An increasing number of residential solar projects are losing their original installers, and with them the assurance that these arrays will operate as intended. Market turbulence, fly-by-night companies and policy headwinds have shuttered some installers, but others are stepping in to assist homeowners with orphaned PV systems.
Credit: Green Power Energy
Atma Energy (No. 256 on the 2026 Top Solar Contractors List) of San Antonio, Texas, and Green Power Energy (No. 152) of Annandale, New Jersey, both started taking on outside customers with existing projects within the last three years.
Rodrigo Aviles, operations manager at Atma Energy, said the company was getting so many inquiries about orphaned systems that “we told ourselves we needed to start helping these people.” Atma started accepting this new customer group in 2023 and has formalized the assistance process over the years. The company offers over-the-phone guidance or sends technicians out to inspect arrays to address issues like faulty components and unfinished commissioning. Atma will help fulfill warranties as well.
Technicians will troubleshoot array errors on these systems over the phone before rolling a truck. Aviles said in one instance they were able to help someone with a home solar system that was nearly commissioned when it was abandoned. They were a three-hour drive from San Antonio, and a technician walked this person through the last few steps to commission the array remotely. And since Atma didn’t send a technician, it didn’t cost that customer anything.
“If we’re able to help people without charging them, we’re more than happy to do so,” Aviles said.
Green Power Energy expanded its outside service side of the business in 2024 as interest rates and new installs slowed slightly. The company has always serviced existing customers and has maintained a crew of technicians familiar with older solar technologies, which has been helpful for maintaining older arrays.
“They’ve seen it all and they’re able to help resolve these issues,” said Eric Dornfeld, president of Green Power Energy.
The company focused on service and maintenance even further after launching an annual plan for array checks. Dornfeld said this also clarifies the functions and features of solar arrays, like monitoring, and helps customers understand what they should be looking for on their utility bills.
Credit: Atma Energy
“For some people, to have that assurance that somebody is going to check it every year and offer recommendations and repairs to get ahead of anything is going to be even more beneficial,” he said.
While outside service is another revenue stream for solar installers — which is crucial as the residential market adapts to a federal tax credit reduction — it isn’t as much money as new installs. The greater benefit, Dornfeld and Aviles said, is by keeping these systems running after their original installers left the market, they’re helping improve the solar industry’s reputation.
“It’s a small percentage of our overall business … but it adds up and it helps the industry by being able to help people who haven’t been able to find anybody,” Dornfeld said. “It’s good for recurring business with people who might need a new system eventually.”
Atma has also used its resources for outreach and education about the realities of owning and maintaining solar projects.
“We’re getting our labor covered, but at the same time we’re helping the community,” Aviles said. “There’s a lot of misinformation about what systems can and cannot do. Us being the opposite of that and trying to assist people and informing them and making sure they know what options they have to move forward — whether that’s repairing, insurance — we’re able to assist them in that way.”
This story was featured exclusively in our 2026 Top Solar Contractors issue. See the issue and full list of top U.S. solar installers here.
