Photo voltaic Titan says defective components from Generac are liable for the corporate’s “failure”.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- A Knoxville-based solar energy firm is making important workers cuts, an proprietor advised 10News.
Richard Michael Atnip, who mentioned he was a silent accomplice, mentioned the corporate went from 400 workers seven months in the past to lower than 100 on Jan. 5.
10News discovered Atnip’s quantity by means of LexisNexis Public Information and a former worker confirmed it.
“Generac is the reason for the collapse of many wholesome fast-growing firms,” Atnip texted 10News on Thursday. “Photo voltaic Titan and Photo voltaic Titan workers together with lots of their prospects have been victimized by Generac and their failure to NOT announce a nationwide recall and step as much as the plate to assist their installers and prospects.”
Generac advised 10News it’s a main producer of photo voltaic and storage options. The corporate mentioned it sells its merchandise to a variety of impartial distributors and photo voltaic contractors.
“We’re upset to listen to of any situations the place prospects are dissatisfied with the efficiency of their system,” a spokesperson mentioned. “Correct sizing, system necessities and set up in accordance with the producer’s directions are required for correct system efficiency and ought to be carried out by certified impartial contractors.”
Generac is dealing with at the least three federal lawsuits, together with a category motion lawsuit from customers, a category motion lawsuit from workers and a lawsuit from Pink Vitality, which blames Generac to place them out of enterprise.
“It isn’t a Photo voltaic Titan subject, it is a Generac subject,” Atnip advised 10News. “Photo voltaic Titan compelled to chop workers because of Generac ripple impact.”
Generac says it stands by its merchandise and guarantee obligations. It mentioned prospects can contact [email protected] or 1-800-396-1281 to be paired with a Generac-authorized guarantee service supplier.
Atnip mentioned Photo voltaic Titan is presently looking for authorized illustration in opposition to Generac. He mentioned the “overwhelming majority” of Photo voltaic Titan techniques put in all through the pandemic included Generac parts.
When requested what number of prospects that features, Atnip replied “sufficient to deliver a really wholesome firm with a 40,000 sq. foot company headquarters to its knees.”
The attorneys basic of Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia are presently investigating Photo voltaic Titan. By mid-December, that they had obtained at the least 140 formal complaints.
Atnip mentioned he believes many of the complaints are because of Generac’s failures.
Mark La Palme, a disabled veteran in Kentucky, mentioned he purchased a Photo voltaic Titan system final summer time.
“We knew concerning the Generac points, so we stayed away from there,” he mentioned. “It labored for about three weeks after which the items began failing … They put in new items, it broke once more.”
He mentioned he paid $60,000 for what he described as a “enormous weight” on prime of his home.
“I feel photo voltaic is an effective factor to do,” he mentioned. “It is a disgrace you understand there are such a lot of points with it at this level.”
Three Photo voltaic Titan workers offered a Dec. 31 electronic mail from Brandon Stephens, who recognized himself as Photo voltaic Titan’s Chief Monetary Officer.
He wrote to workers about an settlement “signed to promote a part of Photo voltaic Titan to a different firm.”
Atnip didn’t straight reply any questions from 10News about whether or not Photo voltaic Titan offered a part of the corporate.
“Is Photo voltaic Titan promoting a part of the corporate, or simply shedding workers? Is there nonetheless help for present prospects?” 10 The information was written.
“I am a silent accomplice and I do not handle day-to-day operations however Photo voltaic Titan is doing every thing in its energy to help and repair Generac’s epic part failures,” Atnip replied.
A separation discover given to an worker signifies that they have been fired from the shopper care division because of “lack of labor.”
One other worker advised 10News they have been fired Monday, however have but to obtain any formal documentation.
Final December, 10News reported on a number of private properties that Atnip offered.
Walton County, Fla., information present he offered a house in Miramar Seaside for .715 million on June 28.
Knox County information present he offered a Knoxville house for 0,000 on Oct. 27.
He offered a waterfront mansion in Knox County for $9.75 million on Nov. 15, in accordance with property information.
“I reinvested a number of million {dollars} again into the corporate to help the corporate,” Atnip mentioned. “Photo voltaic Titan did every thing inside its potential to help and repair Generac’s epic part failures.”
Unique Full Assertion from Richard Michael Atnip:
“Generac doesn’t stand behind their massive installers who’re aggressively making an attempt to fulfill prospects with Generac parts which have failed and proceed to fail and Generac is the reason for the failure of many wholesome quick rising Photo voltaic Titan firm and workers and Photo voltaic Titan together with lots of their prospects have been victimized by Generac and their failure to NOT announce a nationwide recall and step as much as the plate to assist their installers and prospects.
There may be presently a category motion legislation swimsuit in opposition to Generac to characterize customers who’ve been victims of Generac’s epic part failures. As Generac Executives acknowledged “This isn’t a Photo voltaic Titan subject it’s a Generac subject”
Please report the muse and info why Photo voltaic Titan, an organization that 7 months in the past employed greater than 400 workers based mostly in Knoxville Tennessee was compelled to cut back to lower than 100 in the meanwhile!”
Full Assertion from Generac:
Generac is a number one producer of photo voltaic + storage options, and we promote our merchandise to many impartial distributors and photo voltaic contractors.
We’re upset to listen to of any situations the place prospects usually are not happy with the efficiency of their system. Correct measurement, system necessities and set up in accordance with the producer’s directions are required for correct system efficiency and ought to be carried out by certified impartial contractors.
We stand by our merchandise and guarantee obligations. If any buyer has product considerations or wants guarantee help for Generac parts of their photo voltaic techniques, they’ll contact us at [email protected] or 1-800-396-1281 for help . We are going to assist match these prospects with a Generac-authorized guarantee service supplier.
