MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A Monroe County couple needs to know why their costly photo voltaic system is not working. They tried to get solutions from their photo voltaic contractor, however bought no response.
Their messages despatched to the enterprise in Bristol, Tennessee went unanswered. The shortage of communication pissed off the couple.
There are a number of forms of solar energy programs. Grid-tied programs, the least costly, are for householders who reside close to the ability grid. Off-grid programs have extra battery prices, so these programs are hottest in distant places.
with Mike and Tiffany Heaton, who reside in a distant space, the entire level of going photo voltaic is to decrease their electrical energy payments and have a backup if their electrical energy goes out. None of that occurred. Proper now, their system would not even work.
“That is our photo voltaic Edge inverter system. That takes it from the photo voltaic that is on the roof, it goes by way of the inverter that runs our meter,” Mike stated. “None of it really works. No financial savings.”
Mike and Tiffany Heaton’s Tellico Plains house has had photo voltaic panels for 3 and a half years.
“We purchased the costliest, highest-end photo voltaic bundle that Design 1 needed to provide,” Tiffany stated.
The couple paid practically $40,000 for the system from Design 1 Photo voltaic Group out of Bristol, Tennessee.
“I belief this firm, I belief that they’re who they are saying they’re. I belief that they’re a photo voltaic professional,” stated Tiffany.
“At this level, I simply need it to go away. It has been three years of complications,” stated Mike.
Headache is a foul system that provides hassle to the couple virtually from the start.
“That is what saves me probably the most cash. That is what they promised would save me cash,” stated Mike.
This photo voltaic hybrid vitality water heater has by no means labored. Mike stated Design 1 Photo voltaic by no means got here again to make it work. He simply switched it to electrical.
“Principally telephone calls, texts I despatched. You may see the checklist,” stated Mike.
Design 1’s messages went unanswered, he stated. And, there may be one other situation. They do not have a written contract.
“We do not have [the contract] nonetheless,” stated “They are saying they despatched it to me, however I haven’t got it.”
A letter from Enerbank USA, their mortgage firm, says the house enchancment mission with Design 1 Group is full. The couple stated their salesman admitted that they might decrease prices by putting in photo voltaic panels and since they reside in a rural space their system kicks in once they lose energy. However Mike later discovered, that wasn’t the case.
“We do not have batteries,” stated Mike. He would go on to say that he was by no means knowledgeable that they have been out of battery.
“After they first got here out they advised me photo voltaic would a minimum of save me 50% on my electrical invoice,” says Tiffany.
Nevertheless, the charges from Ft. Loudoun Electrical has proven no financial savings for the reason that panels have been put in.
In Madisonville, photo voltaic panels have been put in on the house of Ernie and Sharon Villalobos a 12 months in the past. On Might 27 of 2022, the meter at Ernie’s home reads zero solar energy generated.
“The photo voltaic panels have not been turned on, I am paying two payments,” Sharon stated.
The installer was Design 1 Photo voltaic, the identical enterprise the Heatons employed. WATE despatched an in depth message to Design 1 Photo voltaic on Might 27. Inside a number of days the corporate’s CEO despatched the next directives: “name the couple, arrange a website go to, ship that rebate examine, verify inspections, examine energy firm connection,” and activate the system. After months of ready their photo voltaic system lastly began producing clear vitality.
Again at Tellico Plains, the Heatons hope a technician from Design 1 Photo voltaic will lastly get their system working.
“I wish to get what I paid for,” Tiffany stated.
Higher Enterprise Bureau information present Design 1 Photo voltaic has an “F” score with 134 complaints obtained over the previous three years, and 30 of them stay unanswered, indicating a sample.
Relating to Heaton’s scenario, WATE reached out to Design 1 Photo voltaic, left a number of messages, and spoke with a receptionist, however to this point the corporate has chosen to not reply. Now we have, nonetheless, left a telephone quantity for the corporate to contact the Heatons.
