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The Consumer Protection Division of Sedgwick County District Attorney's office entered a $220,977 default judgment against a Tennessee solar power sales and installation company, according to a news release.
The judgment, ordered April 15, alleged Design 1 Group LLC, a company that has operated in Sedgwick County for at least three years, and its sales representative Skylar Ayesh violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. Among the violations, the DA's office alleged the company contracted for services without a license, made false representations regarding the issuance of permits, failed to install proper equipment required by Evergy, and failed to disclose the impact of solar panel orientation on energy savings.
Design 1 Group LLC was ordered by Sedgwick County District Court to pay $106,780 in restitution to two consumers — approximately $41,300 for a customer in Clearwater and $65,400 for a Derby customer — and $110,000 in civil penalties, as well as court costs and investigation fees.
The court also directed the solar company to refrain from engaging in all business in Kansas unless properly licensed and only after obtaining all necessary permits.
The lawsuit petition filed by the district attorney against Design 1 and Ayesh said the solar company entered into contracts with the customers in early 2022.
The lawsuit petition added that the two residents were promised 50-80% savings in their energy bill and that they would receive rebate checks of $3,168 (Clearwater) and $2,022 (Derby) from the company. The document said the solar company provided contract financing options to both customers through Connexus Credit Union with Solar Mosaic LLC as the loan servicer.
The document alleged that Design 1 was not a licensed electrical contractor with the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department and Derby’s Building and Trade Department at the time when both contracts were signed. It added that Design 1 was able to secure electrical licensing nine months after the contract sale of the Derby resident.
Kansas business records indicate Design 1 Group is an LLC tied to Design 1 Solar Group of out Bristol, Tennessee.
Representatives from Design 1 could not be reached for immediate comment