments.
- The responses: explanations, proposed repairs, referrals, and statements about service or warranty responsibility.
- The remaining question: what still needs attention, the last contact date, and any approaching date or notice.
You can make an initial inquiry without every record. Tell the office what you have and what is missing. These categories organize information; they do not determine whether you have a claim. Ask how to share documents if the office requests them.
QUESTIONS HOMEOWNERS ASK
Your solar questions,
answered clearly.
These answers explain common points of confusion and how to prepare a useful inquiry. A particular concern still depends on its facts, agreements, location, and the rules that apply.
Does a higher electric bill mean the system is defective or I have a claim?
Not by itself. Sunlight, shading, system condition, household electricity use, and the utility’s rates and billing arrangement can affect the experience. The bill alone does not identify a technical fault or decide whether a legal claim exists.
Identify what was represented or agreed, then compare the relevant production records, bills, and dates. Describe the difference you want explained and any company findings. An individual review may require more information than a single bill or monitoring screenshot.
Why am I still paying the utility and a solar company?
Solar does not necessarily eliminate purchases from the utility or its fixed charges. A separate loan, lease, or power purchase agreement may also create payments. Having both bills does not, by itself, establish that something went wrong.
Keep both sets of statements and the sales explanation about expected savings or total payments. Identify the charge you question and who issued it. Ask what each bill covers rather than assuming that a solar payment replaces every utility charge.
What if financing is also part of the problem?
Describe the financing question alongside the solar concern. Identify the lender or billing company, the payment or loan figure you question, and the explanation you received. Keep the loan documents and notices with the project records so the relationship can be understood.
Submitting an inquiry through this website does not itself change loan terms or payment obligations. Discuss the particular agreement and circumstances with qualified counsel before deciding what to do about payments. The Financing Disputes page provides more detail on organizing those questions.
Does it matter whether I bought, leased, or signed a PPA?
Yes. The arrangement helps identify what you agreed to pay for, who owns the system, and which documents describe service responsibilities. If you are unsure which arrangement you have, tell the office the title of the document and the company named on it.
Keep all relevant agreements, including any separate loan or warranty. Identify the exact service, repair, payment, or production term you want explained. Do not assume that a seller, installer, manufacturer, and lender have the same role or that one company is responsible for every part of the project.
What if the panels are installed but the system is not operating?
For a system connected to the utility grid, physical installation and utility approval are separate steps. Locate the latest installation, inspection, and utility messages to see which step is described as complete and which is reportedly pending. Confirm the actual status with the installer and your utility.
In your inquiry, give the installation date, the date or condition you were told would allow operation, and the most recent response. Include any bills or notices that relate to the delay. The existence of a delay alone does not identify its cause or establish who is responsible.
What if service requests go unanswered or the installer is no longer available?
Keep the requests, replies, appointment records, and any notice that a company has closed or changed. Identify the businesses named in the equipment warranty, installation agreement, and service terms. Explain the current problem and which companies you have already contacted.
Whether coverage or another source of assistance is available needs review of the actual documents and circumstances; it cannot be assumed. You can contact the office before every record is ready. Ask about any charge for an initial review, and understand that an inquiry or acknowledgment does not itself establish representation.
Public consumer resources: the FTC explains common residential solar arrangements. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) provides a California-specific guide. Read the current source and confirm which utility rules and contract terms apply to your situation. These links do not establish tax-benefit eligibility.
FTC: Understanding residential solar (opens in a new tab)CPUC: California Solar Consumer Protection Guide (opens in a new tab)LET’S START A CONVERSATION
Tell us what you expected—and what happened with your solar project.
Call (888) 742-2880 or use the form to request a conversation. Describe the companies involved, the project’s current status, and the specific concern you want explained. The office can discuss whether more information is needed and whether the matter may be a fit.
REQUEST A CASE REVIEW
Tell Us How
We Can Help.
Use this form to request contact about your concern. Choose email or phone as your preferred contact method; an email address is required for the submission confirmation. Fields marked are required.
A helpful solar inquiry includes:
- The project: the property’s state, company names, agreement type if known, and approximate dates.
- The difference: what you were told or expected, what happened, and whether the system is installed and operating.
- The current question: the request you made, any company response, and the help you want to discuss.
The form accepts a general summary, not attachments. Leave out account numbers and confidential records; ask the office how to provide documents if requested.
THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING LEX BELLATOR
Request received.
Thank you for sharing your concern. Our team will review your contact information and follow up with you to discuss your inquiry.
For a time-sensitive matter, please call the office. Submitting an inquiry does not create an attorney-client relationship.