Barbara Kopp, an 88-year-old Florida woman, just wanted to do something nice for the planet—and her wallet. So when a smooth-talking solar panel salesman knocked on her door, she thought, “Sure, why not? Sunshine is free, right?”
Spoiler alert: It was not free.
The Sales Pitch That Went Solar-South
The salesman assured her she wasn’t buying the panels—just leasing them. “Like a car!” he said.
Spoiler #2: It was not like a car.
She signed a 25-year contract with Sunnova, expecting her electric bills to vanish like Florida snow. Instead? Her bills DOUBLED.
The “Oops, Your Panels Don’t Work” Saga
Months passed. Barbara’s electric bills? Still coming. Her solar panels? MIA on the energy-saving front.
She called Sunnova. Their response? “We’ll get to you… eventually.”
Three months later, still nada. Barbara was stuck paying $99.94 a month for panels that did nothing plus her usual electric bill. Florida’s sunshine was officially scamming her.
The Fine Print Strikes Again
Attorney Bryant Dunivan (not Barbara’s lawyer but a solar contract expert) dropped the truth bomb: “If you sign it, you own it—even if you didn’t read it.”
Key takeaways:
– Warranties matter. Some companies promise the moon. Others promise… nothing.
– If a salesman says, “You’ll never pay for electricity again,” grab your wallet and run.
The “Fix” That Might Be Too Little, Too Late
After Susan Solves It got involved, Sunnova finally fixed Barbara’s system and offered her a credit. But Barbara’s not convinced. “What if this happens again for the next 10 years?” she asked.
Her dream of solar savings? Currently sunburned.
Moral of the story? If a solar panel salesman knocks on your door, ask for ID—then ask if they’ll pay your electric bill first.
(Barbara just wants out of her contract. Sunnova, do better.)