Hudson Valley Clean Energy

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• By Andre B.

  November 24, 2019

  Engineer and ipmlement a solar solution centered around 2 high end electric boilers and our homes el

  $80,000

  I am currently pursuing a legal battle with Hudson Valley Clean Energy, Inc. d/b/a/ SunCommon. They performed a solar installation at my home in Hyde Park, NY and stated Central Hudson approved all of their work. However SunCommon failed to obtain a building permit for the entire scope of the services it was required to provide, its unworkman-like services caused multiple building code violations, including items that should have been obvious to SunCommon, such as installing electrical equipment in close proximity to interior water service and an exterior downspout. The system designed by SunCommon was not suitable for its intended purpose and does not and could not work at the premises. Among the blatent failures by SunCommon, Central Hudson has advised us that the meter installed by SunCommon could not handle 400 amps and similarly Siemans advised the our electrician that the custom designed/ordered panel could not handle 400 amps. In order to render the system operable as intended, I have been and will be required to spend an estimated $150,000.00 in remediation work. It appears that many other projects performed by SunCommon have had similar issues, which suggests an element of fraudulent conduct on the part of SunCommon. I seek your assistance in finding out the insuring company of SunCommon and any additional information you may having regarding other problem projects centered around SunCommon.

  This was the letter from one of the head solar engineering companies that come to review the work before we hired a master electrician and engineering service to fix this mess:

  To Whom It May Concern:

  In our professional opinion, the solar-generating power system that was installed on the premises is not correct for a wide variety of reasons.
  As we understand, SunCommon was responsible to install the solar panels, wiring, inverters, meter and panels as needed to connect to the existing electrical distribution of the house. The design intent was to have another electrical contractor (us, or any other electrical contractor) to furnish and install a 400-amp electrical service to the house at a later date. The solar power was to supplement the utility power.
  Customer was told that equipment installed would be prepared to accept an upgrade to 400 amps from the utility company, and the solar installation was to be rated to handle the installation of two electrically powered insta-hot water systems that feed the radiant floor heating. Each of these electrical water heaters requires 80 amps of power at 240 volts.
  Upon review of the solar installation, it is noted that the system is only capable of producing no more than 60-amps of power at 240 volts. This is not nearly enough power to feed the two new electric floor heating systems as mentioned above. It is not even large enough to power ONE of these units. The electrical inspector that was hired by SunCommon Solar to provide a third-party electrical inspection of the installation may have missed many of the issues that currently exist on the customer’s property. It has come to our attention that the electrical inspector in question has since stopped doing electrical inspections and can no longer be available to inspect anything new or re-inspect anything previously approved on this premises.

  The following other deficiencies were noted on our visit to the property:

  • The equipment installed is NOT rated for 400 amps. They installed a 200-amp rated breaker in a panel and did not provide proper breakers or means to connect the new heating system to the solar power system.
  • The solar panels were to power a sub-panel that was installed to feed “critical loads” within the house. This includes lighting and other necessary loads. This new panel was installed on the utility side of the new panel, and not to the solar power.
  • The existing old main panel of the house has been improperly fed from the solar panel system. It is fed with 100-amps, when the existing panel is rated and could use 200-amps.

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  In addition, there are numerous violations of National Electrical Code throughout the entire installation:
  o Open electrical box knockouts within new and existing panels.
  o Wiring run through existing panel to new panel (use as a “wireway”)
  o There are plumbing pipes over top of the new electrical panels.
  o There is a hose spigot located directly above the new main distribution panel, which is not only a Code violation but a life safety issue.
  o There is not proper working space about the electrical panels.
  o The battery for the solar panel system is in violation of the electrical panel working space.
  o There are improper connectors for several of the wiring methods used.
  o Two of the new panels have breaker spaces without blank cover plates, meaning homeowner or others can be electrocuted.
  o New or existing breakers not labeled properly.
  o The existing panel has too many circuits in it.

  400-amp service is required for system to work as designed.

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