Truro solar panel company ousted from industry group amid customer complaints

A Truro-based solar installation company has been ousted from a provincewide industry group amid complaints from would-be customers that they have not received services they paid for.  

Sun Kissed Energy is no longer a member of Solar Nova Scotia. Dave Brushett, chair of the non-profit’s board, said he could not comment on why the company was no longer a member. 

“Solar Nova Scotia is aware of the situation involving Sun Kissed Energy. It is an unfortunate circumstance. We have spoken with the parties involved and have explored how we can be most supportive,” he said in a statement. 

Debbie Merritt signed a contract with the company to install solar in hopes of saving on the power bill at her home in Salmon River, N.S. She paid Sun Kissed the full cost of approximately $31,000 in September, rather than financing, because she was promised it would expedite the project. 

Six months later, with no work complete on her roof, she wants a refund after learning the company has laid off staff and liquidated vehicles. 

“I don’t have the money to invest. I don’t have the solar panels to save on power to put that money back in that investment. So I lose both ways, and I don’t sleep at night. It’s very stressful,” she said in an interview. 

CEO Mark Shelley told CBC News earlier this month that the company is restructuring. Shelley said sales decreased following changes to a federal program that helped people pay for energy efficiency upgrades. He said that resulted in staff layoffs, company vehicles being sent to auction and being locked out of their Pictou County office.

“Sun Kissed is not closed and I am doing everything I can to get all the installs done. I am reaching out to all the customers,” Shelley told CBC News at the time. 

Shelley said in early February he would know more in the coming weeks. He declined an interview request from CBC News on Feb 17 and did not respond to a list of questions this week.

Multiple former staff members told CBC News they estimate the solar company’s debt is upwards of $8 million. 

Sherry Blinkhorn, owner of Blinkhorn Property Management, said Sun Kissed was about $15,000 behind in rent before being locked out of its Pictou County office late last month. Blinkhorn said Shelley has made no attempt to pick up company information located in the office. 

“If he was restructuring, why wouldn’t he be trying to get some of the information that he has in my business space,” she said in an interview. 

Stewiacke homeowner Marc DeCarufel said he was in contact with Shelley who promised to provide updates on his project in early February. 

“But when it was time to inquire about this plan….that’s when I realized this phone was disconnected, that perhaps there is no plan coming.” 

DeCarufel qualified for a federal Canada Greener Homes Loan for a solar installation, but that money is not released until a project is complete. For the interim, Sun Kissed recommended customers apply for what’s called a “bridging loan” through a financing provider called FinanceIt to pay the deposit. 

“I figured borrowing $12,000 interest free for six months didn’t cost me anything. I didn’t have to touch my own funds. So that was perfect,” he said in an interview.

But now DeCarufel is facing an April deadline to pay back the FinanceIt loan with no solar panels in sight.  

A spokesperson for FinanceIt said contractors the company works with are rigorously vetted and continually monitored. 

“As a result of our most recent assessment, we are no longer working with Sun Kissed Energy or accepting Sun Kissed Energy loan applications,” the spokesperson said in a statement. 

“When a contractor leaves a project unfinished, it is a breach of the commitment made to both the customer and our organization. While we cannot comment on individual cases, we work with customers to review each situation and find the best solution based on individual circumstances.” 

Quebec-headquartered electrical supply company Guillevin International is suing Sun Kissed and CEO Mark Shelley for about $346,000. According to documents filed with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on Feb 12, Guillevin alleges “a significant number of invoices” for materials were not paid by Sun Kissed. 

Irving-owned Kent Building Supplies is also suing Sun Kissed for about $15,400, according to court documents filed in late January. No statement of defence has been filed in either lawsuit yet by Sun Kissed. 

While there’s been no legal action, High Tide Electric told CBC News the company also owes them a six-figure amount for past work. 

In a statement to CBC News, Service Nova Scotia said two complaints have been received about Sun Kissed since 2002, but did not provide any additional details. 

DeCarufel and another Sun Kissed customer, John Laska, told CBC News they have contacted police about the company. Nova Scotia RCMP would not confirm if there is any active investigation into the company or Shelley.

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