SunPower Defective Solar Panels 4.75M Class Action Settlement
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SunPower agreed to pay 4.75 million under a class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims that it sold solar panels with defective microinverters.
The settlement benefits Class Members who purchased one or more SunPower solar modules (also called solar panels) equipped with defective microinverters and/or own a house where these modules are installed.
The allegedly defective microinverters were installed in SunPower solar panels between July 2015 and December 2016 and carry serial numbers beginning with 4140515xxxx and 4140516xxxx. These were equipped in solar modules included in SunPower’s Equinox systems with the following model numbers:
- SPR-E20-327-C-AC
- SPR-E19-320-C-AC
- SPR-E18-305-C-AC
- SPR-X22-360-C-AC
- SPR-X21-350-BLK-C-AC
- SPR-X21-345-C-AC
- SPR-X21-335-C-AC
- SPR-X21-335-BLK-C-AC
- SPR-X20-327-BLK-C-AC
SunPower is a solar power company based in Silicon Valley. The company reportedly holds over 1,000 patents for solar innovation and, according to the company’s website, has been the No. 1 ranked commercial solar company since 2017.
However, consumers who purchased solar panels from the company may have unknowingly paid for defective products.
Plaintiffs in the SunPower class action lawsuit claim the company sold solar panels with defective microinverters. The microinverters were allegedly manufactured with a defective component from a third party; that component causes the parts to degrade prematurely, generate less power, and even stop working.
As a result of this defect, the plaintiffs contend consumers who purchased SunPower solar panels faced financial damages due to premature product failure and increased electric utility bills. According to the SunPower class action lawsuit, the solar power company is liable for these damages.
SunPower hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve these claims with a 4.75 million settlement.
The settlement promises cash payments to consumers who experienced any of the following: lost or reduced power production, property damage due to microinverter repair or replacement, and/or loss of solar renewable energy credits or other incentives. According to the settlement website, payments are expected to be 173.52 per Class Member.
The SunPower class action settlement also provides non-monetary benefits to Class Members.
The company agreed to maintain and establish an Enhanced Customer Care Program through Dec. 31, 2021, in order to help Class Members with any questions surrounding the settlement.
Under the terms of the settlement, SunPower also agreed to retrofit all defective microinverters. SunPower reportedly started to replace defective components in 2017. The company agreed to repair all remaining microinverters by June 30, 2021.
Introducing SunPower® Performance Panels
The deadline for exclusion and objection was Jan. 10, 2022.
The final approval hearing in the SunPower solar panels lawsuit settlement is scheduled for March 24, 2022.
Class Members must submit a valid claim form by March 10, 2022, in order to receive payments from the settlement.
Who’s Eligible
The settlement benefits Class Members who purchased one or more SunPower solar modules (also called solar panels) equipped with defective microinverters and/or own a house where these modules are installed.
Potential Award
Proof of Purchase
No proof of purchase applicable
Claim Form
NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.
Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
thoughts on SunPower Defective Solar Panels 4.75M Class Action Settlement
This is the first I have seen this information about the law suite. I have had my SunPower System for almost 10 years. Every year my system under performs and they owe me money for the Performance Guarantee. Which I am missing 5 years of checks or payment to me. They don’t care. One of the inverters stopped working and it took 3 months for SunPower’s 3rd party company to replace it. Meantime, I loss money and still had to pay for the SunPower contract and Southern California Edison bill. When the SunPower System underperforms I lose more money. So what good is it? 172.52 is nothing compared to my loss over almost 10 years. I created a spreadsheet looking at SunPower and Southern California Edison costs and I calculate almost 17,000 in losses.
ALl Legal Counsel Members Representing S.T of CA. Be aware what I believe is The Respective Electric Company’s some of them are in of The Taking actual Large Portions of Residential Generated kWh units that is of a direct Breech into that Contract between A Home Owner who Rents the Solar equipment installed that states shall be credit for every unit of kwh Generated in billing cycle. The Fact I truly believe is happening more than you may think it’s not is worth the investigating I know I have had direct conversations with my utility company I will not mention there Name here.Based on there Response of my direct conversation told me they thought I would not be quick enough to there Con that’s Tricky the first time.I later after waited some short time frame gave myself that same chance to there same response and my direct reply to answer back was with silence. Then they changed the format of there No Billing Statement. I am a Know body to them of Now Threat. Electric Company has a Mandate to store kWh on Grid they built that’s off line to be ready to meet a deadline with CA for back up Grid or a All Green Grid not sure however the pressure can at times cause something Like scoop the table credit chips from a place on that table that is not there’s for the taking. Just maybe if this true of the fact. This Not just effected us. It’s going to be huge populated residential community No brainier Class Action. Catch it before they use the grid Now is the time Numerate the Gride to find kwh MIA. Not Credited to Home Owners who Rent the Solar and or Own Solar.Note we have No Batt. Storage capability what we Generate days each day at Night all goes to the utility Co.
Productivity and output
At the beginning of 2018, SunPower had 1.2 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity and 1.9 GW of solar panel manufacturing capacity.
In 2019, the company shipped 2.5 GW of modules, representing 80% growth over 2018.
Current productivity is unclear but was expected to increase significantly under Maxion. In April 2021, Maxeon Solar Technologies said it planned to use existing facilities to ramp up 1.8 GW of new capacity, followed by another 1.8GW at a new facility.
Manufacturing locations
Sunpower is as American as Apple pie and so is the majority of a French oil company. This makes sense because the French were eating Apple pie long before the Americans.
SunPower is headquartered in San Jose, California. They stopped manufacturing in the United States for a long time but then restarted operations at a plant they bought from SolarWorld America to avoid Trump’s solar panel tariffs. But in January 2021, SunPower announced it was closing its Hillsboro plant. This means Maxion now manufactures all models of SunPower panels except the Performance (P) series.
Maxion has a production capacity in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Mexico. SunPower formed a joint venture to manufacture its P-series panels in China.
Company History
SunPower was founded in 1985 by Richard Swanson, who was responsible for Swanson Law. It says that for every doubling of productivity, the cost of solar panels falls by 20 percent. Despite the fluctuations in prices, it has proven to be almost correct and I hope that its effect will continue in the future.
Are SunPower Solar Panels The Best?
As it has managed to survive for 37 years, SunPower is one of the oldest solar panel manufacturers in existence.
However, in November 2019, SunPower announced that it would spin off its solar panel manufacturing to a new company – Maxeon Solar Technologies. The process was completed in August 2020, and now the company’s panels, other than the P Series, are marketed as “SunPower Maxeon”.
SunPower Maxeon’s 40-year replacement product warranty
In February 2022, Maxeon Solar Technologies announced that the product and performance warranty on panels sold under the SunPower Maxeon brand in Australia had been extended from 25 years to 40 years. As for the Sunpower Maxeon 5 AC, 40 years covers the panel alone, while the integrated microinverter is covered under Enphase’s 25-year warranty.
It should be noted that the product warranty for SunPower P series panels (i.e. non-Maxion branded) is still 25 years.
Maxon’s product warranty (and that of the P Series) commits to either repair, replace or refund the purchase price of defective PV modules. It used to be that all SunPower panels were covered by a full replacement warranty, rather than the company also having repair/refund options.
SunPower Maxeon’s 40 Year Replacement Product Warranty
In February 2022, Maxeon Solar Technologies announced the product and performance warranty on panels sold under SunPower Maxeon brand in Australia had been extended from 25 years to 40 years. In terms of the Sunpower Maxeon 5 and 6 AC, the 40 years only covers the panel, while the integrated microinverter is covered under Enphase’s 25 year warranty.
It should be noted the product warranty for SunPower P series panels (i.e. non-Maxeon branded) is still 25 years.
Maxeon’s product warranty (and that of the SunPower P Series) undertakes to either repair, replace, or refund the purchase price of the defective PV modules. It used to be that all SunPower panels were covered by a full replacement warranty, rather than the company also having repair/refund options.
Panel Reliability
While this figure is now out of date, SunPower has previously said their panel failure rate is only 1 in 37,000. Hopefully it’s even better now, although I know some panels have been replaced under warranty. Because the large majority of their panels were well under 25 years old at the time, this doesn’t mean there is only a 1 in 37,000 chance of a panel failing during its 25 year warranty period, but it still suggests they are very reliable.
SunPower panels suffer considerably less decrease in efficiency due to the effects of heat than the average panels. Their coefficiency of Pmax ranges is as little as.0.29% depending on the model, while the average is around.0.35%. This is how much their output is decreased by for each degree celcisus the panel temperature is above 25 degrees. Note that the temperature of panels in the sun can be much higher than the air temperature and can reach 65 degrees on hot days.
SunPower Panels Tolerate Partial Shade Well
Partial shade can cause a major reduction in the performance of solar cells as one badly performing solar cell can drag down the performance of others, so just one bird poop can have a major effect. But SunPower used various technologies to minimise its impact, and that has continued under Maxeon manufacturing.
SunPower had been experiencing financial difficulties, posting significant losses in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
For the fiscal year 2019, SunPower‘s assets and liabilities were almost equal, which is not a good situation to be in. Their financial position was hurt by falling solar panel and also President Trump’s US solar tariffs.- despite SunPower winning an exemption.
There was speculation that SunPower would go bankrupt, but the recent move to shift all solar panel manufacturing to Maxeon may play out well.
But even if I was certain SunPower wouldn’t be around in the future to honour their warranties, I would still be fine with installing them on my roof because their high reliability means the chance of me needing their warranty should be extremely small.
Warranty claim procedure for orphaned SunPower customers
If you have purchased Sunpower panels from a solar installer that has gone out of business, the responsibility for warranty claims falls to Sunpower or Maxeon, depending on the type of solar panel installed. They can be contacted on 1800 786 769, and will arrange for an installer in their network to diagnose and rectify any problems with the panels. with labor costs involved covered by the warranty.
I would have no problem installing SunPower Maxeon panels on my roof, and this would be the case even if I expected SunPower or Maxeon to go bust and not be around to honour their warranties.
But while SunPower panels are very high quality, they do carry a hefty premium and so it will be necessary to decide if they are worth the extra expense.
SunPower is also very popular with Australian installers. In the SolarQuotes Installers’ Choice Awards, SunPower was voted second in the best solar panels in 2023 category, and also achieved second place for best after-sales support.
Rosemary
As we have yet to pay a bill in 2023 (and that includes the winter months in South Australia) I would say we couldn’t be more pleased! Bought From: Energy Buster Show additional information