Hawaiian Electric Seeks to Eliminate Unscrupulous Practices By Some Solar Companies

The Hawaiian Electric Company has been receiving numerous complaints from consumers that several solar energy companies have been misleading their customers and not disclosing potential challenges that they may have when they attempt to connect their solar photovoltaic systems with the Hawaiian Electric Company grid.  According to HECO, certain neighborhoods in Hawaii have become over saturated with PV panels, which can overwhelm the company's existing grid system.  This excess solar energy can create a "back-feed" into the company's grids and can potentially damage customer's electronic equipment.  Until the existing grid can be completely upgraded, the Hawaiian Electric Company has been requiring customers to install special safety equipment, something that solar energy companies are not disclosing.

In fact, several solar companies are going so far as to telling their prospective customers that they have a "special arrangement" with HECO which allows them to bypass the special equipment upgrades, something which HECO's senior vice president for customer services, Jim Alberts flatly states as false.  Alberts stated, "No such arrangement does, or can, exist.  Hawaiian Electric is getting reports of practices from some solar vendors that could result in serious safety hazards.  Practices like this put the safety of utility workers and customers at risk and harm the reputation of the solar industry."

State lawmakers are also holding hearings to discuss various issues created by the boom in the solar industry. Topics being discussed include the increased number of sales and the sometimes shady marketing tactics that some solar energy companies are using.  State Representative, Sharon Har, stated that several of her constituents have complained that solar companies are not disclosing about what the currently levels of PV penetration is in their neighborhoods, nor are they disclosing that special engineering studies and equipment upgrades would be needed.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 10-26-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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