July 9, 2008
Solar Works, Scam Artists Don't
Solar works. Solar products are available for your home or business that will produce electricity, heat water for your household uses and even heat your pool. There is no reason why any reputable company needs to oversell or hype the benefits of solar energy.
Many solar companies in California have been selling and installing solar
systems for decades. Most companies started up their solar business in the
last several years. Unfortunately, however, more recently the industry is
experiencing something new: people who have created fancy websites and
presentations and act like they will sell you a good product, when in fact
they have little or no expertise. Customers should do their research to
make sure that the solar company they are considering has a good
reputation and sufficient experience.
In the last few months, there have been reports from several customers in California who gave very large deposits to a solar sales people but never received a solar system. These people lost their deposits and it is likely they will never get their money back. The California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) is trying to help these unfortunate people but it also wants to make sure that there are no new victims. As such, we're offering this advice to help make sure every new solar customer is a happy solar customer: Anyone performing construction work in California on jobs that total $500 dollars or more in labor and materials must be licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The contract you sign should contain everything agreed upon by you and your licensed contractor. It should detail the work, price, when payments will be made, who gets the necessary building permits and when the job will be finished. The contract must also identify the contractor, give his/her address and license number. A good contract also has warnings and notices about the right to cancel, mechanic's liens and allowable delays. Check out this website for more details on hiring contractors. Here are a few hints for those who are considering having solar installed on a home or business:
You will find that most reputable solar companies are competitively priced. If the claims your salesperson makes sound too good to be true, they probably are. Don't sign the contract and don't give the salesperson any money if something doesn't feel right to you. And remember, you have three days to reconsider any contract you sign in your own home. Do your own independent research to verify that the benefits and costs are described correctly. Talk to your neighbors and people you know who have a solar system and learn from their experiences. Where you can find more information: CALSEIA includes a list of solar companies on its website that are members. Click on Find an Expert The State Contractors' License Board website is where you can check a license or sales person's registration. To subscribe or visit go to: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com |