© WSMV Nashville Shutdown Posted by Solar EnergyNashville, Tenn. (WSMV) - Jeff Edwards has been waiting months for the solar panels on his house to be fixed.
"He's been dormant since July 3," Edwards said.
Then, last week, he learned that the company that created his board had closed. Investigative reporter Lindsey Bramson asked: “Did you find out about this through a Facebook group?
"I found out on a Facebook group that they were posting messages to employees saying we were going to close our doors immediately," Edwards said.
WSMV4 Investigators obtained a copy of this letter, which informed employees that they no longer have valid positions, effective immediately.
Pink Energy attributes the sudden shutdown to equipment problems and lower sales. But what about his customers?
- What do we do now? Edwards said, "I pay for a paperweight on my roof."
When WSMV 4 Investigators called Pink Energy, her number was dead, so we went to the local Murfreesboro office to find a locked door and no one inside.
"How can they close without creating support structures for customers," Edwards said.
For most customers, Generac provided the equipment for the panels. And in many cases they say the panels were not installed properly.
Generac told WSMV4 Investigates that it plans to help people and that Pink Energy customers should contact them directly.
We also found that customers can contact the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association for assistance.
The association's board of directors says if homeowners have solar panels that aren't working, they can call a solar installer to come out and fix them.
Edwards says that when he received these solar panels two years ago, he was delighted that he was saving money. But it cost him more money out of his pocket and he wants to get what he paid for.
"I want a business system where I have support so I can fix it later if there's a problem," Edwards said.
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office says it is aware of Pink Energy's sudden shutdown and is considering next steps.
If you are an interested customer, you can contact Generac directly at solarsupport@generac.com or 1-800-396-1281.
When homeowners encounter a malfunctioning solar panel, TenneSEIA (Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association) recommends that customers contact a TenneSEIA solar installer operating in their community.
All members of their association agree on a code of conduct to help avoid such situations. A list of TenneSEIA members can be found here.
TVA says it has installed a high-quality network called Green Connect, sponsored by TenneSEIA. The program "connects" residential customers with installers who are members of TVA's Quality Contractors Network (QCN). QCN members are licensed and insured and allowed to install systems to Green Connect standards.
For more information about the Green Connect program or to become a QCN subscriber, visit www.greenconnect.com
