‘A continued public danger:’ Solar company fined $460K, banned in Nevada

A solar panel installation company received a $460,000 fine and had its license revoked in a recent decision by the Nevada State Contractors Board.

Solarize LLC’s leaders also were barred from ever working as contractors in the state following the June 12 NSCB disciplinary hearing, according to a Tuesday news release. The fine is the strongest possible punishment levied against a solar company, the board said.

Administrative Law Judge Richard Scotti found Solarize LLC, dba Get Solarize, liable for violating Nevada statutes on 46 counts and failing to make changes after NSCB’s multiple warnings regarding its actions. The charges include abandonment, diversion of funds, workmanship issues, failing to provide documents and failing to cooperate with an investigation.

The banned leaders of Solarize and related Solarize GC LLC are Frances Kim Le, Michael Sean Hogan and Hamid Moradi.

“I’m going to find that they (Solarize LLC) have caused extensive massive harm to homeowners and remain a continued public danger,” Scotti said during the hearing.

A NSCB investigation discovered that the company caused $21,500 in damages to homeowner Barbara Erekson.

“It’s like the Wild Wild West out there. I just don’t want solar companies to harm anymore homeowners,” she said in a statement.

A Nevada State Contractors Board investigation found Solarize workers placed the wrong inverters on Erekson’s home.

Solarize LLC has faced previous NSCB sanctions prior to this ruling.

A previous version of this story did not mention related company Solarize GC LLC, and incorrectly called Hamid Moradi a contractor.

Contact Annie Vong at avong@reviewjournal.com