This case study highlights the work of solar maintenance company, EnergyAid, which intervenes to resolve a long-standing solar production issue for a distressed homeowner. For the system in question, EnergyAid provided a relatively simple technical solution which resulted in significant financial relief through the repowering of the system.
Background
The client, a SunPower customer located in Murrieta, California, had been experiencing severe production issues with his solar energy system. Despite having solar panels installed, his system had not been operational for three consecutive years. This led to a significant accumulation of electric bills, pushing him into a precarious financial situation in which the utility company was threatening to disconnect his power. The client expressed feeling "let down by their installers" and that "nobody's wanted to help" him.
Challenges
- Zero Solar Production: For three years, the client's solar system failed to produce any electricity, eliminating the promised benefits of his original investment.
- Escalating Electric Bills: Without solar production, the client was solely reliant on grid power, leading to a mounting pile of electricity bills he could not afford to pay.
- Threat of Power Disconnection: The financial strain resulted in late and unpaid payments, to the point at which the utility company threatened to shut off his power.
- Faulty Inverter: Upon inspection, EnergyAid identified the root cause as a malfunctioning PVI inverter, displaying an ‘internal error EO31,’ indicative of a critical internal hardware problem.
- Lack of Support: The client had previously sought assistance but felt abandoned by other service providers.
Solution
Energy Aid dispatched a team to the client's residence to assess and rectify the situation, focusing on repowering the nonproducing solar system:
- On-Site Diagnosis: The team quickly diagnosed the PVI inverter's EO31 error, confirming an irreparable internal hardware issue.
- Inverter Replacement (Repowering): Recognizing that the faulty inverter could not be repaired, EnergyAid replaced it with a brand new Tigo EI inverter. This crucial step in repowering the system involved upgrading the core component responsible for converting solar energy into usable household electricity. The EI inverter was specifically chosen for its integrated design, which streamlines the system and eliminates the need for additional or separate components, ensuring more efficient deployment and reliable operation.
- System Re-commissioning: The new Tigo EI inverter was professionally wired and connected to the home's Wi-Fi network, fully integrating it into the client's home energy infrastructure.
- Customer Empowerment: The client could now log into a monitoring application, providing him with real-time visibility into his system's performance, now powered by a new Tigo EI inverter.
- Proactive Monitoring & Support: As part of their ‘Free Solar Friday’ series, EnergyAid provided the new inverter and installation service at no cost to the homeowner. Furthermore, the client received a lifetime membership for proactive system monitoring, ensuring he would receive alerts for any future issues or interruptions in production.
Results
The intervention by EnergyAid, particularly the successful repowering of the system with the Tigo EI inverter, yielded immediate and profoundly positive results for the client:
- Solar Production Restored (Repowered): The system was successfully repowered, brought back up, and began producing electricity again.
- Quantifiable Energy Output: The solar system, now fully operational with the Tigo EI inverter, immediately began producing 2.2kW of electricity, directly offsetting the client's energy consumption.
- Elimination of Financial Burden: The entire service, including the new Tigo EI inverter and the repowering work, was provided free of charge, alleviating the significant financial stress from past electric bills and the looming cost of repair.
- Client Relief and Gratitude: The client expressed overwhelming relief and gratitude, stating, "You're a blessing in disguise," and that the help was "meaningful beyond what you ever can imagine." The successful repowering brought him immense relief and a few tears of joy.
- Long-Term Peace of Mind: The lifetime membership in the EnergyAid monitoring program provided the client with peace of mind regarding the production of his newly repowered solar system through continuous monitoring and support, with the ability to avoid prolonged outages in the future.
This case study demonstrates how deeply EnergyAid is committed to customer well-being by resolving a critical technical failure and providing essential support to a client faced with severe financial hardship due to a nonproducing solar system. EnergyAid achieved this result through a successful repowering operation by installing a new Tigo EI inverter.
Summary:
For more information on Tigo EI Inverter Repowering, visit: tigoenergy.com/ipoc
For more information on EnergyAid, visit: energyaid.net
