SCE visits local man after News Channel 3 report on his concerns with solar set-up slowdowns

Update 4/29/25:

Court Moe tells News Channel 3 that after our report on April 28th, SCE visited his home and installed the switch.

Original 4/28/25

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – One Desert Hot Springs resident is voicing his concern with Southern California Edison after waiting months to turn his solar system online.

Court Moe, of Desert Hot Springs, says Cosmic Solar & Roofing, the solar company he contracted, finished installing the solar panel and batteries in late February. They told him within the next two to three weeks, they would receive approval to connect the solar panels to the grid, and Southern California Edison would install a switch to allow the system to be turned online.

According to Cosmic Solar & Roofing's Chief Operating Officer, Pey Shadzi, they have been waiting on a "Tesla Backup Switch" (a meter collar) that connects the Tesla Powerwall battery they installed to the home and electrical grid.

Shadzi says Southern California Edison is the only authorized entity in the area to install the meter collar. Until it is installed, Shadzi's solar company isn't able to finalize the project or inspect it with Riverside County.

"I expected it to be two or three weeks before Edison would hook us up. And now it's over a little over two months and still, no, not hooked up," Moe recounts.

Moe says there needs to be improvements when it comes to communication with Edison. He says he's reached out to the utility via email and phone several times since February to inquire about the status of his system, but hasn't heard back.

"Any other business or agency ... I mean, I can call the IRS or the state anything in the state, and I get an answer. And most employees are very happy to help. Why don't they have somebody you can talk to?” Moe asks.

Cosmic Solar also reached out by leaving voicemails at Edison's help line; they only received a reply last week. According to the solar company, Edison said they tried to install the meter collar in February, but were unable to complete the installation. Shadzi writes, "they tried to come out to install the meter collar but could not, 'probably because of meter access issues.'"

"There are absolutely no meter access issues here on site. The Edison meter is on the front side of the house and completely available from the street. No dogs, gates or obstructions are present on this property," Shadzi continues in a statement to KESQ.

News Channel Three reached out to Southern California Edison. A spokesman for the power company says it is launching an investigation into this issue, but says it will likely take several days before any findings can be released.

Stay with us for the latest updates on what the cause of the issue may be – and for the status of Moe's solar panel system.