Georgia
Pink Energy goes dark in Georgia and across US
Pink Power is now not in enterprise.
AUBURN, Ga. – You possibly can end up the lights for one of many greatest suppliers of rooftop solar energy in Georgia.
After 1000’s of shopper complaints — and investigations throughout the nation together with the FOX 5 I-Group — Pink Power has gone out of enterprise.
However an announcement on the corporate web site stated don’t blame them.
“As a result of rampant buyer discontent ensuing from defective Generac photo voltaic gear, Pink Power has been compelled to shut its doorways completely,” the assertion learn.
The FOX 5 I-Group reported earlier how a authorized dispute over the standard of key photo voltaic {hardware} prompted finger pointing between Pink Power and Generac, the maker of the {hardware}.
Pink Power goes darkish in Georgia and throughout US
After 1000’s of shopper complaints and investigations throughout the nation together with the FOX 5 I-Group, Pink Power has gone out of enterprise. FOX 5 I-Group reporter Randy Travis returns with what this implies for all their Georgia clients and the way forward for this rising inexperienced vitality.
Pink Power argued Generac offered defective gadgets known as Snap RS items. Once they failed, the complete system went down. Clients blamed Pink Power.
So did Generac. A spokesperson stated it was defective set up that led to the failures, not the gadgets themselves.
A melted SnapRS unit faraway from the roof of a Pink Power buyer in Georgia.
Pink Power maintained it was Generac’s fault.
“We stay steadfast in our name for Generac to do a nationwide recall on its faulty SnapRS items,” the assertion stated.
Generac has taken over some repairs. A day after the FOX 5 I-Group profiled a private care residence proprietor’s frustration, a Generac contractor reached out and ultimately changed two dozen SnapRS items.
In the future after the FOX 5 I-Group profiled his damaged solar energy system, Daniel Stancea stated Generac contractors responded and obtained it mounted.
Daniel Stancea is now getting the solar energy he paid $82,000 to Pink Power.
“I took Pink Power’s phrase,” Stancea stated. “They got here in and promised me the world. And I took it.”
Stancea stated the Pink Power gross sales consultant informed him their system would change his energy invoice and supply him backup battery energy for his sufferers. He stated he was assured the month-to-month funds to finance his system can be decrease than his traditional energy invoice.
However he realized solely a partial financial savings at first — and that was when the system was working.
Stancea admitted he fell for Pink Power’s slick gross sales pitch.
“I kick myself for that,” he stated. “I ought to have completed extra homework. And get at the least 2-3 estimates.”
Daniel Stancea’s system now exhibits he is producing extra solar energy than he is utilizing, even promoting some again to Jackson EMC. And his batteries are absolutely charged. Lastly.
A hidden digicam FOX5 I-Group investigation caught a Pink Power senior gross sales supervisor making the identical false guarantees.
Nobody tracks what number of Pink Power clients reside in Georgia. Jackson EMC stated Stancea is certainly one of 12 on their books. Walton EMC experiences one other 13 Pink Power clients.
Georgia Energy stated practically 8000 clients use rooftop photo voltaic. Pink Power is among the greatest suppliers, however no particular numbers had been accessible.
No less than 4 states opened investigations into Pink Power and its questionable gross sales practices.
Georgia’s lawyer basic’s workplace stated it was investigating an unnamed rooftop photo voltaic supplier.
“Why they couldn’t determine one thing out amongst themselves and put the purchasers first is simply past me,” stated Don Moreland, govt director of the Georgia Photo voltaic Power Affiliation.
Moreland’s group put out an alert final yr about out-of-state corporations like Pink Power.
“It was actually fairly alarming the claims they had been providing,” he stated.
Moreland stated his group of native photo voltaic suppliers should work more durable to beat any adverse hit Pink Power’s demise could have on the trade total, particularly when the enterprise local weather for photo voltaic appears so constructive.
Congress just lately handed laws rising the federal tax credit score for photo voltaic to 30% of its price. That’s an incentive assured for the subsequent decade.
“The rapid influence to my enterprise hasn’t been all that noticeable,” stated Montana Bush of Various Power Southeast, an organization based mostly in Athens.
“Their chapter serves to bolster the truth that cheaters solely prosper within the brief run,” Bush stated in an e-mail. “That is one more instance to the trade how necessary relaying good expectations to clients and following by with prime quality set up actually is.”