By John McPhaul
jpmcphaul@gmail.com
Consumer Affairs (DACO by its Spanish acronym) Secretary-designate Hiram Torres Montalvo announced on Tuesday the creation of the Unique Certificate of Compliance, which can be made available to any citizen who requests information about companies engaged in the sale, installation and guarantee of photovoltaic energy systems to be used in the island Housing Department’s New Energy program.
“After a series of meetings with staff from DACO’s Office of Renewable Energy Affairs [OAER by its Spanish initials], we have developed the Unique Certificate of Compliance, a certification that can be requested by any citizen who falls under the parameters of the Department of Housing’s ‘New Energy’ program” Torres Montalvo said in a written statement. “With this certificate, the citizen can verify that the company is duly registered in DACO.”
According to the Regulation for the Registration of Contractors No. 8172 of March 19, 2012, any person or company dedicated to the installation of equipment and systems, as well as rehabilitation and/or work in residences and commercial establishments, must be duly registered with DACO.
The regulation is intended to safeguard the interests of consumers in cases of default or defective compliance by individuals who, as part of their business, are engaged in making improvements to real estate for residential purposes.
“Similarly, this Certificate will contain information on whether there are pending complaints to be resolved and the status of the company from which certification is requested,” Torres Montalvo said. “With this, the citizen will have the assurance that the company is in compliance with the laws and regulations of DACO.”
To request the Unique Compliance Certificate, the citizen can send an email to the OAER at: energia@daco.pr.gov, or through the social networks Facebook, Instagram or Twitter under @Dacoatufavor.
Meanwhile, the island Housing Department informed the Consumer Rights Committee in the House of Representatives earlier this week that it has not yet established a plan with DACO to guide participants in the New Energy program and address possible claims that arise with solar panel systems.
“A program that begins today and it has not yet been determined how they will be attending to these complaints that we have seen and that the Department of Consumer Affairs has spoken of since 2019 have skyrocketed …, for me it is urgent that there be that meeting,” Rep. Estrella Martínez Soto said at Monday’s public hearing.