North Carolina attorney general investigating solar panel provider Pink Energy
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has opened an investigation into solar panel installer Pink Energy. He'll take a closer look at accusations that Pink used high-pressure sales tactics, performed shoddy and substandard work and has failed to honor warranties and respond to customer service requests.
Earlier this week, the Ohio AG filed suit to demand that Pink reimburse all consumers damaged by the company’s actions.
Last week, 5 On Your Side reported customers were upset with Pink Energy because their home solar panels weren’t working. Hours after our report, the company president emailed all employees to let them know it was shutting down.
In the emailed letter obtained by WRAL, Pink Energy leadership says “financial difficulties resulting from issues with Generac equipment and a decline in overall sales” forced the decision to close the company’s doors “completely and immediately.”
At the beginning of 2022, Pink Energy had approximately 2,100 employees. The company laid off about 600 people in recent weeks. All remaining employees were terminated, effective immediately, once that letter was sent.
Jayson Waller, CEO and co-founder of Pink Energy, formally known as PowerHome Solar, told WRAL News that complaints about malfunctioning solar panels could be blamed on a faulty component made by a third-party.
Pink Energy filed a federal lawsuit against the supplier, the publicly-traded company Generac, which produces a part known as SnapRS.
“That’s led to thousands of unhappy customers and crippled all parts of our business, leading to our layoffs,” Waller said earlier this month.
A spokesman for Generac pointed the finger back at Pink Energy installers.
5 On Your Side’s Keely Arthur interviewed Waller on Sept. 14. During that interview, Arthur asked Waller if he was going to be out of business because of this. “It’s very possible,” Waller replied.
It’s unclear whether Waller knew during that interview that the company was headed for a complete shutdown, but they were deep into layoffs at that point.
Two days before our interview, Pink Energy sent a WARN notice to North Carolina’s Department of Commerce, saying they’d shut down a facility outside of Charlotte that employed 500 people. A second WARN notice days later announced a second facility in the city of Charlotte was also closing.
A WARN notice is supposed to protect workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide 60 days advance notice of a plant closing or mass layoff.
But Pink Energy didn’t give the required 60-day notice, they sent the letter and started laying off people before the Department of Commerce had even received it.
Pink’s reason for the lack of notice was “unforeseeable business circumstances related to an unanticipated economic downturn affecting the demand for our products and services.”
5 On Your Side has reached out directly to Pink CEO Jayson Waller and a Pink spokesperson for comment on the closing, but we have not gotten a response.
The North Carolina Attorney General’s office told 5 On Your Side they are aware of the letter sent to employees and they have reached out to Pink for more information.
