How to Get Out of Your Sunnova Solar Contract

Going solar can be an excellent way to save money on energy costs and reduce your environmental impact. With home solar installations growing rapidly, many homeowners are signing on to solar leases or power purchase agreements to start harnessing the sun’s energy. However, these long-term solar contracts also lock you into a commitment, usually for 15-25 years.

So what if you need to get out of your agreement early with a major residential solar provider like Sunnova? Can you cancel your Sunnova solar contract, and if so, how?

The Cancellation Period is Critical for Quickly Exiting a Sunnova Solar Contract

Most Sunnova solar contracts have a set timeframe where you can cancel with no penalties, typically 7 days from signing the agreement. This cancellation period gives you a chance to review all the terms at length or complete further solar comparisons.

Acting within the cancellation window is by far the easiest way to terminate a Sunnova contract. So it’s essential to find out your specific cancellation period deadline and mark it on your calendar. Review your Sunnova agreement carefully to identify the exact policy language on cancelling without penalties.

For example, the contract may state:

“This agreement can be cancelled by you within seven (7) calendar days of the postmark on the final agreement sent to you, without penalty or obligation.”

If you realize the agreement isn’t right for you and the cancellation date hasn’t passed, notify Sunnova as soon as possible in writing that you are terminating under the contract’s cancellation policy. Send this notice by a method with delivery confirmation like certified mail or overnight courier.

Calling Sunnova to cancel may also be required depending on your agreement terms. Make this cancellation call immediately to preserve your rights, in case issues arise later around whether proper termination procedures were followed.

Costly Cancellation Fees Apply After the Initial Deadline

Once the short cancellation period expires, the path to exiting a Sunnova contract becomes much more difficult. You’ll likely face substantial termination fees at this point, even if no equipment has been installed yet. The charges can range from a few thousand dollars to owing the full value of your solar energy system.

For example, Sunnova customers frequently report being charged 25% of the total contract amount as an early termination fee. On a $24,000 solar installation, those penalties would total $6,000 – a hefty price to pay for cancelling a system you don’t even have on your roof yet.

Sunnova also typically bills customers for any site visits, permitting work, filings, and other processing steps their team or solar partners have completed. The itemized cancellation fees often include:

• Administrative fees
• System design and engineering costs
• Permitting and interconnection application expenses
• Survey fees
• Overhead and profit margins

So even if your solar panels haven’t arrived, you may face thousands in cancellation costs from these preparatory activities. It’s critical to act immediately upon deciding to cancel so you don’t incur these early contract termination charges.

Negotiating Lower Cancellation Fees with Sunnova

Once past the initial cancellation deadline, you still may be able to negotiate with Sunnova to reduce or waive the contract termination fees, especially if minimal work has been completed.

Here are some strategies to try for negotiating lower Sunnova cancellation penalties:

• Highlight unforeseen circumstances requiring you to exit the contract through no fault of your own. For example, emphasize that you’re moving out of state sooner than expected and won’t be in the home for the full length of the solar agreement.
• Offer to remain a Sunnova customer in the future if they will waive or lower the contract termination costs. Explain that you still believe in the company’s solar products and services, but that cancelling is currently your best option given your changed situation.
• Request escalation to a supervisor if the frontline service staff says no adjustments can be made to the defined cancellation fees. You may have better luck pleading your case to someone higher up who has authority to make exceptions.
• Get any promises of lower termination fees in writing, signed by a Sunnova official. Verbal assurances alone from regular customer service reps may not protect you. Having a signed amendment or notice from someone high up adds more legal weight.
• Threaten to lodge complaints about the unreasonable cancellation penalties with organizations like your state consumer protection division, Attorney General’s office, or the Better Business Bureau. The risk of negative publicity may motivate Sunnova to negotiate.
• Consult a consumer lawyer familiar with local contract laws to review your cancellation rights and whether Sunnova’s fees seem legally enforceable. If violations are found, this could provide leverage to exit or reduce the penalties.

Canceling a Sunnova Contract After Solar Installation Begins

What if some solar panels or equipment have already been installed on your property when you decide you need to terminate the Sunnova agreement? At this stage, cancelling becomes even more challenging.

Even if the rooftop solar system isn’t fully complete or activated yet, Sunnova has likely invested significant money on the partial installation. You’ll have little negotiating power or ability to exit without either paying steep cancellation fees or the remaining contract balance.

For example, if your 20-year, $20,000 Sunnova solar contract is cancelled after 1 year, the company may demand you pay the remaining $19,000 balance immediately. Or they may charge a termination penalty of $5,000-$6,000 on top of removing the equipment installed so far.

If your solar system is already partially in place, here are a few options to try:

• Call Sunnova persistently to plead your case for letting you out of the contract, explaining your changed circumstances. Politely ask what it would take to cancel without being treated unfairly. If frontline staff won’t budge, keep escalating your request up the management chain for higher approval. But realize you likely still face an uphill battle.
• Hire a lawyer experienced with consumer contracts to review your agreement with Sunnova thoroughly. If any unlawful terms or misrepresentations are found, you may have grounds to exit the contract without excessive fees. An attorney can also negotiate on your behalf or provide legal options.
• Accept you must pay the defined cancellation penalties per the contract you signed. If no violations or ways to void the agreement exist, then the termination fees or remaining balance may simply be unavoidable. Look at it as an expensive lesson for reading contracts thoroughly upfront next time.

Gaining a Response from Sunnova on Contract Cancellations

One frequent customer complaint about Sunnova is a lack of response to contract cancellation requests. Many clients report unreturned calls, ignored emails, broken promises to call back, and general runaround from Sunnova staff.

If you are struggling to get an answer from Sunnova about cancelling your solar agreement, here are some tips to get their attention focused on your request:

• Send a formal written contract termination notice by certified mail in addition to calling. Email alone gives Sunnova an excuse to claim they never received your request. Having proof of an official cancellation letter makes it harder to ignore.
• Follow up persistently by phone every few days if getting stonewalled by frontline service staff. Don’t take vague promises like “we’ll look into this and get back to you” as acceptable resolutions.
• Escalate to supervisors by calling back each time and insisting on speaking to someone higher up. Explain that the reps you’ve spoken with so far are unresponsive so you need to talk to their manager immediately.
• Lodge regulatory complaints about Sunnova with the Better Business Bureau, state Attorney General’s office, and organizations like the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). You can note that Sunnova is non-responsive to reasonable contract cancellation requests.
• Post on social media detailing your negative experience trying to exit your Sunnova agreement. Companies often move quicker to address issues that are gaining public visibility and hurting their reputation.
• Consult a lawyer who can contact Sunnova on your behalf asserting legal rights to terminate the contract. A demand letter from an attorney carries more weight than you fighting alone.

Using Legal Help to Cancel a Sunnova Solar Contract

Consulting an attorney well-versed in consumer law can provide guidance on any options available for canceling your specific Sunnova solar agreement. Here are some examples of when legal assistance may be worthwhile to exit a problematic contract:

• You believe the agreement terms are unfair or deceptive. An experienced lawyer can review if the contract violates any state or federal consumer protection laws. For instance, were important cancellation details omitted or falsely promised? If violations are found, the contract may be voidable.
• Sunnova refuses to let you cancel even when you’ve followed the termination steps outlined in the contract properly. An attorney can assert your legal rights.
• Excessive cancellation fees are demanded by Sunnova, either in the contract itself or verbally after signing. A lawyer can analyze if the penalties seem legally enforceable or constitute unfair practices.
• You are threatened with unrealistic damages for breach of contract by Sunnova, like owing many times more than the solar system’s value. Experienced counsel can respond to improper legal threats.
• The original agreement omitted critical cancellation policy details that were covered verbally by a Sunnova salesperson or representative. What’s in the signed contract supersedes any promises made orally.

If you consult an attorney about cancelling with Sunnova, make sure to provide them documentation like:

• The original sales presentations, cost estimates, emails, and any other materials from Sunnova.
• Call or in-person meeting notes, as well as any correspondence with the company.
• The signed contract and any amendments or addendums to the agreement.
• Notes from conversations or promises made by Sunnova staff related to cancellation.
• The written cancellation request you submitted to Sunnova by certified mail or courier.
• Any Sunnova responses regarding your cancellation.

With these documents, an experienced lawyer can review the history and properly advise you on options for either exiting the contract legally or negotiating with Sunnova from a position of greater strength.

Using a Home Sale to Cancel Your Sunnova Solar Contract

Selling your home provides another potential avenue for getting out of a Sunnova solar agreement early. However, you need to take proactive steps for this approach to succeed:

• Inform Sunnova immediately once you officially list your house for sale, and ask to assign the solar contract to the home buyer. Don’t wait until you have an offer or are nearing closing.
• Understand that the buyer must be approved by passing Sunnova’s credit check and signing a contract assignment agreement. This could delay or jeopardize the home sale if issues arise.
• Be prepared to pay the remaining contract balance if the buyer won’t or can’t assume the Sunnova agreement. You can’t force them to take it on.
• Start the process early by contacting Sunnova right after listing your home. It may take them weeks to respond, during which time a buyer could back out if their lender learns of the solar contract encumbrance. Don’t wait until the last minute.

If attempting to cancel your Sunnova contract via a home sale, consult both your real estate agent and an attorney to protect your interests in the transaction. The solar lease transfer process can get very complicated.

Key Takeaways on Terminating a Sunnova Solar Contract

• Carefully review your specific Sunnova agreement to find the cancellation period timeframes, deadlines, and fee amounts. Don’t assume you know the terms.
• Act immediately upon deciding to cancel so you comply with the short cancellation window. Minutes matter for avoiding penalties.
• Try to negotiate cancellation fees with Sunnova as early as possible, before significant work has commenced. But expect resistance.
• Get verbal promises or assurances from Sunnova in writing. Salespeople and staff often make claims that don’t match the contract.
• Contact a qualified lawyer if you believe your agreement is unlawful or that Sunnova is unreasonably blocking cancellation.
• Persistently follow up and escalate to management if Sunnova staff gives you the runaround on a cancellation request. Get confirmation in writing.
• Selling your home can potentially end a Sunnova contract if the buyer cooperates and qualifies. But have backup plans if they won’t assume the agreement.

Canceling a solar contract is difficult, but being proactive and diligent gives you the best chance of success if having second thoughts about going solar with Sunnova. Always consult your specific agreement first and seek legal guidance regarding your rights.