The liquidation of solar provider Solar Hub NZ Ltd has left numerous customers facing significant financial losses, with some reporting deposits worth thousands of dollars paid for installations that were never completed.
According to a report by Stuff, the company, which was incorporated more than five years ago, was placed into liquidation on Tuesday. Its director was Auckland-based Yogesh Chand, who held a 99.84 per cent shareholding alongside his wife, Sangita.
Moeraki resident Lesley Campbell was among those affected after signing an agreement with the company in June for a solar installation and paying a $13,140 deposit.
Four months later, no installation had taken place, leaving Campbell unsure whether she could recover her money.
“And any chance of getting our deposit back looks to be pretty remote,” as quoted by Stuff.
She said attempts to contact the company had been unsuccessful, with its website also taken down.
Campbell said the company's collapse highlighted “a growing issue around solar”, Stuff has quoted.
“Politicians are promoting solar with seemingly no guard rails around the industry,” she said.
Several other customers also shared their experiences on Facebook, expressing frustration over the company's failure to complete installations and return payments.
“I paid them $26,000 and they were going to install but kept delaying, then I asked for my money back and they kept saying (the work) will be done . . . but I see this news today,” one customer wrote, Stuff has quoted.
Another customer raised concerns about payments to installers shortly before the liquidation, saying: “We’ve received numerous calls from installers who say they haven’t been paid after completing Solar Hub installations”, as quoted by Stuff.
Customers and other parties seeking to recover money owed had until November 11 to lodge their claims.
Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ) chief executive Brendan Winitana told Stuff that Solar Hub had previously been a member of the association, which represents the solar industry's value chain, from manufacturers to consumers.
Winitana said SEANZ had investigated several complaints against Solar Hub in recent months through its dispute resolution process. Serious cases could be referred to the Disputes Tribunal, he said.
Over several months, the association worked with the company and affected consumers to address “a growing list of complaints that we had”, Stuff has quoted.
Initially, the complaints concerned technical issues and failures to complete work as expected. They later included a customer who struggled to recover a deposit.
According to SEANZ, the customer took the matter to the Disputes Tribunal and won the case, but “and there was no action taken by Solar Hub to progress that and resolve it”, as quoted by Stuff.
The association subsequently contacted Chand, who had returned to Fiji, where he continued to operate the company, in an attempt to resolve the issue.
However, further complaints followed, prompting concern within the association.
“The alarm bells went off”, Winitana said, Stuff jas quoted.
SEANZ suspended Solar Hub's membership about six weeks ago while the complaints were being addressed. The association said the company failed to respond to repeated requests to resolve outstanding consumer issues, leading to its membership being revoked.
“Then we found out a few days later they were in liquidation.”
For consumers looking for a reliable solar provider, SEANZ has established Solassure.nz, a website listing certified solar installers.
However, Campbell said she had been unable to contact SEANZ since Solar Hub's collapse and remained concerned about recovering her deposit, Stuff has reported.
She also called for stronger protections for consumers, suggesting that deposits should be held independently of solar companies.
“I have lodged a complaint with the Commerce Commission; I don't hold out much hope for a resolution,” as quoted by Stuff.
Solar Hub also attracted attention in 2024 when it was announced as the official energy and sustainability partner for Auckland FC.
Multiple attempts to contact Chand have been unsuccessful.