My Solar System Isn't Producing What I Was Promised: Now What?

You went solar to save money. Your proposal showed 12,000 kWh per year. Your system is producing 9,500 kWh. Something's wrong — but your installer isn't returning calls.

This situation is more common than most solar companies want to admit. Here's how to handle it.

Step 1: Know What Your System Should Produce

Every solar proposal includes a production estimate. This is usually calculated using NREL's PVWatts tool or similar software, based on your location, system size, panel tilt, and azimuth (direction the panels face).

Pull out your original proposal and find the annual production estimate in kWh. That's your baseline. If you don't have the proposal, contact your installer and ask for it in writing.

A reasonable expectation for Las Vegas:

Step 2: Check Your Monitoring App

Every modern solar system includes a monitoring platform — Enphase Enlighten, SolarEdge, SMA Sunny Portal, or similar. Log in and look at:

Screenshot everything. You'll need this documentation.

Step 3: Identify the Likely Cause

Shading — New and Existing

Trees grow. A branch that wasn't shading your panels when you installed 3 years ago might be now. Walk your property and look at the roof from different angles at different times of day. Even a small shadow on one panel can affect an entire string.

Soiling and Dust

In Las Vegas, dust accumulation between cleanings can reduce output by 5–15%. If you haven't cleaned your panels in 6+ months, try a cleaning first. If production bounces back, you found your problem.

Inverter Issues

Inverters are the component most likely to fail during a system's lifetime. String inverters typically last 12–15 years. If your inverter is generating error codes or showing offline status in the monitoring app, it may need service or replacement.

Panel Defects

Panel manufacturing defects are rare but not unheard of. Micro-cracks from installation or shipping, delamination, or hotspots can reduce output. These usually show up within the first year or two.

System Design Problems

Sometimes the original design was wrong — undersized, wrong tilt, wrong azimuth, or shade analysis that didn't account for actual obstructions. This is harder to prove but important to document.

Step 4: Contact Your Installer — In Writing

Call your installer's service department, but follow up every call with an email. You want a written record. Your email should include:

Most installers have a workmanship warranty (typically 10–25 years) and are required to service systems within that window. Your panels and inverters also have manufacturer warranties — 25 years for most Tier 1 panels, 10–25 years for inverters.

Step 5: If the Installer Goes Dark

This happens. Companies go out of business. Staff turns over. Service departments get overwhelmed. If your installer isn't responding:

What I Do as an Independent Consultant

This is one of the situations where having an independent consultant in your corner matters. I'm not tied to the company that installed your system, so I can evaluate it objectively, document the shortfall against your original proposal, and help you navigate the warranty process.

I've helped several homeowners in this exact situation — some who were owed an inverter replacement, one who had a significant design error that qualified for a full system redesign under the workmanship warranty.

Concerned your system isn't performing as promised? Book a production review — I'll analyze your monitoring data and tell you exactly what's happening.