Review for Kota Energy Group

03/19/2024
E Shapiro Berkeley, CA

Absolutely terrible

I signed a contract with Kota in February 2023 for the installation of solar panels at my duplex in Berkeley, CA. When the solar installation was scheduled for August 16th, a full six months after signing, Kota began but was unable to complete the work. My loan was initiated in August, interest began accumulating, and Kota received payment despite their unfinished work and inoperable system. This is an unethical business practice that left me paying for a system I could not use. I sent many emails and made many calls imploring the Kota team to finish the installation before the city inspection date they scheduled. This did not happen. On September 28, 2023, the scheduled city inspection could not be conducted because the job was still unfinished. When I reached out in frustration, I was again assured by Kota staff that the repairs would take place immediately. Another five weeks went by with no communication. On November 7, 2023, after informing Kota I would file a BBB complaint, I received contact information for Chance Bender, Senior Project Manager. I was promised that the job would be completed within a week. It took a month. On December 5, 2023, four months after installation began the solar system finally received permission to operate. Yet again, this was done incorrectly. Only half of the panels generated power and our monitoring accounts were not set up correctly. On December 18, a partial fix was completed. I have received no communication whatsoever from Chance Bender or anyone else at Kota since January 11, 2024. It has been 13 months since I signed a contract for my solar system, more than 6 months since I paid in full. I have spent many hours asking Kota to install the solar system I paid for, and then repair the work they failed to complete properly. I am left with a system I do not have faith in and no way to monitor its functioning or performance.