The Solar Consumer Protection Agency (SCPA), founded in the NY/NJ metro area in 2018, has launched the Fight Fake Solar campaign is to expose deceptions within the solar industry nationwide.
The organization has found that there has been an influx of homeowners throughout the country that have felt deceived after going solar. These homeowners state that what they were led to believe by sales representatives and companies regarding their new solar systems actually turned out to be false.
The SCPA is looking to bring forth major improvements and set standards that all companies need to meet and follow before they can move forward with a sale and installation of a solar system.
Through the campaign, SCPA will educate homeowners on the tactics used by solar companies to mislead. Some of the main issues include companies making false guarantees, purposely installing undersized systems, and knowingly signing unbuildable systems, leaving customers in limbo for years. Companies also increase payments with vague understanding from the homeowner or install a completely different system than was originally agreed upon.
The SCPA with the help of their affiliate network has created a national database of homeowners who have already been victims of misinformation and deceit from solar companies.
“There have been too many cases where solar companies have made assurances to a customer only to find out years later it was a complete mistruth. We have always believed in complete transparency, we feel everyone else should too,” said a representative from the SCPA.
The SCPA is also looking to assist homeowners who were victims with legal options for restitution. Another spokesperson for the SCPA stated, “The solar companies in question ultimately committed fraud. They need and will be held accountable. The solar industry today resembles the wild west, but finally there’s a sheriff in town.”
Currently there are several class action lawsuits throughout the country targeting multiple solar companies. These lawsuits stem from homeowners and city officials finally recognizing that companies used unfair practices that ultimately hurt the homeowner.