LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A solar company operating in Las Vegas and Reno received a big fine after it was found liable for violating Nevada laws and causing “massive harm” to homeowners, according to a news release from Nevada State Contractors Board.
The company, Solarize LLC, doing business as Get Solarize, was fined $460,000, had its license revoked, and its contractors Frances Kim Le, Michael Sean Hogan, and Hamid Moradi were barred from ever working as contractors in Nevada.
“I feel that the public knows nothing about solar,” said homeowner Barbara Erekson who is one of the 13 homeowners who were harmed by the actions of Get Solarize.
An investigation by the contractor’s board found Solarize placed the wrong inverters on her solar panels which did nothing to reduce her high power bills. In addition, it was found that the workers had caused $21,500 in damages to her home.
When Erekson contacted Solarize’s owner, it didn’t go well.
“He called my every name in the book. He told me that I didn’t know anything at all,” Erekson said.
Erekson then contacted the Nevada State Contractors Board and found out during a hearing she wasn’t the only homeowner who had trouble with the company.
During a disciplinary hearing on June 12, an administrative judge found Get Solarize violated Nevada statutes on 46 counts and failed to heed multiple warnings from the contractors’ board against harming homeowners. The company was fined $10,000 on each violation totaling $460,000, the maximum fine allowed by law.
Erekson received the money owed for her damages and cheered the ruling.
“It’s like the Wild Wild West out there. I just don’t want solar companies to harm any more homeowners.”
The contractors’ board launched its Solar Investigations Unit in April. About one-third of the complaints the board gets are related to problems with solar companies.
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