OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Photo voltaic vitality is usually a value efficient measure for a lot of Oklahoma households, however one native veteran says his photo voltaic desires have turn out to be a nightmare.
Steven Gill had hoped for assistance on his vitality payments.
“I assumed, effectively let’s simply get photo voltaic,” he mentioned. “I can run the new tub, pool, and I don’t should care.”
His dream of photo voltaic began with a telephone name. The corporate was named Solergy, they usually offered a candy deal.
“My electrical invoice could be zero,” mentioned Steven. “The $300 a month I pay for electrical, could be my invoice for the panels for, they informed me, 20 years.”
Initially annoyed by weeks of delays, Steven says the product was put in between December and January.
The ultimate product, two somewhat massive panel boards, have now sat exterior his home for months, nonetheless not correctly hooked into his residence vitality system.
Steven has additionally discovered he could by no means absolutely see a rebate that was promised along with his deal.
“They mentioned you get a 26 % rebate from the federal authorities, by claiming it in your revenue taxes. [But] you gotta make sufficient,” mentioned Steven. “Any individual ought to’ve defined it’s primarily based on that, that’s one thing I didn’t know.”
Whereas Steven does qualify for the rebate, he was informed it will assist offset round $25,000 of his new photo voltaic system. Primarily based on this yr’s taxes, he’ll attain that full rebate someday within the subsequent 90 years.
Steven says he is now largely on the hook for the entire $71,000 plus system. Whereas his invoice is not due for 2 years, he says it is greater than double what he at the moment pays in vitality.
He isn’t alone in his frustration. Solergy at the moment touts an F-rating with the BBB, with complaints starting from a scarcity of communication, to not pulling correct permits, to failing metropolis inspections.
We spoke with the corporate on the telephone. They informed our group in the case of the rebate, it is as much as the client to completely perceive their taxes and financials earlier than signing up.
Additionally they say all correct permits had been pulled for the job and that COVID-19 was accountable for the close to five-month delay.
However In Your Nook checked with the Metropolis of Norman. Metropolis officers inform us a building allow was requested in March, months after the system was already constructed.
However no permits have been absolutely accepted, constructing or electrical.
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Oklahoma Electrical Cooperative (OEC) wasn’t in a position to touch upon whether or not Solergy filed their correct paperwork, however they do urge different prospects contemplating photo voltaic to contact them first.
“We’ve got a bevy of sources on our web site,” mentioned Autumn McMahon, OEC Supervisor of Advertising and Member Relations . “What our objective is in order that we are able to seek the advice of with them, be certain they’re not getting extra photo voltaic than they want.”
Steven says on prime of every thing, the corporate hasn’t returned his telephone calls or emails for months.
He tells our group, now, he merely desires out of the deal.
“I don’t need it. It’s nonetheless not connected, and the corporate gained’t come get it or reply to a name,” he added. “Allow them to come repossess it; it’s not connected, go forward.”
Making issues extra complicated, there’s truly one other firm named Solergy out of Texas, with an A-plus BBB score.
The proprietor of that firm tells our group they obtain complaints day by day in regards to the different enterprise.
Whereas Solergy informed KFOR they’d be contacting Steven, Steven says he has not heard from the corporate, they usually proceed to not return his telephone calls.
For any OEC prospects in search of extra data on photo voltaic vitality, click on right here.
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