Several years ago I contracted with Able Energy to install a 4kW array on my homeThe sales person was amiableThe workmen were friendlyThe owner was a problemHe told me it would take a few weeks to complete the projectThat was several years ago...and it is still has not passed the required inspectionsWhen I notified him after months that if Able Energy could not complete the project I would hire someone else to finish it the Owner (Mike H***) attempted to bully me into paying him for the uncompleted projectEventually we went to small claims courtAble Energy retroactively filed for the permits required to begin the project so the Judge ruled that Able Energy needed to complete the project to the satisfaction of the building inspectorI think he thought that would force them to complete the project Although Able Energy has still not done that they HAVE tried to bully me into paying them for the uncompleted projectThe problems began when the electrician installing the inverter showed up reeking of alcohol and I double checked the installation using the inverter installation manualThat manual warned that there was a danger of fire if the inverter was installed on any flammable materialIt specifically warned against that yet Able Energy installed it directly on year old cedar siding.It also required that the inverter be installed out of the weather..preferably in a climate controlled spaceI had prepared a climate controlled area for mounting it but the electrician installed it on the side of the house without even an overhang to protect it from the rainAt that point I also noticed that the inverter installed was not the inverter originally quotedAble had changed the inverter on the original quote to a smaller, cheaper one in the contractI suppose they thought I would never notice the change of a few digitsWhen I checked Able Energys reviews prior to contacting them there were no Revdex.com reviews on Able EnergyBut there were LOTS of star reviews elsewhereThey turned out to be fakeA few were the owner posing as a satisfied customerOthers were posted by employees of Able Energy I was able to force Able Energy to remove dozens of fake star reviews on Yelp..Google..and Facebook so others would not be mislead as I wasCurrently its positive reviews are posted on a "subscription service" (Solar Reviews) that "vets" negative reviews and promotes its subscribers for a yearly chargeThe estimate of how long the the system would take to pay itself off was WAY offBased on the actual output of my system I suggest doubling or tripling the estimate they provide for a more realistic idea of how long the return on investment actually isThey (of course) cannot be held liable for providing an extremely unlikely payback estimate..though they DO use that estimate as a strong reason to "go solar" with Able EnergyFinally..if you have already had a system installed by Able Energy make copies of the discussions/promises they made on "Basecamp"Able Energy controls when those discussions and documents are deletedIn my case they deleted all of that incriminating evidence when they realized the dispute would end up in court"Shady" would be the kindest word I can use to describe Able Energys business practices
Several years ago I contracted with Able Energy to install a 4kW array on my homeThe sales person was amiableThe workmen were friendlyThe owner was a problemHe told me it would take a few weeks to complete the projectThat was several years ago...and it is still has not passed the required inspectionsWhen I notified him after months that if Able Energy could not complete the project I would hire someone else to finish it the Owner (Mike H***) attempted to bully me into paying him for the uncompleted projectEventually we went to small claims courtAble Energy retroactively filed for the permits required to begin the project so the Judge ruled that Able Energy needed to complete the project to the satisfaction of the building inspectorI think he thought that would force them to complete the project Although Able Energy has still not done that they HAVE tried to bully me into paying them for the uncompleted projectThe problems began when the electrician installing the inverter showed up reeking of alcohol and I double checked the installation using the inverter installation manualThat manual warned that there was a danger of fire if the inverter was installed on any flammable materialIt specifically warned against that yet Able Energy installed it directly on year old cedar siding.It also required that the inverter be installed out of the weather..preferably in a climate controlled spaceI had prepared a climate controlled area for mounting it but the electrician installed it on the side of the house without even an overhang to protect it from the rainAt that point I also noticed that the inverter installed was not the inverter originally quotedAble had changed the inverter on the original quote to a smaller, cheaper one in the contractI suppose they thought I would never notice the change of a few digitsWhen I checked Able Energys reviews prior to contacting them there were no Revdex.com reviews on Able EnergyBut there were LOTS of star reviews elsewhereThey turned out to be fakeA few were the owner posing as a satisfied customerOthers were posted by employees of Able Energy I was able to force Able Energy to remove dozens of fake star reviews on Yelp..Google..and Facebook so others would not be mislead as I wasCurrently its positive reviews are posted on a "subscription service" (Solar Reviews) that "vets" negative reviews and promotes its subscribers for a yearly chargeThe estimate of how long the the system would take to pay itself off was WAY offBased on the actual output of my system I suggest doubling or tripling the estimate they provide for a more realistic idea of how long the return on investment actually isThey (of course) cannot be held liable for providing an extremely unlikely payback estimate..though they DO use that estimate as a strong reason to "go solar" with Able EnergyFinally..if you have already had a system installed by Able Energy make copies of the discussions/promises they made on "Basecamp"Able Energy controls when those discussions and documents are deletedIn my case they deleted all of that incriminating evidence when they realized the dispute would end up in court"Shady" would be the kindest word I can use to describe Able Energys business practices