Photo voltaic Titan says defective components from Generac are accountable for the corporate’s “failure”.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- A Knoxville-based solar energy firm is making vital employees cuts, an proprietor instructed 10News.
Richard Michael Atnip, who stated he was a silent associate, stated the corporate went from 400 staff seven months in the past to lower than 100 on Jan. 5.
10News discovered Atnip’s quantity by LexisNexis Public Data and a former worker confirmed it.
“Generac is the reason for the collapse of many wholesome fast-growing firms,” Atnip texted 10News on Thursday. “Photo voltaic Titan and Photo voltaic Titan staff together with a lot of their clients have been victimized by Generac and their failure to NOT announce a nationwide recall and step as much as the plate to assist their installers and clients.”
Generac instructed 10News it’s a main producer of photo voltaic and storage options. The corporate stated it sells its merchandise to a variety of impartial distributors and photo voltaic contractors.
“We’re dissatisfied to listen to of any situations the place clients are dissatisfied with the efficiency of their system,” a spokesperson stated. “Correct sizing, system necessities and set up in accordance with the producer’s directions are required for correct system efficiency and needs to be carried out by certified impartial contractors.”
Generac is dealing with at the very least three federal lawsuits, together with a category motion lawsuit from customers, a category motion lawsuit from staff and a lawsuit from Pink Vitality, which blames Generac to place them out of enterprise.
“It is not a Photo voltaic Titan subject, it is a Generac subject,” Atnip instructed 10News. “Photo voltaic Titan compelled to chop employees as a result of Generac ripple impact.”
Generac says it stands by its merchandise and guarantee obligations. It stated clients can contact solarsupport@generac.com or 1-800-396-1281 to be paired with a Generac-authorized guarantee service supplier.
Atnip stated Photo voltaic Titan is at the moment looking for authorized illustration towards Generac. He stated the “overwhelming majority” of Photo voltaic Titan techniques put in all through the pandemic included Generac elements.
When requested what number of clients that features, Atnip replied “sufficient to carry a really wholesome firm with a 40,000 sq. foot company headquarters to its knees.”
The attorneys basic of Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia are at the moment investigating Photo voltaic Titan. By mid-December, they’d obtained at the very least 140 formal complaints.
Atnip stated he believes a lot of the complaints are as a result of Generac’s failures.
Mark La Palme, a disabled veteran in Kentucky, stated he purchased a Photo voltaic Titan system final summer time.
“We knew in regards to the Generac points, so we stayed away from there,” he stated. “It labored for about three weeks after which the items began failing … They put in new items, it broke once more.”
He stated he paid $60,000 for what he described as a “large weight” on high of his home.
“I feel photo voltaic is an effective factor to do,” he stated. “It is a disgrace you recognize there are such a lot of points with it at this level.”
Three Photo voltaic Titan staff supplied a Dec. 31 electronic mail from Brandon Stephens, who recognized himself as Photo voltaic Titan’s Chief Monetary Officer.
He wrote to staff about an settlement “signed to promote a part of Photo voltaic Titan to a different firm.”
Atnip didn’t immediately reply any questions from 10News about whether or not Photo voltaic Titan bought a part of the corporate.
“Is Photo voltaic Titan promoting a part of the corporate, or simply shedding staff? Is there nonetheless help for present clients?” 10 The information was written.
“I am a silent associate and I do not handle day-to-day operations however Photo voltaic Titan is doing every little thing in its energy to help and repair Generac’s epic element failures,” Atnip replied.
A separation discover given to an worker signifies that they have been fired from the shopper care division as a result of “lack of labor.”
One other worker instructed 10News they have been fired Monday, however have but to obtain any formal documentation.
Final December, 10News reported on a number of private properties that Atnip bought.
Walton County, Fla., data present he bought a house in Miramar Seaside for $1.715 million on June 28.
Knox County data present he bought a Knoxville dwelling for $550,000 on Oct. 27.
He bought a waterfront mansion in Knox County for $9.75 million on Nov. 15, in keeping with property data.
“I reinvested a number of million {dollars} again into the corporate to help the corporate,” Atnip stated. “Photo voltaic Titan did every little thing inside its capability to help and repair Generac’s epic element failures.”
Unique Full Assertion from Richard Michael Atnip:
“Generac doesn’t stand behind their giant installers who’re aggressively attempting to fulfill clients with Generac elements which have failed and proceed to fail and Generac is the reason for the failure of many wholesome quick rising Photo voltaic Titan firm and staff and Photo voltaic Titan together with a lot of their clients have been victimized by Generac and their failure to NOT announce a nationwide recall and step as much as the plate to assist their installers and clients.
There may be at the moment a category motion regulation swimsuit towards Generac to signify customers who’ve been victims of Generac’s epic element failures. As Generac Executives acknowledged “This isn’t a Photo voltaic Titan subject it’s a Generac subject”
Please report the inspiration and details why Photo voltaic Titan, an organization that 7 months in the past employed over 400 staff primarily based in Knoxville Tennessee is compelled to downsize to lower than 100 right this moment!”
Full Assertion from Generac:
Generac is a number one producer of photo voltaic + storage options, and we promote our merchandise to a variety of impartial distributors and photo voltaic contractors.
We’re dissatisfied to listen to of any situations the place clients are usually not glad with the efficiency of their system. Correct measurement, system necessities and set up in accordance with the producer’s directions are required for correct system efficiency and needs to be carried out by certified impartial contractors.
We stand by our merchandise and guarantee obligations. If any buyer has product issues or wants guarantee help for Generac elements of their photo voltaic techniques, they’ll contact us at solarsupport@generac.com or 1-800-396-1281 for help . We are going to assist match such clients with a Generac-authorized guarantee service supplier.
