April 13, 2024, 9:20 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 court ruling shows.
There is also a right to compensation for PV systems, such as when delivery is delayed or the system does not perform adequately. A court ruling from Bielefeld strengthens the position of owners. What was the specific case about?
Compensation for PV System After Several Defects
If the PV system is delivered with defects or delayed, those affected may be entitled to compensation. This is demonstrated by a ruling from the Bielefeld Regional Court (Case No.: 5 O 149/22), as referenced by the legal portal “anwaltauskunft.de.” Buyers should be meticulous during acceptance and refuse it if the work is not done properly.
Also of interest: When a Photovoltaic System on the Roof is Worthwhile
In the case, the plaintiff had ordered two photovoltaic systems that had several defects. First, they were connected later than agreed, 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.
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