Installing a solar energy system on your property is a significant investment. If you spent thousands of dollars on a SolarEdge system, you had every right to expect that your new solar panels and the associated support and monitoring systems would be functional for years to come.
That’s why SolarEdge’s behavior is so disappointing. The company allegedly waited significantly longer than it should have to notify consumers about the impact that 3G sunsetting will have on their systems. By the end of 2022, most cell providers will no longer support 3G (third-generation) signals or networks. All devices that use these networks will lose connectivity. This includes many modems provided with SolarEdge systems.
Now that the curtain is being drawn on 3G, SolarEdge has finally notified consumers that their modems will stop working. The company has instructed people with affected systems to purchase the expensive modem upgrades it offers if they want to maintain the features advertised when they installed the system. This is despite the fact that many systems and modems remain under warranty.
That’s why experts at the Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman, P.C. are preparing to file a class action lawsuit against SolarEdge. Many customers report that the company failed to inform them that the modem may need to be replaced. They also allege that the cost of upgrading modems was left out of the cost estimates for owning a solar system. As such, they argue that SolarEdge was negligent by failing to disclose the costs and requirements of the product thoroughly and by failing to replace modems that will no longer work under the warranty policy.
If you own a SolarEdge system and have been notified that the 5-year 3G plan sold with it is being discontinued, you may be eligible to join this potential class action lawsuit. Here’s what you need to know about how SolarEdge’s actions may harm you and how joining the lawsuit could help you fight back.
SolarEdge’s Negligence Harms Consumers
The end of 3G will impact dozens of industries, but most companies responsibly took action months or years before it became urgent. That’s not the case with SolarEdge. Customers allege that the company could replace 3G components with solar inverters with new 5G cards since the summer of 2021. Despite this, many customers with 3G systems were not informed that they’d lose 3G connectivity until last winter or this year.
This harms consumers in several ways. First, SolarEdge’s advertising emphasizes the benefits offered by its systems’ internet connectivity. Its products are supposed to provide:
- Energy monitoring, permitting consumers to check their system at a glance
- Real-time usage reports, with live statistics and energy use information uploaded to the cloud
- Remote installer maintenance, allowing SolarEdge technicians to diagnose problems without visiting the property
These features make SolarEdge stand out from the competition. However, without connectivity, they stop working entirely. This prevents customers from using the features they paid for.
Furthermore, internet connectivity allows the SolarEdge system to receive solar renewable energy certificates. These certificates compensate owners for the megawatt hours their system generates. Losing 3G prevents owners from generating and cashing in these certificates, undermining one of the main reasons for installing a solar system in the first place and significantly increasing the cost to the consumer.
Finally, many consumers bought five-year internet plans and 12-year warranties with the installation of their SolarEdge systems. Regardless of the plan or warranty a customer purchased, SolarEdge appears to be requiring all affected consumers to buy new modems. The company has not apparently offered any form of proration or warranty coverage for anyone, regardless of whether they’ve received the internet service they’ve already paid for.
In short, SolarEdge appears to be forcing consumers to pick between paying the company significant amounts of money to continue receiving the services they already purchased or losing access to substantial compensation and critical features.
The Goal of the Class Action Lawsuit Against SolarEdge
Class actions are intended to hold companies accountable for the harm they’ve caused their customers. For example, SolarEdge has required many customers to spend significant amounts on unexpected upgrades. Other customers did not receive the services they were owed because the company did not address the 3G sunset’s impact on their contracts. SolarEdge could have notified consumers about the loss of services and the cost of upgrades long in advance, but did not causing its customers significant losses.
That’s what a potential class action lawsuit against SolarEdge would aim to address. Should the case be filed, the goal will be to pursue compensation on behalf of customers who were forced to pay for new modems or lost connectivity because they did not upgrade. Depending on the lawsuit’s outcome, SolarEdge could be ordered to provide upgrades for free and compensate consumers for the funds they’ve already spent on the upgrades or for the services and certificates they did not receive.
The class would consist of SolarEdge customers whose systems will lose 3G connectivity in the coming months. If you meet those criteria, you may be eligible to join the lawsuit and pursue just compensation for the losses the company has caused you.
Learn More About the SolarEdge Class Action Lawsuit
SolarEdge customers are rightfully angry that they aren’t receiving the services for which they paid. If you’ve been forced to buy costly upgrades from the solar system provider or lose services or solar renewable energy certificates when 3G networks close, you deserve help.
The expert attorneys at the Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman, P.C. are preparing to take on SolarEdge for customers like you. If you think you fit the criteria for this class action lawsuit, get in touch by calling 323-973-2504 or sending a message online. We will help you determine if you’re eligible and pursue compensation on behalf of you and everyone else who suffered losses due to SolarEdge’s behavior.
