Solar Energy Equipment Warranties

Maine has established a mandatory minimum warranty for the sale and installation of all solar-energy equipment in the state. The mandatory warranty is a result of a determination by the state legislature that a lack of consumer confidence in the performance and reliability of solar-energy equipment is a major impediment to commercialization of the technology. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has been directed to establish an express warranty for the sale and installation of solar-energy equipment in Maine. This express warranty will, at a minimum, include the following: A five-year manufacturer's express warranty against defects in materials or manufacture of solar collectors; A one-year warranty against failure of the solar system when system failure is the result of improper installation; and Those implied warranties established in the Maine Uniform Commercial Code, Title 11, sections 2-314 and 2-315.For more information about the development of Maine's warranty for solar-energy equipment, contact the Maine PUC.