Daniel Sullivan, the founder of Sullivan Solar Power, who abruptly shut down the firm in 2021, has quietly resurfaced in the San Diego solar world with a new business aimed at supporting his former customers. State regulators now say the new operation may be brushing up against contractor rules, and long-simmering homeowner complaints have flared again. The move drags a familiar local drama back into the spotlight for San Diego residents who still rely on rooftop solar: unfinished installations, unpaid subcontractors, and thin warranties.
Regulators Step In
California's contractor watchdog has told reporters it is reviewing Sullivan's new business and says the company needs a contractor's license to perform many solar repairs and restorations. As reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Contractors State License Board has opened an inquiry into Sullivan Power Inc. following consumer complaints of unlicensed activity. The board's involvement raises questions about whether the firm can legally advertise and sell monitoring and service plans to homeowners.
What Sullivan Power Is Selling
Sullivan Power says the business was founded in 2022 to restore, monitor, and service systems originally installed by Sullivan Solar Power and that it does not engage in new construction projects. The firm markets restoration and a low-cost monitoring plan to reconnect customers to their system portals and to cover routine maintenance, language that appears on the company's service pages. Company copy insists the work is limited to troubleshooting and limited maintenance rather than full installations, a distinction the firm says puts it outside the scope of contracting for new builds.
A Troubled Track Record
Sullivan Solar Power grew into a sizable regional installer, and its site still claims more than 9,000 systems and a commercial portfolio that includes Petco Park, before it locked its Miramar doors and stopped contracting in late 2021. Industry reporting at the time documented the sudden closure and the scramble by homeowners to get monitoring access and repairs, as noted by Solar Power World. Those earlier collapses prompted multiple complaints, citations, and lawsuits that critics say set the stage for renewed skepticism now that a Sullivan-branded service is back on the streets.
Customers Remain Wary
Homeowners who say they were left with incomplete installs or unpaid subcontractor bills when Sullivan Solar shut down are watching the new operation closely. One Sabre Springs homeowner told The San Diego Union-Tribune he wound up paying out of pocket for unfinished work; other complaints appear in consumer forums and the Better Business Bureau's files. For many former Sullivan customers, a new service agreement is less a reassurance than a reminder of old headaches.
Legal Context
California law distinguishes casual repair work from contracting that requires a license; California Legislature records show that Assembly Bill 2622 raised the threshold for unlicensed "minor work" to $1,000, but the state still bars unlicensed contractors from performing larger installs or advertising as contractors. The legislative text and the Contractors State License Board's guidance explain how small job exemptions work and when a full contractor license is required; the board also publishes resources for checking a license and filing complaints. For consumers wondering whether a business is licensed, the CSLB's license check tool is the official place to start.
Why This Matters
Beyond potential regulatory fines, the controversy revives concerns about consumer protection and trust in the local solar market. The founder's legal troubles from 2022, when Daniel Sullivan pleaded guilty to a stalking charge and was sentenced to probation, still linger in the background of the story, as reported by the Times of San Diego. Those past events, combined with a high-profile company collapse, help explain why both regulators and homeowners are treating Sullivan Power's comeback with caution.
State officials say they're reviewing complaints and will determine whether enforcement or licensing action is necessary; Sullivan Power continues to solicit former customers for its monitoring plans on its site. For now, the dispute feeds into a larger conversation about how the state polices solar service, how owners hold installers to warranty commitments, and how consumers respond when a familiar local brand reappears under a new name.
