Office location: 1000 Fulton St, Farmingdale NY, 11735
07/10/2024
Daniel T.
Brooklyn, NY
After months of delay, Empower tried to install 7 solar panels on our newly gut-renovated Brooklyn townhouse. The technician clearly did not know what he was doing. In order to make room on the electrical panel in the basement for the hook-up, he combined several wires haphazardly into the same breakers. Before my eyes, the entire panel box started to smoke. Rather than shut off the main electrical switch, the technician ran out of the basement and called the fire department. The fire that resulted from his error, along with the damage caused by the fire department’s water hoses and pick-axes, completely destroyed our basement and some of our ground floor. This was a new renovation with an entirely new, upgraded 200amp electrical system and panel board, and we had just moved in. I understand that mistakes happen. But Empower’s consistent refusal to acknowledge any wrongdoing and to compensate us in any way for the damage to our new house, for the insurance deductible, for the cost of rewiring the basement, for the cost of reinstalling a security system, and for the inconvenience that they caused us three days before Christmas is inexcusable. I should say that even when our system was hooked up a month later (we needed to install from our own pocket a second breaker box for Empower to use), they forgot to submit the paper work for the property tax break, so I have yet to receive that. What is more, for the two years that we’ve had the system, our panels have produced less than half the kWh predicted for us. As it is, I am paying considerably more each month for the loan than I make from the solar panels. Do not use.
System size (kW): 0.52
Year installed: 2022
EmPower Solar reply
07/11/2024
Daniel, thank you sincerely for all of your feedback. We're glad we were already able to dive into some of this and address your concerns.
As discussed, we had our team run an energy performance report for your system and great news - the system is producing right on track with expectations! To date, your system has produced 4,269 kWh, and we had expected 4,341 kWh. Your savings are right in line and on track to meet projections.
Also confirming that our team filed all paperwork necessary to get your NYC tax abatement on time and as expected. Thank you for confirming that it did indeed show up on this year's statement. You will continue to receive this abatement for the next few years to come.
Our respective insurance agencies are working together to resolve the fire incident and we support the independent investigator's findings. We remain committed as your solar partner for the next 25+ years and look forward to an amicable resolution on this matter.