Georgia
Georgia PSC ‘getting lit up’ with complaints about home solar ripoffs
Elsa Perez (L) mentioned the photo voltaic salesman instructed her the federal government would pay your complete value of her $54,200 system. As an alternative, she was caught paying $240 every month till she’s 105.
LILBURN, Ga. – A rising variety of Georgians complain they have been tricked into shopping for costly rooftop solar energy techniques, the sort you see marketed closely on social media.
Is extra authorities regulation the reply?
SOLAR PANELS IN GEORGIA: WAYS TO AVOID SCAMS AND HOW TO DECIDE IF A SYSTEM IS RIGHT FOR YOUR HOME
Georgia PSC ‘getting lit up’ with complaints about dwelling photo voltaic ripoffs
A rising variety of Georgians complain they have been tricked into shopping for costly rooftop solar energy techniques, the sort you see marketed closely on social media.
“I actually hate that we’re going to must get entangled, however there’s simply so many issues,” defined Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols. “We’re getting lit up on the fee — all 5 of us — in regards to the issues persons are having.”
GA Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols put in photo voltaic panels on his dwelling in 2010. (Courtesy)
Echols is the PSC’s largest proponent of dwelling photo voltaic. He added photo voltaic panels to his dwelling in 2010. He additionally helped push by means of a program that requires Georgia Energy purchase extra energy from photo voltaic clients on the similar charge the utility prices for its electrical energy.
It’s known as web metering. This system has already reached its most of 5,000 clients.
A hidden digital camera FOX 5 I-Staff investigation caught some photo voltaic salesmen wrongly promising that clients certified for web metering, making the prospect for dwelling photo voltaic much more attractive.
In addition they dangled the false promise of zero energy payments a lot of the yr and assumed our undercover producer was eligible for a giant federal tax credit score with out actually figuring out our tax scenario.
Georgians wrongly relying on that tax credit score — and no electrical invoice — didn’t study the reality till it was too late to cancel photo voltaic loans that generally totaled as a lot as $90,000.
This Lilburn dwelling is not producing any solar energy. The proprietor, Elsa Perez, mentioned she instructed the utility firm to not join the system after she found she had dedicated to a lifetime mortgage.
Elsa Perez, 81, mentioned she was instructed her $54,200 dwelling photo voltaic system could be paid fully by the federal authorities.
“They only instructed (me) it’s going to be free,” she instructed us by means of an interpreter. “The federal government’s going to cowl the prices.”
As an alternative, she’s caught with a month-to-month fee of at the least $280 till 2046.
That’s when Ms. Perez would flip 105.
“She’s pondering she’s going to lose her home,” the interpreter defined.
The corporate that bought her system — Viable Vitality Options in South Carolina — didn’t reply for remark.
The finance firm — Goodleap — confirmed to the FOX 5 I-Staff Perez was confused in regards to the mortgage and thought her system was free after they contacted her to go over the small print in January.
“Our consultant contacted the photo voltaic firm, who agreed to ship the photo voltaic salesperson again out to Ms. Perez’s dwelling to elucidate once more how every thing labored, together with the mortgage,” Chief Advertising Officer Matt Murray mentioned.
Murray mentioned Perez confirmed she understood the mortgage phrases. She instructed us she didn’t.
When requested why Goodleap would mortgage $54,200 to an 81-year-old buyer, Murray defined, “We are literally prohibited by regulation from denying a mortgage on that foundation … If we didn’t concern loans to clients above a sure age, thousands and thousands of individuals wouldn’t have the reasonably priced choice to get photo voltaic.”
However after reviewing her file, the finance firm determined to cancel her mortgage and refund any funds Perez had already made. They’re additionally coordinating with the solar energy firm to resolve what needs to be achieved in regards to the panels nonetheless on her dwelling. Perez earlier mentioned she needs them eliminated.
Occupied with rooftop photo voltaic? Specialists say get three bids, together with from native firms.
“There’s a variety of Georgians which can be going into debt and entering into monetary bother by means of all of the photo voltaic firms coming into the state,” mentioned Echols. “People simply should be actually cautious.”
He recommends getting three bids, ensuring to incorporate native firms.
HB 1494 didn’t make it out of committee this yr that may have required a further layer of economic disclosure earlier than a house photo voltaic sale is remaining. One other suggestion was to mandate every client watch a video produced by the PSC that spells out photo voltaic in layman’s phrases. The way it works. What to fairly count on.
The regulators may additionally require all utilities create an accepted record of photo voltaic firms.
Listed below are extra assets to be sure to are an knowledgeable dwelling photo voltaic buyer:
Georgia Public Service Fee’s web site has extra details about photo voltaic power. Georgia Energy presents a “photo voltaic advisor instrument” to assist folks resolve if solar energy is correct for them and their properties. The Georgia Photo voltaic Vitality Fee has info to assist shoppers watch out for scams. Walton EMC additionally presents photo voltaic applications.