June 16, 2025, 10:00 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Does the solar system generate less electricity than agreed upon after installation? Owners do not have to accept this, as a recent ruling demonstrates.
There is also a right to compensation for PV systems, such as when they are delivered late or do not provide sufficient performance. A court ruling from Bielefeld strengthens the position of the owners. What was the specific issue in the case?
Compensation for PV System After Several Defects
If the PV system is delivered with defects or delayed, affected parties may be entitled to compensation. This is demonstrated by a ruling from the Bielefeld Regional Court (Case No.: 5 O 149/22), referenced by the legal portal “anwaltauskunft.de.” Buyers should be meticulous during acceptance and refuse it if the work is not done properly.
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In the case, the plaintiff had ordered two photovoltaic systems that had several defects. First, they were connected after the agreed-upon time, and second, they did not deliver the agreed performance.
The plaintiff suffered financial damage because she could use or feed less electricity into the grid. She demanded that the executing company rectify the defects and provide compensation.
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Company Must Rectify Defects and Compensate for Damages
The court fully sided with the woman and ordered the company to rectify the identified defects. Additionally, it must cover the expert costs and compensate for the woman’s lost profits.
Incidentally, the fact that the woman refused to accept the work was to her advantage. The executing company had to prove that it had installed the system without defects—which it failed to do.
With material from dpa