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SunStrong Management LLC puts solar monitoring app behind paywall

Revision as of 16:26, 16 October 2025 by Keith (talk | contribs) (reworked article, updating it and adding info and fixing reference formatting)

The SunStrong monitoring subscription controversy refers to the January 2025 decision by SunStrong Management LLC to charge subscription fees for solar monitoring features previously included with hardware purchases, affecting approximately 600,000 former SunPower customers following SunPower's August 2024 bankruptcy.

Incident

On January 29, 2025, SunStrong Management LLC sent a mass email to former SunPower customers announcing mandatory subscription fees for solar monitoring features.[1] The email informed customers that features previously included with their monitoring hardware purchase (costing $1,600+) would now require either:

  • Premium monitoring: $9.99/month or $99.99/year
  • Cellular connectivity (effective July 8, 2025): $59.99/year (solar only) or $149.99/year (solar + battery)[2]

Features moved behind the paywall included historical production data, panel-level monitoring, usage analytics, and monthly performance reports. Basic monitoring (real-time production, device alerts, battery management) remains free for WiFi/Ethernet connected systems.

Background

SunPower bankruptcy

SunPower Corporation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 5, 2024 (Case 24-11649-CTG, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware) with approximately $2.01 billion in outstanding debt.[3] The company had previously sold solar monitoring hardware and software solutions to approximately 600,000 households across the United States.

On September 24, 2024, the bankruptcy court approved the sale of SunPower's monitoring app infrastructure, customer databases, and approximately 110,000 solar lease contracts to HA SunStrong Capital LLC and GF SunStrong Capital LLC for $11.5 million.[4] Asset transfers occurred between September 30 and October 21, 2024.[5]

SunStrong Management LLC

SunStrong Management LLC was incorporated on April 8, 2025, and is jointly owned by Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Inc. (NYSE: HASI) and GoodFinch Management LLC.[6] The company is led by CEO Brendon Merkley, formerly of GoodLeap, SolarCity, and Vivint Solar.

Following additional acquisitions including Sunnova's portfolio in September 2025, SunStrong manages over 500,000 customers across 50 states with 83 employees.[7] The company maintains a BBB rating of C with 104 complaints filed as of October 2025.[8]

Hardware specifications

The monitoring hardware consists of PVS5/PVS6 (PV Supervisor) units with FCC certifications YAW529027 and YAW539848.[9][10] These devices feature:

  • NEMA Type 3R rating, operating temperature -30°C to 60°C
  • Connectivity: Ethernet, WiFi, Power Line Communication, cellular backup
  • Requirements: Dedicated 240/208V AC circuit
  • Communication: USB ports, RS-485

Customer impact

In March 2025, SunStrong changed all URLs for PVS monitoring systems without customer notification, breaking connectivity for older PVS2 monitors.[11] Firmware updates also blocked local API access that customers previously used for DIY monitoring solutions.


Solar systems continue producing electricity regardless of monitoring subscription status, though data visibility and remote diagnostics require connectivity.[12]

As of October 2025, no class action lawsuit has been filed regarding the monitoring subscription fees. The California Contractors State License Board filed an accusation on March 28, 2024, seeking to revoke SunPower Corporate Systems' contractor license, with a hearing scheduled April 14, 2025.[13]

California Consumer Attorneys notes customers may bring claims against SunStrong for issues arising after September 24, 2024, when asset transfer occurred.[14] Small claims court remains viable for claims under jurisdictional limits.

Community response

As of October 2025, the SunStrong Connect app maintained an overall 3.8-star rating from 3,350+ reviews on Google Play Store, though reviews from Janurary 2025 onwards skew more negative, with complaints about the introduction of subscription fees for previously free features.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "SunStrong Management Continuing mySunPower App". My Solar Lady. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  2. ↑ "Action Required: Changes to SunStrong Solar Monitoring and Cellular Connectivity by July 8". Solar Technologies. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  3. ↑ "SunPower Corporation Bankruptcy Case Information". Epiq. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  4. ↑ "Motion for Asset Sale Approved for SunPower Corporation". Market Screener. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  5. ↑ "Acquisition Announcement". SunPower. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  6. ↑ "SunStrong Management LLC Credit Rating Report". Kroll Bond Rating Agency. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  7. ↑ "SunStrong Becomes One of Largest U.S. Residential Solar Management Companies". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  8. ↑ "SunStrong Management LLC Business Profile". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  9. ↑ "FCC ID YAW529027". FCC ID Database. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  10. ↑ "FCC ID YAW539848-Z Technical Documentation" (PDF). FCC Report. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  11. ↑ "SunPower SunStrong Monitoring Situation". Solar Panel Talk. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  12. ↑ "Update: Solar App Monitoring Features". Empower Solar. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  13. ↑ "San Jose SunPower Solar Panels Bankruptcy CSLB Accusation". ABC7 News. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  14. ↑ "Solar Panel Consumer Rights". California Consumer Attorneys. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  15. ↑ "SunStrong Connect App". Google Play Store. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
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