ComplaintsforClearway Community Solar

• Initial Complaint

  09/05/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was unfortunately signed up for the program of Clearway Community Solar as I did not know English well. Their staff came to my house and said that if I signed up for this program, I would be able to receive credits applied to the electricity bill. This means we can get a 7 percent discount on the bill. The program started last year (contract number: C10043086). It seemed to give us 7 percent discount, but the payment process confused me. And the amount I have to pay for the electricity bill and their service seems to increase after that. I emailed them to cancel in November last year. We have been waiting for 10 months but we have not got the exact day when the cancellation will be completed. And I have to pay more than the actual amount on the electricity bill in some months.

  Business response

  09/20/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response. 

• Initial Complaint

  09/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was sold joining a solar farm for a 7% discount on my solar bill. I have since paid thousands of dollars and have a $1,000 + credit on my electrical bill. A new lower allocation was agreed to and sign in ***** It was approved by the electrical company and the state in June and they wont tell me when Ill be a ********. They said a permit, for a new solar farm, has been filed but have no information about this farm at all. Every time a request goes to the back office it disappears. I requested to cancel after receiving another $800 + bill and was told i had to wait for the back office to send me a cancelation email (my last request to the back office was never addressed even after a month). Even if I get that email they say that it will take 6-8 month to actually end the service. They say it is state regulation but are unable to provide me with the state regulation. I plan to file a compilation with the State *************************

  Business response

  09/13/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

• Initial Complaint

  08/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am retiree living with my wife and was solicited by a young man at our home on September 12 2019. We decided to sign up for a solar energy account through **********************. During that transaction we were never told we were signing up for a 20 year commitment and that if we would decide to discontinue it that we then would owe a reassignment fee of $600.00. All of this information was revealed to us after we requested to cancel our account. Due to ever increasing monthly bills and since we are living on a lower fixed income. Initially, we were told back on November, 2022 that we would have to continue for up to 8 months while they find a replacement for us at the solar farm. We completed our 8 month obligation and then we received a $600 billing statement for a reassignment fee which we were not informed we would still owe after our agreed upon cancelation period. I called Clearway directly questioning the billing and their response back is when they informed me of the 20 year commitment with their solar company. We feel we have been wrongfully charged with this billing. Both my wife and I agreed that if we had been informed of a 20 year commitment, we would have never entered into this contract. Obviously, a company like Clearway Community Solar would also be taking a big chance on signing with senior citizens. Please we are asking for your help to get the recent $600 billing with them to be dissolved. We appreciate you working on our behalf to resolve this fraudulent billing.

  Business response

  09/07/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response 

• Initial Complaint

  08/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Clearway Community Solar has raised tripled my monthly charge. I am an elder on a fixed income and unable to afford the raise. I have tried to cancel, but without success. They say it will take 6 months or more to cancel and cost $200. The contract they say I signed is bogus. I never saw a contract. They sent me a copy (as I requested) and it is Many pages. I believe they used my initial signature requesting service and pasted it to their contract. This is not a reputable company and I want out. Please help

  Business response

  08/07/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

• Initial Complaint

  07/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have requested my account with this company be closed in March. We are currently at the end of July and they have not yet closed my account. I was told this process could take up to 90 days and we are well past that point now. I was lied to about the cost of the service from the beginning and I want this account CLOSED.

  Business response

  08/03/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

• Initial Complaint

  07/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My husband and I were solicited by a young college aged male at our home back in February 11, 2018. We decided to sign up for a solar energy account through **********************. During that transaction we were never told we were signing up for a 25 year commitment and that if we would decide to discontinue it that we then would owe a reassignment fee of $600.00. All of this information was revealed to us after we requested to cancel our account after 4 1/2 years due to financial reasons since we are now retired and living on a lower fixed income. Initially, we were told back on November 5, 2022 that we would have to continue for up to 6 months while they find a replacement for us at the solar farm. We completed our 6 month obligation and then we received a $600 billing statement for a reassignment fee which we were not informed we would still owe after our agreed upon cancelation period. I emailed Clearway directly questioning the billing and their response back is when they informed me of the 25 year commitment with their solar company. We feel we have been wrongfully charged with this billing. Both my husband and I agreed that if we had been informed of a 25 year commitment, we would have never entered into this contract. We were 60 years old at the time of this solar account signing so 25 years later we would become 85 years old! Obviously, a company like Clearway Community Solar would also be taking a big chance on signing with senior citizens. Please we are asking for your help to get the recent $600 billing with them to be dissolved. We appreciate you working on our behalf to resolve this fraudulent billing.

  Business response

  07/12/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

• Initial Complaint

  06/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company extorts money from people. Even elderly on fixed incomes as well as disabled folks. They promised me 7% savings from my utility bill monthly. And there sales pitch was "who doesn't want to save $20 on their electric bill?" 2 years after discussion with their solicitating sales reps, their 'subscription ' became active. And the only indication of such action was that my monthly Eversource utility bill showed a $0 balance. 2 more months later I had a $740 credit on that bill.The following month (4 months after activation) I started receiving CCS statements. Every statement received from CCS since has been 50% greater than my Eversource charges.I could go on and on but, the bottom line is they are extortionists.Promise a utility bill cost savings but charge more. I've refused to pay CCS another cent. Their "solar credits" equate to over $2000 on my eversouce bill. When I requested to cancel, they said it would take up to 6 months. I continue to get billed and they continue to send credits to electric company even though I asked them to stop. I have requested the company to sent me the documents they supposedly sent me notifying me of the service being activated. I have NEVER received any such documents. These documents are also not shown on their website even they they say they are. I have been in touch with their customer service and management folks many times. Ive contacted my electric company to shut them off but apparently they cant. Eversource has also said they cannot send me money sitting on our account via these credits. I dont know what else to do.How can I get this company to stop this. I requested cancellation in May. Thank you for your help.

  Business response

  07/07/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

  Customer response

  07/14/2023

   
  Complaint: 20251294
  
  I am rejecting this response due to the reasons noted on original Community Solar response attached.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

  Business response

  07/25/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

• Initial Complaint

  06/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Clearway Viking Solar Farm is the company that supplies our electricity. We cancelled their service January 6, 2023 and were told we would be billed for 90 days. Called them May 18 and they said there will be one more bill, so I paid it even though it was past the 90 days. Today June 27, we received another bill. I called them and was told it would be another 90 days. Please help us, we won't pay any more bills.

  Business response

  07/06/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response. 

  Customer response

  07/07/2023

   
  Complaint: 20243881
  
  I am rejecting this response because: For one the bill is not past due from statement date 6/26/21.  The bill for $86.22 is not due until July 15th.   I still refuse to pay bill.  I was told on January 6th that the solar farm would be cancelled as of 90 days past January 6th.  It has been almost six months.  That doesn't make any sense.  Please cancel the last bill due for $86.22, because I paid for the last 5 months, which is past 90 days.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  07/17/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response and invoice. 

  Customer response

  07/17/2023

   
  Complaint: 20243881
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  First off, this company lied about a late payment. The "bill" was not due until July 15th when on July 7th when they said it was past due. The call to cancel was done on January 6th because we paid more for electricity than ever when we were getting these so called discounts. Another lie saying we would save money. We were told it would take 90 days to cancel which didn't make sense, but we paid the bills. This current bill is for ***** 5th-May 4th. That is well after the 90 days they told us. We went ahead and paid last month because we were told it was the last bill. Now we get another bill and they say we still owe for 90 days. This is nothing but a scam and a corrupt business and we will not continue to pay for bills when there was no benefit to us and they continue to lie about past due dates and when the last bill will be coming. We cancelled this program when our electric bill was over 500 dollars plus the Clearway bill totaling close to 600 dollars for one month when it has never been over 400. How is this saving money? Again this business is a scam and we will not be paying the bill. If needed I will be contacting our local news outlet to expose this company and let everyone know how corrupt they are.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  07/25/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response. 

  Customer response

  07/26/2023

   
  Complaint: 20243881
  I am rejecting the response because I cancelled January 6th of this year.  Which was for 10-4-22 thru 11-2-22.  90 days from this bill would be 3-2-22, the company owes me $309.76 from bills after 90 days.  i will contact my lawyer.  you bill for 2 months behind, which is a scam to get you to pay 180 days instead of 90 days,   Give me your supervisors name and contact informantion.  My lawyer will be contacting you. Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  07/28/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response.

• Initial Complaint

  06/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I originally signed up to be part of a solar farm a couple years before it was built. It came online, started producing, and in November of 2020, my wife and I sold our house in ********* ** and moved to current address.Clearway didn't have correct information and was crediting our old address. it took several months to get it straightened out, but then they couldn't resync billing, so it appeared that our credit from main electric wasn't matching their credit. I called to ask, but they couldn't find my information. I got frustrated with constant runaround and told them to cancel my contract. I was told on the phone (no proof, my mistake) that to exit contract without a fee, they would require me to stay on for an additional 6 months so they could replace me as a customer. As contract was signed and subsequently lost in move, I took their word and remained a customer in good standing. After 7 months, I reached out via email to notify them that I had fulfilled their request and to terminate contract.Clearway sent a bill that was NOT matched to credit to my main electric company (Xcel), and then proceed to charge a $600 contract termination fee after I was told verbally that there was no charge if I waited the 6 months.

  Business response

  06/29/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response.

  Customer response

  06/30/2023

   
  Complaint: 20216117
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I appreciate Clearway waiving the $600 cancellation fee, but I also don't think that I should be paying for energy that was not credited to my utility company, in this case, Xcel Energy - see ******* 2023 billing.  If Clearway can prove that credits were applied to my account with Xcel and Xcel failed to pass along, then I will take it up with Xcel, but I don't think that is the case.  

  I am unwilling to pay for ******* bill in any amount, as termination of credits had already happened.  If they will waive the $85.38 as well, I will consider this matter closed.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Business response

  07/03/2023

  Please see Clearway's response to your rejection. 

  Customer response

  07/14/2023

   
  Complaint: 20216117
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Clearway claims that they sent the credit to my normal utility company( Xcel) for the $85.38, but their own documentation doesn't show that amount as sent to Xcel.  I contacted Xcel, and they found all credits that had been applied except for that one, which leads me to believe that it was not submitted.  I can understand how it would happen accidentally as termination of contract was happening, but I still don't need to pay Clearway for something that they didn't take care of their side with - that would amount to fraud, and that would be bad.

  Final billing of $0.00 is where this should end at.

   

  Sincerely,
  

  
  *********************

  Customer response

  07/18/2023

  Please see the attached

   I am working through my work email only because I check it more frequently the email provided through your portal (******************)  that had response from Clearway Community Solar didnt give me an option to respond.

   

  My complaint was two parts

  1) $600 disconnection fee that was charged after Clearway instructed me to stay on for 6 months so they could find replacement customer or else I would be charged disconnection fee.  Clearway was agreed to waive this fee.

   

  2) Clearway is asking that I pay additional billing of $85.38, because they are saying that it was provide to Xcel Energy.  I have attached spreadsheet again (originally supplied at complaint outset) and you will see that the billing amounts match exactly to what Clearway has, with one notable exception CLEARWAY DOESNT HAVE THE $85.38 LISTED AS AMOUNT PROVIDED TO XCEL FOR CREDIT!! This matches my dispute and holds to the point that I should have $0.00 balance due and account with ********************** closed.

  Business response

  08/01/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

  Customer response

  08/04/2023

   
  Complaint: 20216117
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I have verified with Xcel Energy that the last two "credits" were never applied to my account by Xcel because Clearway never submitted them to Xcel.  I will request said information in documentation from Xcel, but I am not certain that I can get this within 5 calendar day window, therefore I am submitting rejection at this point.

  Or Clearway can wave those fees and we can close this matter.  I request $0.00 balance due on account.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Business response

  08/17/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response

  Customer response

  08/18/2023

   
  Complaint: 20216117
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Clearway claims to have submitted credit, but doesn't show it on their list, nor is it showing on my billing from electric provider, Xcel Energy.  Xcel said they cannot provide anything for dispute beyond printed statements that were presented to me monthly, which are attached in PDF from **** up to 5-23.

   

  Clearway needs to create $0 balance on my account so we can go our separate ways.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Business response

  08/24/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response.

  Customer response

  08/25/2023

   
  Complaint: 20216117
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I have previously attached copies of my Xcel bill, which show that no credit offered to Xcel to correspond with the $85.38 in question, but also shows direct corresponding credits that are NOT disputed.  Clearway is insisting that I should pay it because they say it was submitted to Xcel, but I am showing documentation printed from Xcel that corroborates my claim that no such credit was submitted.

   

  IF a credit was sent to Xcel, and Xcel failed to provide same credit to end user (me in this case) it should be between the two businesses to figure out, not the end user.

   

  Therefore, I am maintaining my position that I owe $0, as $600 was previously agreed to be waived, and remaining $85.38 wasn't properly distributed.  IF Clearway is able to find Xcel to be at fault, they should ask Xcel for a credit directly, and not run it through me.

   

  My desire is to be fully separated from Clearway, and the amount of my account should be $0, and the account closed for any and all future transactions.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Business response

  08/25/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's response. 

• Initial Complaint

  06/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed up in Oct 22 was advised I could cancel at any time. I was not advised that it takes 3 months! I cancelled in Feb ***************************************** more and I couldnt afford it! At the time I cancelled in Feb I still wasnt advised that it would take 3 months.. they called me everyday and wouldnt cancel it still. Finally a supervisor called and said 5/8/23 it would be cancelled it takes 3 months! 5/8 came and went and then I was advised it would take 3 more billing cycles. Now today I rcvd an email saying to be patient and that its in progress and they are looking for another customer to replace me. Why is it my responsibility to suffer thru this financial burden so they may look for another customer to replace me? I filed a complaint with bbb and their explanation did not even address the concerns I expressed. I want the account cancelled IMMEDIATELY and send me a final bill!

  Business response

  06/26/2023

  Please see attached Clearway's Response. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩