Complaints surface about how solar contractors pitch to consumers – Louisiana

A local energy watchdog group says it is investigating complaints about a pair of solar contractors, which allege that the contractors are misrepresenting the potential energy savings that consumers can expect to see from installing the equipment under a leasing arrangement. But just who is getting a closer look remains a mystery.

Casey Roberts, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, told members of the New Orleans City Council’s Utility Committee this month that the group was fielding complaints from some customers who were paying a monthly fee for the solar panels, and planned to reach out to other customers in the coming weeks.

The alliance also hopes to meet with representatives of the two contractors before compiling a report based on the group’s findings in the next couple of weeks, which Roberts said she will present to the City Council and may forward to Attorney General Buddy Caldwell’s office, she said.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2012/04/complaints_surface_about_how_s.html