Panasonic’s market exit leads Northeast solar installer to rethink ‘premium’ narrative

Panasonic exited the solar panel and battery business abruptly on April 28, 2025, catching installers off guard, including its former Northeast Installer of the Year, Public Service Solar in New Jersey. If you had Panasonic solar panels or a Panasonic EverVolt battery installed, this is worth knowing about, since the company has stopped making and marketing these products.

One practical issue: Panasonic shut down its battery monitoring portal (the app that lets you track how your battery is charging and discharging) in January 2026. That has made service calls more complicated for owners. More recently, Chinese battery brand SolaX took over Panasonic's monitoring apps, and installers are hopeful this will restore normal function. If your battery's app has been acting up or showing outdated information, this ownership change may be the reason, and it may also be the path to a fix.

For homeowners still shopping, this story is a reminder that supply chains for solar panels and batteries have been unsettled, with manufacturer shortages, factory fires, and shipping delays affecting availability of premium brands. Installers have been switching between suppliers like REC, Maxeon, and FranklinWH to keep projects moving. None of this changes what a solar system already on your roof does, but it may affect what brand your installer offers if you're getting a new system or adding battery storage now.