WICHITA, Kan (KWCH) – A $220,977 default judgment has been entered in opposition to a Tennessee-based solar energy firm for fraudulent practices and practices in Kansas.
After receiving complaints, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Division investigated Design 1 Group LLC. The Consumer Protection Division alleged that Design 1 violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) by:
- Contracting for companies with out a license, making false representations relating to the issuance of permits.
- Make false representations relating to the coordination and scheduling of inspections.
- Make false representations about rebates.
- Improper set up of photo voltaic programs by shoppers.
- Failure to put in the correct gear required by Evergy for connection to {the electrical} grid.
- Failure to reveal the impact of photo voltaic panel orientation on vitality financial savings.
- Failure to offer a correct three-day discover of cancellation.
The court docket ordered Design 1 Group LLC to pay $106,780 in restitution to shoppers, $110,000 in civil penalties, and court docket prices and investigative charges. Design 1 Group LLC is now prohibited from doing enterprise in Kansas until correctly licensed, in accordance with the courts. The firm should additionally receive all essential permits.
The District Attorney reminds shoppers to watch out when purchasing for a solar energy system. The District Attorney suggests shoppers, at a minimal, think about the next points earlier than buying a photo voltaic system:
- System Life and Transition: How lengthy do I plan to remain in my house? (Most photo voltaic programs are designed to remain on a house for at the very least 20 years). If I transfer, will the contract switch? How will the photo voltaic system have an effect on the worth of the home if I determine to promote? If the system is financed, will a property tax lien stop me from promoting my house till the mortgage is paid off?
- Costs: What is the true value of a photo voltaic system? How can I pay the system? Do I perceive how and after I can obtain any rebates or tax credit provided?
- Benefits: Do I perceive the vitality output of the photo voltaic system and what offset does it present? Do I perceive how the system saves energy? Do I perceive which course the photo voltaic panels ought to face for optimum vitality era? (The south is one of the best. The north is the worst.)
- Seller/Warranties: Is the vendor licensed? Do early buyer evaluations of the photo voltaic firm recommend they stand behind their programs? Do I do know the mandatory steps to be taken by Evergy to hook up with {the electrical} grid? Do I perceive the system upkeep necessities and guarantee protection? Who is answerable for injury to the photo voltaic system from excessive climate and different sources? What about roof substitute if the roof is broken however the photo voltaic panels nonetheless work?
On Friday, 12 News spoke with a neighborhood roofing firm who mentioned it is a good reminder to ensure you know who you are doing enterprise with, particularly in case you’re investing in photo voltaic panels. As properties with photo voltaic panels change into extra in style, Keeter Roofing advises to pay attention to door-to-door salesmen making an attempt to strain you into making a fast choice.
“They attempt to nook you, create a way of urgency, make you make a fast choice the place you do not know all of the details of the entire state of affairs,” mentioned Keeter Roofing COO Justin Murray.
Some ideas to remember in case you are fascinated by photo voltaic panels:
- Find out how lengthy you intend to remain in your house, and in case you transfer, will your contract switch?
- What is the anticipated value and return in your funding?
- Research the corporate you’re looking at. Are they licensed inside the state? What do the evaluations say? What is their guarantee protection? A great factor to recollect in Kansas is to think about who’s accountable if extreme climate, equivalent to hail, damages the panels.
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