Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman Tricia Pridemore has been working with Attorney General Chris Carr to protect consumers against false claims by some disreputable solar companies.

In recent months, some solar developers have begun door-to-door solicitation and social media advertising promising customers “free electricity,” “free solar,” and “no electric power bills.”

These claims are false, Pridemore said to Carr in a recent letter (attached).

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Georgia is ranked 9^th in the country for solar installation and is one of the fastest growing markets for solar energy. This great news has attracted many legitimate solar energy developers to the state. Unfortunately, this growth also has attracted many illegitimate solar developers as well.

“Some less-than-reputable companies are making promises they can’t deliver,” Pridemore said. “Do not sign any document unless you have spoken to your energy provider about the reputation of that company and what rooftop solar would mean for you.”

In 2019 Georgia Power Rate Case, the PSC approved a 5,000-household pilot program where homes with rooftop solar could sell any excess energy produced back to Georgia Power. That 5,000-household cap has been reached.

Even for those 5,000 households, energy costs still exist. When the sun isn’t shining, the homes need to purchase electricity from the grid – like everyone else. There is also a cost to the transfer of power to and from the grid. Because this is a pilot program, it has not yet been determined if that cost needs to be paid by the solar household, the power company, or absorbed through other rate payers.

Pridemore is continuing to work with the Attorney General’s Office to develop more consumer resources and information as a way to push back against scams and false representation in advertising.

The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member constitutional agency that exercises its authority and influence to ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced telecommunications, electric and natural gas service from financially viable and technically competent companies.

For more information on the Commission, see the Commission website at https://psc.ga.gov/