I-Team: FTC: Watch Out for Solar Scams

By: Randy Travis

Aired: Jun 23 2016

COVINGTON, Ga. -

The official start of summer meant we're officially headed into some of the hottest days of the year and some of the highest electric bills.

But homeowners with solar panels love this time of the year. More Georgians are going solar, and now the government wants to make sure you don't fall for a solar scam.

This week the Federal Trade Commission held a workshop with consumer advocates and industry representatives. They agreed that consumer fraud in the solar business could harm the fast growth residential solar power is currently experiencing.

Even though adding solar panels to your home can cost thousands of dollars up front, new laws allowing Georgians to lease those panels have made it more affordable. Homeowners have been attracted by the freedom of generating their own power to sell back to the utility companies, thus reducing their overall power bill. Plus many solar advocates share a desire to help the environment.

But over the years, the FOX 5 I-Team has told you about homeowners who wish they'd done their solar homework. One man wound up with cheaper Chinese-made solar panels even though the company's proposal listed American-made panels. The installer claimed the roof line forced them to use Chinese panels, but the homeowner insisted no one told him and the cost never changed.

A Paulding County woman gave her solar installer $10,000 up front but never received any panels. Willie Akers eventually pled no contest to theft and agreed to pay back the money. When the homeowner said she had only received $300, Akers wound up back in jail on a probation violation.

Bill Entrekin loves the 25 panels on his Newton County home and the $55 Georgia Power bill he just got despite the searing summer temperatures. Still...

"I wish I had done a little more research after the fact seeing the problem that other folks have had," Entrekin admitted. His installer failed for three months to hook up his panels to the grid, meaning he missed out on all that potential energy.

"I went with the first one because he was so convincing in his statements and his claims," he remembered.

When you're an energy pioneer like Bill Entrekin, you have to be ready for those unseen dangers along the solar frontier. And that's why the Federal Trade Commission invited industry leaders this week to come up with ways to better protect consumers.

The head of the Solar Energy Industry Association pointed out it took 40 years to install their one millionth solar panel.

"That second million won't happen if the customer isn't treated right," predicted interim president Thomas Kimbis.

Other ideas considered include requiring solar companies in all 50 states present a "truth in lending" form to potential customers that spells out the true costs of solar.

Another tip: make sure a company doesn't exaggerate how fast utility rates are rising to help shorten the amount of time a customer can make back their investment. In our hidden camera investigation into one company, the salesman told us electric rates were rising 30 percent a year. The truth? The Georgia Public Service Commission said rates have risen about two percent a year. Big difference.

You can offer your own suggestions to the FTC by following this link:

[gregshuffield]

If you have a small roof say a two or three bedroom home, forget it, you can't hold enough panels, its all a big scam, its a new day, a new way to cheat ya.

[Foose]

Dude says he didn’t take any money. Then he says he took the money 😂😂

[DanielByrns]

LOL yeah when I had Tesla come out and give me an estimate they told me monthly payments were going to be 350 a month. I laugh telling them that is double what I am paying now for electric

[jesscline]

Recently had a salesman come to our door and boasted how great solar panels are and how much money we can save etc… Well he was real pushy when it came down to the contract. He even questioned why we were reading it in the first place… major 🚩. I did my own investigation and found so many 1 star reviews with the solar company that was going to install our panels. We told him we didn’t think it was for us and he never contacted us again 🤷🏽‍♀️

[allencasado]

The homeowner never had solar on his mind until the gentleman kindly explained the benefits of solar. His system is clearly working. The only downfall is trusting the salesperson who seems argumentative and either works for himself or small company. Homeowners need to feel comfortable with the agent throughout the process. Ask questions to your rep and keep him or her in the loop, this way it eliminates confusion and disappointment.
I represent MA markets where electric rates are 2.5x higher than GA per kWh.
Somehow it is not recorded how your local utility company can rip you off.
They can charge you whatever rate they want. 100% inflation rate in the past 8 years in MA but no one reports it, they rather complain about solar that's actually saving them money.

[chaunster]

“I didn’t take their money! I took their money!” Lol

[dennispeet]

Do a Ground mount with a solar time tracker, keep them off your roof. the cooler you keep you solar panels the more power you make.your solar panels will last longer. tracking the sun, make maximum power all day long.

[kjrchannel]

Fluent Solar is currently one of the worst that come knocking and arm twist for a signing that same day and charge twice as much as a reputable company.

[Lycan__]

It doesn't take much to setup your own system. This is how it all started. Unfortunately the states don't allow it anymore, only the companies are allowed to sell and install. It's all about the money.

[scottr]

What no one mentions is when you need a new roof, who is going to take them down, and re install them, and you can kiss your new roof warranty good by, because their won't be one. I know this because my neighbor just had a new roof put on, and I took the panels off for his new roof to go on, and he gave them to me.

[LifeBloodMarketing]

Nothing will change, the government doesn't care. It's all business. Look at the companies hiring people to "sell" solar.

[MrTanaman]

Please do your research and choose a reputable solar company. Solar is a great technology and an even better investment in most cases.

[ModernGentzz]

“I didn’t take it, I just took took it into my account” 🤔🤣

[steezemoreno]

I sat down for 20 minutes looking at my DAY 1 savings first, and my other short term and long term savings. Plus upfront cost is $0 now, which held me back from going solar years ago. She acts like inflation don’t exist in this country lol

[latafairam]

I get solar sales people at my door at least twice a month. How do I make them stop?

[FunnerQuiz]

You can also watch out for your utility company scams lol. Damn monopolies charge you full price, and solar just saves you money lol, what a scam

[markbrown]

Don't it. please pretty please scam alert.

[smooveking]

I meet a guy at hime depo and said the govment will put up free solor panels. Is this true

[ColbyBlack]

I’m dying laughing at the solar install guy. He is probably not even lying. Solar permitting processes be like that sometimes. 90 day install is common and all because of permitting and bottlenecks.

[DJ.Ascencio]

I had to cancel the deal with sunrun, they tell you the panels are free and your payment was going to go up 2.9 percent a year? that's not free. Then I did some research and the panels are leased to you not free. I knew Something was wrong when they tried to make me pay more then what I pay more a month my local electric company. I canceled right away they got very mad but who cares, please do your research before committing to anything.