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Business Profile

Solar Installation

The Energy Company

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Solar Installation.

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 8 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 6 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/05/2025

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I signed up for solar panels through ******** in April 2023 and The Energy Company was the company that was assigned in installing the solar panels. The panels were installed in early 2024 and while they were in the process of being approved by the city, they completely ghosted us and never finished the job. The city never approved of the job they did and they never followed up with any corrections. We have thousands of dollars of panels sitting on our roof doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and I can no longer find any contact information on them to follow up and finish the job. This has been ongoing for 2 years now and it has been a nightmare situation for me and my family. Completely unprofessional!!

    Business Response

    Date: 03/28/2025

    The delays in the project were due to circumstances outside of our control, specifically the financier involved in this project unexpectedly filing for bankruptcy. This event significantly impacted the timeline and temporarily stalled progress.

    However, our CEO has been in direct communication with the customer and remains committed to seeing the project through to completion. We are actively working on resolving all outstanding issues and moving the project forward as quickly and efficiently as possible.

    We value our customers and their trust in our ********************** and are doing everything we can to ensure a successful resolution.

     
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/27/2025

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    In April of 2023, I received a bid for solar and put done a deposit of $1.000.00. My solar was put on hold until a new roof was put on my condo. In October of 2024, I contacted The Energy company to say that the roof was almost done and to get the solar project started. It took multiple emails to have some come and do a new site survey. It also was extremely difficult to speak to a salesperson. In January of 2025, I was finally able to speak to a salesperson. They told me that SDG&E did not have record of my solar request in 2023 (The Energy company stated in 2023 that SDG&E received my information to secure the current solar pricing).When speaking with the salesperson I requested to speak with a supervisor and asked why I could not make a phone call. He stated that everything is done online and that he would have a supervisor call. As of January 27, 2025 I have not spoken to a supervisor.I have emailed 2 requests to have my $1,000 deposit returned. Those emails have gone unanswered.I will not be going through with the solar project as they do not respond and have continued to lie about my project. I spoke to SDG&E and they do have my information from 2023. In addition, the salesperson was suppose to come to my home but asked to do a phone call instead. He promised on 2 different occasions that he would email me the information from SDG&E that I have secured the rates. I believe that the salesperson did not want to meet me in person because he did not research my project.I would like to have my $1000 deposit returned and I would like potential customers know that they should not do business with the company.

    Business Response

    Date: 03/28/2025

    We understand that the customer is requesting a refund due to the status of her SDG&E interconnection. However, its important to clarify that interconnection approvals are entirely within the discretion of the utility provider (SDG&E), and as such, are outside of our control. At no point did we guarantee a specific interconnection timeline or outcome, as clearly stated in the signed agreement.

    Additionally, it is important to note that there was a significant delay in this project, largely due to the customers own requests and postponements. These delays extended the timeline by nearly two years, which unfortunately affected equipment pricing and other costsfactors that were explained to and acknowledged by the customer, and which are also addressed in the original agreement.

    We have made every effort to move the project forward and have acted in good faith throughout. While we understand the customers frustration, we are simply upholding the terms of our agreement and cannot assume responsibility for utility-related delays or grant a refund under these circumstances.

    We remain committed to working with the customer to help complete the interconnection process and ensure she receives the full benefit of her system.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:11/21/2024

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On July 15, 2024, I signed the solar installation contract with the Energy Company (TEC), contract price is set at $101,807. On August 8, I made a change order and the contract price increased to $121,307. On August 14, 2024, I made 50% of the full contractural amount, $60653.5 to the Energy Company. On October 16, 2024, I made the second change order pursuant to contractor's advice, setting the final contractural price at $148,467. On October 16, due to the Energy Company's unreasonable request contrary to the contractural terms, I made the rest payment of $86193.5 to the Energy Company, making 100% full payment under the contract. In August, TEC removed the roof tiles without obtaining the required HOA permit, leaving my roof exposed for three months. Most of the tiles were removed, and many were damaged, yet there has been no progress on the project. As of now, the substantial work was not started by the Energy Company, including roof measurement, roof city inspection, solar installation, etc. *** is very unprofessional and involves fraudulent business practices. I cannot continue to risk the safety of my home under these circumstances. I have no choice but want to cancel the agreement and request a full refund of the amount I have paid, totaling US $148,847.

    Business Response

    Date: 03/28/2025

    We appreciate the opportunity to respond to this matter. The customers concerns have been noted, and we want to emphasize that resolving this issue remains an urgent and high priority for Energy Company.

    This is the second BBB complaint submitted by the customer, and we previously worked diligently to address and resolve the first one. Unfortunately, the current situation has been impacted by factors outside of our control, including a temporary equipment shortage that caused unforeseen delays in completing the customers project.

    Following this delay, the customer declined to allow our crews to return to the property to complete the installation and informed us that law enforcement would be called if any team members attempted to do so. As a result, we have been unable to move forward with the work as initially planned.

    At this time, both our legal counsel and the customers attorney are actively involved in working toward a mutual resolution. We are committed to finding a fair and timely solution and remain fully engaged in resolving this matter professionally and respectfully.

    Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work toward a final resolution.

    Sincerely,
    The Energy Company
    Customer Relations Team
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:08/30/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    ResolvedMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I contacted SunPower in July 2023 to purchase and install a solar system on my house. They selected The Energy Company to be manage the engineering, installation and permitting of the facilities. TEC has been very difficult to work with since they don't respond to emails or texts. The project has taken over 13 months to complete. Over the last year the only way for me to get them to perform is to file complaints with SunPower. I have done this many times with each complaint taking an unreasonable time to address. This has really slowed the project down. SunPower has been able to get them to perform in the past, however, we now seem to be at a standstill since TEC and bankrupt SunPower are not responding. The job is basically done. The facilities are installed. Permits have been approved and SCE has granted Permission to Operate. Now The Energy Company just needs to commission the system which includes activating the battery system. Seems like something that should be easy to accomplish, but if they don't respond, it will not get done.

    Business Response

    Date: 09/01/2024

    Hello ***, 

    ***** (CEO) is directly working on your project and has provided a solution for completion. Please reach out to ***************************** for any future assistance. Hope you enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

    Customer Answer

    Date: 09/02/2024


    Better Business Bureau:

    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

    Regards,

    ***********************

     
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:07/23/2024

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I signed up November 2nd 2023 to add solar panels to my house. On inspection it was determined that I would need to upgrade my electrical box also. My sales person, Emre, promised a completion date on 12/13 in a text message. No one from the Energy company came.My second sales person ***** promised installation on 1/15. I paid for the entire project on 1/16, $21,200 on 11/15 plus ***** deposit and the solar panels were installed, but the upgrade to the electrical panel was not. I was promised by text message that ** was pending due to scheduling on 2/20. He then replied on 3/11 that corrections needed to be made the ** plan.My third sales person *********, would not commit to any time, and replied that the ** plan was being worked on.I called the city of ******* to get an update on the ** plan. ********* informed me that 3 corrections needed to be made to the panel plan on 3/25. The city informed me that the plans had been picked up 4/16 to make the corrections. On 5/3 the city informed me that 2 corrections still needed to be made to the plans. On 7/11 the city informed me that the same 2 corrections needed to be made to the plans. I have voiced my concerns several times by both phone, registered letter and email about this delay.Sunpower was the company I contacted originally, about the solar panels and they gave me the Energy Company. I have contacted Sunpower to help with this delay on 5/21. I was told by email that the Energy ** was contacted several times by Sunpower employees who advocated for the completion of my ** upgrade.There has been no response to my communications for the past month.

    Business Response

    Date: 07/25/2024

    Hello Mr ********************* apologize for any inconvenience this has been causing you. Due to the major issues that our main financier (SunPower) is facing we're winding down operations. Your project is assigned to *************** Company to complete your Main Panel Upgrade and they should have already reached out to you. You can also reach out to your assigned project manager ***** at ***************************** Please reach out to *************************** if you have any additional questions. 

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:06/01/2024

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Original contract was signed on 23 Apr 2023 for $18,100 purchasing 12 solar panels and inverters to be installed to include ********** Upgrade (MPU). When The Energy Company (TEC) arrived to do the work on 3 Nov 2023 (seven (7) months later) brought and started to conduct work by installing panels and a Hawaiian Tie In (HTI) instead of a MPU. After a phone call and being informed that getting a MPU will take an additional 2-3 months until work could move forward, a revised agreement was reached and documented via email to reduce the cost to $15,600 with the agreement of Hawaiian Tie In (HTI) and a refund of 20% of total cost until permission to operate (PTO) is granted, which still has not been refunded. Additionally it was stated in the email that "PTO to occur prior to 2024" They came the following week to complete the install. After several visits from *** where they took pictures of the system installed, nothing else was completed. After multiple emails, text messages and phone calls (which have gone unanswered), we got notification that drawings for permits were submitted to the City of ****** on 18 Apr 2024 (an additional six (6) months later). Permit was ready for payment on 24 Apr 2024 per City of ****** website. Since the plans were approved and waiting for payment to move forward with inspection we have received no answers to any email or phone call to settle the invoice. Email was sent on 8 May 2024 notifying TEC that this complaint will be filed if the $363.55 is not paid allowing city inspection to be scheduled, by end of 9 May 2024. The company hasn't taken any actions to remedy this situation. They are unresponsive and lied three times in past conversations about the money that was overpaid and should already been refunded by California Law. They haven't paid the money to The City of Santee for them to do inspection and they haven't answered any form of communication neither to us or to the City of ******.

    Business Response

    Date: 06/26/2024

    We appreciate the opportunity to address ************************* concerns. After reviewing our records, the only contract we have on file for this customer is for $15,600, with no mention in the Scope of Work of any Main Panel Upgrades (MPU) or Hawaiian Tie-In (HTI). We also did not provide any definitive date for activation due to factors beyond our control; we only provide estimates.We can provide a signed copy of the Solar Proposal and the Signed Contract for reference. We have communicated to ********************* multiple times over the phone that we have been experiencing funding issues with our financiers, which have caused multiple rounds of layoffs in our operations team, leading to significant delays.

    Despite these challenges, Mr. and ************************* project was fully completed and activated on June 18, 2024.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/24/2024

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Dear BBB: I had solar panels installed on my home back in October of 2023. I had been in contact with The Energy Company since February 2024 about activation of the solar panels, which they replied should be moving forward on March 12, 2024 (see email pasted below). Since that time I have not heard from The Energy Company again. I am concerned that potentially the company is in financial difficulty and may not be fulfilling their obligations to activate my solar panels. Are you able to assist in receiving an update from the company before they potentially go out of business. Sincerely,******* Hi *******,I wanted to update you on the progress of the project. We have successfully received the final corrections from the *** and are on track to complete them this week. Following this, we plan to schedule the final inspection for next week.Please let me know if there are any preparations or specific details you would like to discuss prior to the inspection. Your input is always valuable.Best regards,Customer ***************

    Business Response

    Date: 06/26/2024

    We appreciate ********************** patience and understanding regarding the activation of his solar panels. The project was fully completed on May 18, 2024. However, due to an error, the system was not fully activated at that time. We have communicated with ****************** and scheduled a site visit on Saturday, June 22, 2024, followed by a second visit on June 26, 2024, to ensure the system is fully operational. 
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:09/14/2023

    Type:Product Issues
    Status:
    AnsweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I signed a Solar Lease on March 24, 2023 with SunPower, who assigned Installation to The Energy Company. The sales consultant was also with The Energy Company. The Energy Company completed the installation on July 19, 2023. I received an email from *************** confirming the completion and stating that the next step would be inspection by the City (*************, **), accompanied by their Technicians in a few weeks. After inspection they will file a request for Permit To Operate with our utility, Southern ********** ******* I have not received any communication from The Energy Company for inspection appointment since then, except that the salesperson stated that city is probably busy. I directly contacted *********************'s *************************** They told me that neither construction permit nor inspection request was ever applied for my address!With that information, I was concerned by the apparent non-compliance and delays. I tried very hard to get in touch with The Energy Company. Email to ************************************* was unanswered. Phone calls are always unanswered and unreturned. I tried called ********, who recommended me to coontac The Energy Company as they are the installer/dealer. But I simply cannot even get any response from The Energy Company. Even SunPower's rep said they could not reach anyone at The Energy Company.I am very concerned about the apparent construction without permit, and inability to even contact anyone at The Energy Company who may be able to provide information on inspection. I would like The Energy Company to contact me and finish the job they started, in compliance with all city codes.

    Business Response

    Date: 03/29/2024

    We have already communicated with the customer and her project is complete and system energized.

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