Sreedevi Dasari hopes to take advantage of federal grant and loan programs by installing solar panels on her west Toronto home to save money on her hydro bill and help the environment.
But now the single mother is without the $3,500 she paid as a deposit on the solar panels.
“I felt like I was stranded,” said Dasari, who lives in Milton, Ont.
He is one of more than a half-dozen homeowners in Ontario and Alberta who told CBC Toronto they owe a total of nearly $68,000 they paid on solar power installation contracts with Sunwave Inc. , a Toronto company that solicits their business through door-to-door sales. . Sunwave says it is investigating customer complaints
Customers say the sales representatives they dealt with have left the company, and calls and emails to homeowners at Sunwave Inc. not answered.
Dasari signed a $24,700 contract with Sunwave in April to procure and install a solar panel system on the roof of his home. After paying the deposit, Dasari said he would give half of the remaining balance when the final design was done in July, but he said that never happened.
“I don’t have anything at the moment,” he said. “So even if I wanted to go to a different company, I would have to start from scratch.”
Dasari is concerned that starting the process over could affect his eligibility for the Canada Greener Homes Grants and Loans programs – which were launched last year. Through the programs, homeowners like Dasari can qualify for up to $5,000 for the solar panels they have installed and up to a $40,000 interest-free loan to finance a green retrofit.
Natural Resources Canada administers the programs. The federal department said it has received homeowner complaints about Sunwave and is following up on the allegations.
In a statement, a lawyer for Sunwave told CBC Toronto that the company is aware of the allegations from its customers and is taking their concerns seriously by investigating the complaints with their lawyer.
“We appreciate all customers’ patience and cooperation as we conduct our investigation into these allegations,” said attorney Carly Waisglass.
A retired Alberta couple paid $30K
Heather Robinson’s parents signed a contract with Sunwave in October 2021. The retired couple, who live outside of Calgary in Chestermere, Alta., did not pay a deposit. However, Daniel and Heimke Campbell were given the solar panel design plan a month after signing their contract and then paid $30,300 for it in December.

At that point, Robinson said the company told her parents they would have to wait until spring for installation. But now, almost a year after her parents signed the contract, she says no more work has been done.
“I’ve been emailing and calling the office every day and nothing — no answer, no return calls,” Robinson said.
“I don’t know if they’re overwhelmed and can’t keep up or what’s going on, but I hope that’s the case and there’s a way we can get something.”
After CBC Toronto contacted the company, one customer said they received a partial refund and then a full refund from Sunwave, and Dasari says a former sales representative told him he would receive a refund soon.
But others, like Robinson and Ken Fritz from Kitchener, Ont., didn’t receive any assurances.

“They wouldn’t answer me. I tried everything under the sun to get them,” said Fritz, who paid a $3,500 deposit in March.
He said it was a learning experience and while he is still trying to find another company to install solar panels on his roof, he will make sure they have references.
“You really need to do your homework.”