Solar4America

At the end of June, 2019, we entered into a contract with Petersen Dean to install a new roof and solar panels on our house in San Mateo. Petersen Dean advertised that it could install the system in 2019 to ensure that we would be eligible for a 30% tax credit on the solar panels. This was a material representation upon which we relied, and which we discussed with Petersen Dean's sales people, and which was factored into the total cost of the system presented to us. Through numerous errors, omissions and delays caused solely by Petersen Dean, which we can elaborate on in great detail and which evidence both incompetence on the part of Petersen Dean's operations team and an attitude of indifference toward our concerns about the mounting delays, Petersen Dean failed to install the solar panels until February of 2020, and as a result we are not able to claim the tax credit for the 2019 tax year and the tax credit for 2020 installations is reduced to 26% instead of 30%. We had reminded Petersen Dean numerous times in the summer and fall of 2019 that we expected the system to be installed in 2019 and that it would be a material breach of our agreement if it were installed instead in 2020, but their operations team not only ignored our pleas but was hostile and rude throughout the process, and they even suggested that we commit tax fraud by claiming the system was substantially completed in 2019 (saying they would 'allow' us to pay early to evidence this) even though it was patently false. Finally, when the system actually was installed, their installers damaged our irrigation system by driving a grounding spike into the water distribution system. They have offered a mere $55 reimbursement of the cost to fix the irrigation system in exchange for a full release of all claims, which is wholly inadequate to compensate us for the damages incurred by their delayed installation of the solar panels. These damages are not indirect or consequential in nature -- the 30% tax credit for the 2019 year was expressly contemplated as part of the price of the system and advertised as a reason to contract with the company when we did, with the guarantee that the system would be installed in 2019. The total solar cost was about $17,500, which means that our losses caused by their delays are about $700 in the reduced tax credit, plus the lost time value of the tax credit we should have received now but now cannot claim until tax year 2020. We proposed a settlement of these claims in the amount of $1,000 plus the $55 reimbursement, and the company has offered only the $55, which is itself an affront to the good faith efforts we have made to resolve our valid concerns. What's more, our final payment for the system was not overdue, but the company already filed a lien against our property and threatened a civil lawsuit to enforce the lien, even though we have a good faith dispute about the amount of our damages that we have the equitable right to offset against our final payment, and we have not refused to pay the balance less our damages. In fact, we have paid all but the disputed amount, to ensure that we are not in default of our obligations under the contract. But their attorney says they will bring a civil lawsuit immediately to foreclose on our property if we don't pay even the disputed amount. We view this as an effort to bully us, with threatening letters about forced sale of our property, into waiving their breach and paying more than we should rightly owe under the contract. This company has been abusive all along, and the pattern continues.

I signed contract May 1st to have new roof and solar installed and was told by salesman that it would be done by end of June. Salesman is no longer with the company. From day one it's been a nightmare. June 26th I was told my electrical panel needed updating. As of today, Aug. 27th, I'm still waiting for electrician to upgrade my panel to get solar in. My licensed electrician could have done it right away but they could not approve him. To top it off, my car was damaged when they threw stuff in dumpster and 8 weeks later I'm still trying to get approval to have repaired. Girls in office are very nice and courteous but I would not wish this nightmare on anyone.

Everything is working well. They arrived when scheduled and performed the work quickly and cleaned up afterword. All the employees were friendly and courteous. The schedule was explained and expectations were met. I would recommend them to anyone. When PG&E caused delays, PetersenDean worked to get them back to complete their work.