Mara Willis believed she was investing in a secure future. In 2022, the Virginia resident spent $32,000 on solar panels and even installed a new roof, aiming to reduce her skyrocketing power bills from Dominion Energy.
Initially, it seemed effective. Her monthly energy costs decreased, and the solar panels appeared to be performing well. However, when her installer, Titan Solar, went out of business and the panels ceased generating electricity, the only ongoing expense was her loan payment.
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“I cannot afford to pay for something that isn’t functioning,” Willis shared with 10 On Your Side [1], noting that her utility bill had soared back up toward $300.
Nationwide, over 5 million solar energy systems are currently operational in American households, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association — and in 2023, solar energy became the leading source, contributing over half of all new electricity generation [2]. However, the swift growth of the industry has brought its own challenges: with smaller installation companies going out of business, homeowners like Willis find themselves caught in a web of lenders, closed businesses, and utilities, all of whom are shifting blame.
Here are some steps to help you avoid being left in the dark.
After losing her husband earlier this year, Willis was already struggling with grief. Then, her electricity bills started to rise again, signaling that something was amiss. Dominion Energy later confirmed her worst fears: while her roof was covered in solar panels, none were functional.
Meanwhile, the repayments kept arriving. Willis still owed $32,000, which translated to about $80 per month, for a system that had completely ceased to work. Upon discovering that her installer had gone out of business, she decided to stop making payments. However, instead of relief, she began receiving daily calls from Goodleap, the finance company still managing her loan long after Titan had closed its doors.
“They call every day, sometimes multiple times a day from different numbers,” Willis explained.
10 On Your Side contacted Loren Bell, a seasoned solar installer with 25 years of experience and owner of I Love Solar Virginia. He discovered outdated software and a padlock that had kept the system offline.
