u/Ok_Section4410

Hi all - I wanted to share a recent issue and resolution I had with Sunrun in the hopes it could be helpful to others. I lurked this sub for a while, trying to find similar experiences and saw people who had similar problems, but haven’t seen anyone who tried what I did so I just wanted to share.

I bought a house about nine years ago that was a year and a half into a 20 year solar lease with Sunrun. It was a big system. I didn’t want the solar because it was street facing on my house and aesthetically looked unattractive. Yes, I know there are other benefits to solar, but I’m not really here to debate that.

During the sale process, I told the sellers I wanted the system removed prior to closing. They told me it wasn’t possible, but that they would pre-pay the entire lease. I wanted the house so I accepted those terms. The sellers prepaid the entire lease to Sun run at closing. I signed a transfer agreement, and didn’t really think much more about it. My electricity bills were OK but not great. Honestly, I’m not sure the system ever worked properly but I basically just ignored it because it wasn’t giving me any trouble.

Fast-forward to now. I needed a roof replacement and was doing other exterior renovation, we are something like 12 years into the solar lease, electricity bills are going up all the time, I don’t feel like I’m saving any money and aesthetically I still don’t want the panels there. I pull up my lease and I read it and I really really look at it and I do some research. I call Sunrun and I tell them I want to purchase the system outright and ask for a quote. Figuring that I can either put it back up after I finish the roof or I can throw the whole thing away once it’s mine.

Sunrun gives me an outrageous purchase quote, over $27,000, to purchase an old system in which the inverters have been discontinued and the panels are almost 13 years old. I asked them to document how they got to the purchase price and they wouldn’t send me anything or provide any explanation, even though the lease says that purchase price is determined by fair market value of the solar system, and that a customer is entitled to a third-party assessment of the fair market value of the system when they request a purchase to set the purchase price.

I escalated it, the details don’t really matter, but eventually got someone on the phone who said we will subtract the value of the prepaid lease payments – around $22,000 – and you just pay the remainder which was around $6000. And I’m like – where are you getting that number? And they still wouldn’t explain it to me. Basically the lower number was just using the made up first number as an arbitrary starting and subtracting the value of the lease payments.

So I did a real deep dive into my lease. I realized a few things. First there is no lien on my property for the panels. The lease provides that if I default on the lease, the only recourse sun run has is to file an arbitration against me for only the value of any unpaid lease payments. There are no other contractual clauses that identify any other sun run entitlements if I breach the lease. There’s nothing in the lease that says that I’m required to keep the equipment on my property, the only requirement in the lease that flows to sun run from me is to pay them the monthly lease payments, which, as I said, were prepaid almost 10 years ago.

So I emailed sun run back and I said I’m withdrawing my purchase offer. I’m removing the system to redo my roof. I understand the system is sun runs property and you are welcome to come pick it up prior to my roof being redone or a reasonable time thereafter and you can coordinate with my contractor and I will help facilitate that. They basically freaked out and didn’t know what to do. They tried arguing with me that I had “general obligations “under the lease, and I explained to them that’s not how contract law works. After a couple weeks of them going back-and-forth with me, they sent me over a settlement agreement where they agreed to terminate the lease and I can do whatever I want with the panels at no cost to me. So my roofer is just taking them down and tossing them, my lease is ended, and I’m out.

I don’t know if my solar lease is atypical and that’s why I basically had no contractual obligations once the lease payments were made, but it seems to have worked out. Just wanted to share my story in case anyone had a similar situation.

I searched but couldn’t find the answer to this. I’m all set with a black gown but was going to wear two gold necklaces, one a bit chunky but no colors. Are they banned? I know I can easily remove them at the door if I need to but if that’s going to happen I’d rather just wear something else.

We are headed into the city for a four night getaway just me and my husband without the kids. My husband lived in the city for about 20 years, but that was 10 years ago, and we go fairly often. But this is our first solo trip in a while. We’re catching a couple of shows while we’re there and doing the renovated Frick as well as a few other things. Curious on your thoughts on my plan so let’s hear it!

Thursday - try to walk in to Via Carota around 3:30, ready to pivot if we can’t and would welcome suggestions. This is my favorite restaurant, but I haven’t been for about five years and I’d love to go back. Post show going to grab a seat at the bar at Sushi Seki next to our hotel (Hotel Chelsea btw, best hotel in the city imo.)

Friday - Zabar’s or Barney Greengrass, whatever we’re feeling. Walk across the park to the Frick. 6 pm res at Forsythia.

Saturday - 1 pm res at Soothr Thai Noodle Bar. 8 pm res at the Modern Kitchen Table experience.

Sunday - Chinatown dim sum for brunch, probably Golden Unicorn because I haven’t seen the carts since before Covid but again open to suggestions. We are seeing a show with a 5 PM start time so need a dinner after that. I was thinking Shukette but I am open to suggestions. Probably want something buzzy and fun.

Would love to hear your thoughts!