SAN ANTONIO — It seemed like a great idea...buy solar panels to lower your electric bill, and a backup generator to make sure you'll always have power. But Charlotte Cole says she hasn't seen a dime's return on her almost $50,000 investment.
After the winter storm a couple of years ago, Cole wanted to make sure she'd always have power, so she had solar panels installed on her roof, and also bought a backup generator so she'd have power at night or when the sun wasn't shining.
"I wish I had never done it," says Cole. Months after both were installed, she has yet to use either. Cole says, "If I don’t have the solar connected in a special way, the generator will blow it up." Momentum Solar installed their panels first, then Generator SuperCenter installed a 26,000 kilowatt backup generator.
To install the generator, the solar system had to be shut down, then reconnected in a very specific way. Generator Supercenter says it even gave a schematic to Momentum showing how to hook up things. But, Momentum decided to go with a certain type box, which cost Cole an additional $750. The problem though... using the box would void the generator's warranty.
After numerous calls, Cole said both companies said they had done everything they could. She had all but given up. She called KENS. We went by the Generator SuperCenter and spoke with management, then went by Momentum Solar, but no one there could talk and no one ever called us back...so we called their corporate office.
Momentum corporate was happy to speak with us and after looking into things, said CPS Energy had changed the way things were done and they would re-submit the blueprints and ask for a new permit to ensure Ms. Cole would be able to use the solar & generator... all at no extra cost.