Adam deliberately sabotaged the project and his own client!
I decided to go with Watts Up Engineering based on a few factors: they are a local company and had relatively good reviews at the time (which I now strongly suspect were self-produced). I expected good customer service and timely communication. Unfortunately, I was very wrong.
Choosing this company was a mistake. They were not the cheapest option, despite my multiple inquiries, and I made an even bigger mistake by paying the owner, Adam, upfront. He offered a discount and gave repeated assurances and guarantees that everything would run smoothly. Sadly, it did not.
I started working with them in April. Once payment was received, communication became completely one-sided. Adam would only respond when it suited him. When he finally did respond, he downgraded the scope of work, claiming that my existing generator outlet made things "too complicated" and that they didn't have time. He mentioned doing a relay "for free," but said they were too busy and backed out. The relay was not explicitly listed in the contract, and he clearly used that as an excuse to avoid it. This was the first red flag, but at the time, I was just relieved to get a response and agreed to move forward.
The roof reinforcement and panel installation were eventually completed on August 27th, after several reschedules. At that point, I thought we were close to completion. We were not.
After installation, the ghosting began. I was given weak excuses for weeks, such as waiting on special placards from the manufacturer (items that are readily available on Amazon with next-day delivery). During this time, I learned about the option for an emergency outlet that would allow limited power during outages. When I asked Adam about it, he said it couldn't be done unless I paid extra for an outlet that "wasn't in the contract." After paying nearly $30,000, this response was absurd.
I ended up installing the outlet myself with the help of an electrician friend. At that point, the system had not yet been energized or passed inspection. Adam claimed the work was done incorrectly, despite both my electrician and the city inspector saying it was fine. Still, to keep the peace, I agreed to remove it and let Adam reinstall it later.
By the end of October, communication had completely broken down again. I was either ignored or told they "didn't have time." At this point, I filed a complaint with the BBB requesting that the project be completed. That resulted in an immediate response. Adam replied to the BBB, claiming that I had voided my system warranty by installing the outlet--even though the warranty had not yet started.
He scheduled a visit to "verify" the system before inspection. During that visit, he told me I had "made a stink on the BBB" and that he was going to "teach me a lesson." I was shocked. I genuinely believed we could still resolve things professionally, but it became clear that nothing about this situation was normal.
After that meeting, I was ghosted again. The city inspection was still pending, and Adam refused to schedule it, claiming he "didn't have time" and that I would have to wait. It became obvious that he was deliberately stalling, so I would miss the deadline for the federal tax credit.
By mid-November, the situation became urgent. Adam insisted that only he could schedule the inspection. When I contacted the city directly and explained the problem, they were understanding and agreed to schedule it themselves. This was the second inspection--the first had failed due to missing placards on DC cables. Ironically, these were the same placards Adam claimed he was waiting for from the manufacturer. I had already purchased them myself from Amazon just in case. The inspector returned, and of course, the placards were wrong, but I was able to install them, and the inspection passed.
I thought we were finally done. We were not.
The final step was the WE Energies inspection. They required system schematics and exterior placement details. Since I could no longer rely on Adam, I completed everything myself. WE Energies responded and copied Adam on the email. I wasn't worried--until Adam secretly sent them a photo showing that the meter was allegedly too close to my deck.
As a result, WE Energies refused to schedule the final inspection unless the clearance was increased. Although the deck was already three feet from the wall, they required three feet from the face of the meter. This requirement was never raised earlier. Adam deliberately sabotaged the project and his own client.
It was now December--snow on the ground and freezing temperatures--and I was forced to modify my deck. With the help of friends (who were stunned by the story), I managed to get it done. They reviewed my communications with Adam and even saw camera footage from my home cameras where he threatened me, stating that I "made a stink" and that he would "teach me a lesson."
My friends are now fully aware read more
