Is home solar power worth it? 5 on Your Side weighs pros and cons.

After the rapid rise and epic collapse of North Carolina-based Pink Energy, it’s easy to be hesitant about going solar.

Pink went bankrupt in October, leaving thousands of customers with malfunctioning systems and desperate financial situations. Pink is now under investigation by the North Carolina Attorney General.

Since then, there’s been a rise in complaints about rooftop solar companies, but also record interest.

The solar industry asks for a big investment and promises big returns, but there’s little regulation in North Carolina to make sure those promises are kept.

Among the approximately 20 complaints to 5 On Your Side in the last three months were problems with a roof leaking after a poor installation, equipment that was burning up, and a company that closed suddenly costing a customer a $22,000 down payment.

"The protection of homeowners is not there," said Wesley Haney.

Haney lives in Garner and bought a system three years ago from a company called Source Energy Solutions. He had problems with the installation, wiring, inverter and fuses. Haney says since he got the system, it has only worked about 50%-60% of the time.

"You pay someone $37,000 to do it, you’d think they’d be licensed in the industry and knowing what they’re doing," Haney told 5 On Your Side.

But in North Carolina, installers are only required to be licensed electrical contractors or use a general contractor if structural changes are needed.

"Most reputable companies are going to have one or more NABCEP certified professionals," said Don Moreland, the founder of Solar Crowdsource.

A certification from NABCEP, or the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, is voluntary and means a contractor has gone through a rigorous solar installation training program.

"I think every solar company should seek that certification at one level or another," Moreland said.

Solar Crowdsource oversees a program called Solarize the Triangle. Moreland describes Solarize the Triangle as kind of a cross between Angi and Groupon for people who want to buy rooftop solar systems. The more people who sign up for solar systems through Solarize the Triangle, the lower the cost of the system per person.

Solarize the Triangle also does extensive vetting to identify one company to install all of the systems that people sign up for. One of their requirements is that the installer have contractors who are NABCEP certified.

Solarize the Triangle selected Yes Solar Solutions out of Cary. Yes Solar Solutions went beyond getting certified and is one of only six solar installers in the country to have NABCEP Company Accreditation.

People in the Triangle have until Dec. 31 to sign up to get a free quote from Yes Solar Solutions, and then until March 31 to decide whether to purchase the system. So far, more than 1,200 people have signed up for a free quote, which Moreland says is a record for a Solar Crowdsource campaign.

"I love my system," Mark Swallow told 5 On Your Side. He also used Yes Solar Solutions and is seeing the savings on his energy bill that were promised.

Swallow reached out to 5 On Your Side hoping to see coverage on the good you can get from solar.

"I told some of the neighbors I was getting solar, and their initial reaction was ‘Are you sure? 'Cause we’ve heard about this company, Pink Energy,'" Swallow said.

His entire system cost about $41,000. His panels are guaranteed for 25 years, and Yes Solar Solutions estimated he could pay them off in 10 after the 30% federal tax credit. Paying off the Tesla battery that’s part of his system would take a few more years.

"I think it's the advice you say all the time, right? Talk to multiple installers, talk to references, which is what I did," Swallow told 5 On Your Side about how he vetted installers before committing to a system.

But Haney also did his homework and his installer had a NABCEP certification, too.

"We vetted them out," Haney explained.

5 On Your Side learned Haney’s installer, Source Energy Solutions, was sold shortly after Haney got his system, and the new owners haven’t helped him with repairs.

Haney ended up fixing his own system.

"With it working, it’ll be $25 a month," Haney said about his electric bill.

Having a NABCEP certification is a good thing to look for in an installer, but it’s not the only thing to be mindful of.

• Check to see if an installer is a member of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. That organization has a residential solar code of conduct that they require members to sign. The code of conduct is intended to make sure installers follow best industry standards and business practices.
• Ask questions about the promises an installer is trying to sell you on. Don’t ever let an installer tell you your electricity bill will be $0, because there will always be fees associated with having an account, even if you’re getting all your energy from your solar panels.
• Are there any guarantees in the contract an installer is trying to get you to sign? A sales person may promise solar panels will supply you enough energy to cover 95% of your electric bill. Are projections like that guaranteed in the contract and do you have any recourse if the panels don’t end up producing that much energy?
• Scour customer reviews online, especially older reviews. You want to know how long your installer has been in business and if people are still happy with their service long after panels have been installed.
• After you purchase a rooftop solar system, save all contract paperwork and manufacturer warranty information. If your installer does go out of business, those documents will tell you if you can call on a third-party or manufacturer to fix issues under warranty.
• Check with your homeowners insurance to see if they cover solar panels and what your options are.