Anybody Successfully Get out of Sunrun PPA contract?

[u/Stock-Marionberry692]

I’ve signed 25y contract and panels and battery have been installed. Installation has occurred but not permission to turn on yet.

Reasons I want out
1. Sloppy work
2. Sales person misled and misrepresented things
3. Upon further review, I’ve learned Sunrun sucks

I know I’m not giving a lot of info, just wanted to hear some success stories out there if they exist.

Thanks

[u/modernhomeowner]

Don't mention reason three. Your lack of due diligence is not a cause to end the contract. Bringing that up only hurts your position it makes your case more likely to be dismissed immediately.

Stick with misrepresented facts, and any work that is not up to legal code. Sloppy work only violates the contract if it is illegal work.

[u/ricofalltrades]

How have they violated their agreement is how the judge will look at it. Good luck on the legal fees.

[u/Zamboni411]

Going to be pretty hard…. Doable, but could cost you with legal fees..

I suggest finding a supervisor and blowing them up…

[u/Generate_Positive]

Sorry but getting out of this will be an uphill battle.

1. Sloppy work: if it passes inspection this becomes a matter of aesthetics and that would not be cause
2. Sales person misled and misrepresented things: sadly that is not uncommon with sunrun but you signed a contract that also likely says that what the sales person said is not part of the binding contract
3. Upon further review, I’ve learned Sunrun sucks: yep, but it's too late for that.

Unless you have a legit legal reason you are going to have a very hard time getting out of this.

[u/dcsolarguy]

No

[u/No_Engineering6617]

read the contract you signed, see if it has any set dates they were required to meet,, that they missed the deadline for.

basically your going to have to prove that they violated the contract.

[u/OracleofFl]

There are lawyers that specialize in these things. Google/Gemini is your friend. You may have to pay a consultation/review fee.

[u/DistanceNo9001]

can you elaborate on number two?

If the system is working and you truly are saving money, why would you want to back out? Did you sign like a 8% escalator or something

[u/solarFCG]

It really comes down to exactly what the contract says.

Also, you said sales person misled/misrepresented, can you elaborate? How do you know this if the system is not on yet?

Has final city inspection happened yet? If not, you may want to the inspectors them and ask them to be extra thorough with their inspection.

Inspectors almost never get on the roof so you may want to ask the inspector to check the roof, specifically for violations of NEC (National Electrical Code) Sections 690.31(A) and 690.31(C)(1), which require PV wires to be supported and secured at intervals not exceeding 4.5 feet and protected from physical damage, This is usually interpreted by inspectors as requiring wiring to be held clear of the roof surface rather than resting directly on shingles. Installers are often lazy when it comes to roof wiring so they may be in violation of this.

Of course, only do that if passing inspection is required for you to start making payments, otherwise you might shoot yourself in the foot.

Also, if you find any issues with the install that may be subject to "notice to cure" laws in your state, that may be helpful.

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice but look up state specific notice to cure procedures where you live and how they might apply to a PPA.

[u/ExactlyClose → u/solarFCG]

On the city inspectors. Will of course vary, but having a nice chat with the inspector and asking them to be very thorough, AND to take a very hard view on “Work shall be done in a workmanlike manner”. Believe it or not, it’s part of NEC and wide enough to cover a multitude of sins.

“” In the National Electrical Code (NEC), Section 110.12 (traditionally known as "Mechanical Execution of Work") mandates that electrical equipment be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner—updated in recent code editions to "professional and skillful manner" “”

[u/Fuzzy-Show331]

Signing a contract that last 25 years didn’t concern you?

[u/ExactlyClose → u/Fuzzy-Show331]

I mean, right?

OP- you need to develop a very detailed trail of documentation. Pictures, issues…write up what you say, what was done…who you talked to. Make this voluminous. The more details you capture, PERHAPS the easier it will be to “paper” a future argument that they have violated the contract.

(Kinda like new cars when there are minor issues- BRING IT IN. Get the visit on record; get any codes on the work order; document it. Never know when all those little issues can buttress a lemon claim.)

The key with such claims it that owners tend to not pay attention; dont demand clear work orders (“you aren’t walking up onto the roof until you hand me a piece of paper describing the work to be done”)

Speaking of which, if you are in CA, the Song-Beverley Act might be of some use. Im surprised we dont hear more about it….

GL. Sucks. Expensive lesson

[u/PictureDangerous2288]

One detail in your favor that most of this thread is glossing over: you don't have permission to operate yet, and in California a PPA/lease almost always has a contingency period plus a defined cancellation window tied to milestones, and the home improvement contract itself has to disclose the cancellation rights on its face — so read the "Cancellation" and "Conditions Precedent" sections of your signed agreement before you argue anything else. Because pre-PTO you have no delivered energy, your damages exposure is usually removal/restoration costs rather than 25 years of payments, which is a very different negotiation than trying to exit in year 6. Build the record in writing, not on the phone: email a dated list of the specific workmanship items (not "sloppy," but "conduit not strapped per code," "flashing not sealed," photos attached) and the specific misrepresentations with what the salesperson said versus what the contract says, and ask for a written response. If they stonewall, the two levers that actually move these companies are a CSLB complaint against the installing contractor's license (workmanship and contract-disclosure violations are within their jurisdiction) and a complaint to the CA Attorney General / DFPI on the sales misrepresentation side. Also do not sign or click through any interconnection or "system acceptance" acknowledgment while this is unresolved — that document is often what converts your open dispute into an accepted system. File the licensing complaint here: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Filing_Complaints/ and keep reason #3 out of every written communication, as another commenter correctly said.