A national solar firm is under investigation for allegedly building solar installations for Vermont customers without permits.
The solar outfit, called Solar City, is a subsidiary of California-based automobile concern Tesla, Inc.
The Vermont Public Service Department issued a complaint to the Public Utilities Commission earlier this month, stating that Solar City has installed ‘net metered’ solar systems for its customers “without filing required registration or application forms with the Commission.”
Those systems are currently operating without required regulatory approvals, according to the complaint.
The PUC in response opened an investigation Sept. 14, and has or will notify affected Solar City customers.
The first hearing in the investigation will be held Sept. 28 at the PUC headquarters in Montpelier.
The Public Service Department has requested that the commission impose penalties “and other further and equitable relief as the commission deems appropriate.”
Solar City was one of the two largest solar installation companies in the country in 2015, before Tesla, Inc. acquired it in 2016 for $2.6 billion.
