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Solar Owner Help In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Attorney General registers home improvement contractors, and its rules name solar energy systems as home improvement work. PosiGen served Pennsylvania before it stopped most operations in 2025, so former customers can also see Help For PosiGen Customers.

Who Registers Solar Contractors

The Attorney General home improvement registration FAQ says home improvement under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act includes installing solar energy systems at a private residence when the total price is more than $500. The Attorney General home improvement consumer brochure says contractors doing $5,000 or more of home improvements a year must register, and must show their registration number on contracts, estimates, proposals, and ads. The FAQ says registration requires proof of at least $50,000 of personal injury liability coverage and $50,000 of property damage coverage, which it notes is not related to the quality of work.

How To Check A Registration

Use the registered contractor search or call 1-888-520-6680. The Attorney General contractor verification page says registration is not an endorsement of a contractor's competency or skill, and suggests checking references and getting more than one bid. Your town may also require permits, so ask the local building office.

Your Contract Rights

The brochure says a contractor must give you a complete copy of the contract at no charge, that you can cancel within three business days of signing without penalty except in emergencies, that a contract missing required information is not enforceable against you, and that a contractor may not take payment before the contract is signed. It lists what the contract should include: contractor and subcontractor contacts, the registration number, approximate start and finish dates, a description of the work and materials, total cost and payment schedule, and insurance information.

Where To File A Complaint

Use the Attorney General complaint page. The verification page says unregistered contractors can be reported to HIC@attorneygeneral.gov or the hotline above.

Net Metering Status

Pennsylvania Code, Title 52, section 75.13, last amended in November 2016, limits residential net metering systems to 50 kW. It says the utility credits a customer generator at the full retail rate, including generation, transmission, and distribution charges, up to the electricity used in the billing period, and carries excess forward to later bills. At the end of each year, the default service provider pays for remaining excess at its price to compare. If you buy power from a competitive supplier, the rule says your supplier agreement sets the terms for excess generation, and the utility credits only its distribution rate. Ask your utility how its year is defined and which terms apply to your account.

Steps For Any Orphaned System

1. Gather your contract, permit, equipment list, warranty papers, and any loan or lease documents.
2. Call each equipment maker with your serial numbers. EnergySage guide to installer bankruptcy (updated January 7, 2026) says manufacturer warranties remain valid regardless of installer status, and that the manufacturer can often point you to installers certified on its equipment. It also quotes a service coordinator warning that if an installer is not certified on your equipment, those warranties could be determined to be void, so ask the manufacturer before you hire.
3. If you lease or have a power purchase agreement, contact the company that owns the system before hiring anyone. See Solar Lease Or PPA When The Company Is Gone.
4. Check any new company's license with the agency above before you sign, and get the scope and price in writing.

Agency rules, rates, and contact details change. Treat the dates on the sources here as a snapshot and confirm on the agency's own site.

If you want a local service company to look at your system, describe it in the system check form. We name the one company before anyone contacts you.

Related: Installer Went Out Of Business, Solar Warranty Help, Solar System Not Producing.