Van Nuys, CA · March 2026
Two years. Bankruptcy. Restart.
A 97 kW commercial solar rescue in Van Nuys, CA — picked up mid-permit from a bankrupt contractor.
At a glance
- DC System
- 97.44 kW
- AC System
- 100 kW CEC
- Modules
- 203
- Inverters
- 2 × Solectria PVI-50
- Racking
- UNIRAC RM10 (ballasted)
- Service
- Supply side, 800A
- Permit Finaled
- March 2026
- AHJ · Utility
- LADBS / LAFD · LADWP
The story
A commercial building in Van Nuys. The owner hired a solar contractor in 2023 to install a 97-kilowatt system on the roof. They put up the panels. Then they disappeared.
The permit went stale. The plans had been drawn seven years earlier — under a code that had since changed. The panels and inverters specified in those plans had been discontinued years ago. None of it could be reordered. The contractor filed for bankruptcy and walked away. The owner had paid for a system that legally didn't exist.
That's when Cali Energy was brought in.
We redrew the entire plan set from scratch. New equipment under current code. New structural calculations to match the new equipment's weight and wind load. New three-line electrical diagrams. New ballast report stamped by a structural engineer. Re-submitted to LADBS.
Three agencies were active at the same time: Building & Safety, Fire, and Electrical. Every revision in one triggered re-review in the other two. The same approval had to be reissued under three jurisdictions. Plan cycle after plan cycle. Two years of paperwork chasing a permit that should have closed in months.
In March 2026, LADBS closed the file.
Two years to clean up what the first contractor left behind. The system is finaled, inspected, and waiting on the utility meter swap.
The build
System specifications
| System size | 97.44 kW DC / 100 kW AC CEC |
|---|---|
| PV modules | 203 modules, flat-roof ballasted |
| Inverters | 2 × Solectria PVI-50, 480V, 50 kW each |
| Racking | UNIRAC RM10 Evolution, ballasted flat-roof |
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| Roof substrate | Steel I-beam construction |
|---|---|
| Service connection | Supply side, existing 800A service |
| AHJ | LADBS + LAFD (City of Los Angeles) |
| Utility | LADWP |
| Permit status | Finaled March 2026 |
| Interconnection | Pending utility scheduling |
| Contractor | Cali Energy, CSLB #1032379 |
Another LADWP commercial building in the Valley. See how the numbers stack up.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a solar contractor goes out of business before the permit is finaled?
It's primarily a loss of money and time — significant amounts of both. The owner has already paid for a system that legally can't operate, and without a final inspection nobody can certify it was installed correctly. A second contractor charges a premium to finish someone else's work, and many won't take it on when the project has fundamental issues at the plan level. The final inspection is what makes a solar system legitimately usable — the only real protection against this scenario is choosing a vetted, licensed contractor from the start.
Why did this project take two years to close?
Three plan check agencies were active at the same time — Building & Safety, Fire, and Electrical. Every plan revision in one triggered re-review in the other two. The original plans were seven years old and had to be rebuilt to current code. Every approval had to be reissued under three jurisdictions. The bureaucratic cycle is what takes the time — not the install itself.
What is a supply side connection for commercial solar?
A supply side connection ties into the electrical service before the main breaker. It allows larger commercial solar systems to interconnect without requiring a main service panel upgrade. On this building, the existing 800A service accommodated the 97 kW system without modification.
How long does commercial solar permitting take in Los Angeles?
A clean commercial project typically runs 4–8 months through LADBS and LAFD plan check.
