For those pondering going solar for residential energy purposes, what is the best advice? What are the pitfalls to avoid and local companies to recommend or stay away from?
These questions are recurring on local social media.
It’s important as in this sector there have been numerous complaints involving fraud, theft, misleading sales tactics with unfulfilled promises, difficulties in getting permissions to connect to NV Energy, unlicensed contracting, longer than expected loan terms and projects being abandoned even after payments were made.
Some companies outsource their installation and warranty repairs to third party companies, creating additional headaches.
Add to that a bewildering evolution of related technology, making it feel very much like a new Wild Wild West.
Statewide, the Nevada State Contractors Board has even launched a new specialized Solar Investigations Unit to prevent malpractice in solar installation and related scams, often targeting seniors and those who speak little English.
Last month, a solar company operating in Reno and Las Vegas, Solarize LLC, was fined $460,000 and had its license revoked. Three of its contractors were barred from ever working in Nevada as contractors.
One of the customers said the contractors had caused over $20,000 in damages to her home, while placing the wrong inverters on solar panels.
Nevada is ranked as the second-best state for solar energy with an average of 158 clear days per year, and ongoing federal, state and local incentives and rebate programs keep trying to make it enticing for homeowners to go that route.
Reno, a so-called SolSmart Silver community, has been provided no-cost technical assistance to follow best practices to expand solar energy.
More than 800-thousand homes in Nevada are estimated to be already powered by the sun.
For many though who haven’t gone solar yet, the upfront expenses and necessary space are prohibitive, and the recent scandals make it feel like mined territory. Even with all the breaks, any break even point on home solar energy investments is many years away, factoring in repairs and high cost of batteries.
If a homeowner is still tempted, the Nevada State Contractors Board recommends to make sure a salesperson is a licensed contractor. As of late 2023, there were only 19 contractors which had received a c-2g classification strictly for solar.
Consumers can verify a contractor's license by visiting NSCB's website at www.nscb.nv.gov or call 775-688-1141
A solar public watch list is also being worked on.