CLAYTON, NC — 5 On Your Side has learned that North Carolina-based Pink Energy has been hit with a new lawsuit.
The Ohio Attorney General filed the suit on Monday.
The suit demands Pink compensate all consumers harmed by the company’s actions.
In an email obtained by WRAL, Pink Energy’s leadership said “financial difficulties resulting from Generac’s equipment issues and a decline in overall sales” forced the decision to close the doors. of the company “completely and immediately.”
Jayson Waller, CEO and co-founder of Pink Energy, formally known as PowerHome Solar, told WRAL News that complaints about defective solar panels can be blamed on a faulty component manufactured by a third party. that party.
Pink Energy filed a federal lawsuit against the supplier, publicly traded company Generac, which makes a part known as SnapRS.
“That led to thousands of unhappy customers and crippled every part of our business, leading to our layoffs,” Waller said earlier this month.
A Generac spokesperson pointed the finger back at Pink Energy’s installers.
5 Keely Arthur of Your Side interviewed Waller on Sept. “Very possible,” Waller replied.
It’s unclear whether Waller knew at the time of the interview that the company was headed for a complete shutdown, but they were in deep dives at that point.
Two days before our interview, Pink Energy sent a WARN notice to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, saying they would close a facility outside of Charlotte that employs 500 people. A second WARN notice days later announced that a second facility in the city of Charlotte was also closing.
A WARN notice is supposed to protect workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide 60 days’ advance notice of a plant closing or mass layoff.
But Pink Energy did not give the required 60 days notice, they sent the letter and started laying people off before the Department of Commerce received it.
Pink’s reason for the lack of notice was “unforeseen business conditions related to an unexpected economic downturn that affected demand for our products and services.”
5 On Your Side reached out directly to Pink CEO Jayson Waller and a Pink spokesperson for comment on the closing, but we have not received a response.
The North Carolina Attorney General’s office told 5 On Your Side they are aware of the letter sent to employees and have reached out to Pink for more information.