July 30, 2009

Attorney General Corbett urges consumers to shop carefully for "energy efficient" products or services

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today urged Pennsylvania consumers to shop carefully when considering products or services advertised as being "energy efficient," and to thoroughly review claims about financial savings or tax benefits related to certain purchases or home improvements.

"Consumers are anxious to find ways to conserve energy and save money, but it is important to fully evaluate any product or service to determine which is best for your particular situation," Corbett said.  "It is vital that consumers educate themselves about all of their choices before spending hard-earned money on items that promise future savings."

Corbett also recommended that consumers look for independent testing of the products they are considering, in order to properly calculate any possible savings, and verify their eligibility for any federal or state tax credits or energy incentives before committing to a purchase.

Corbett noted that information about numerous energy saving products and programs is available from the U.S. Department of Energy, at http://www.energysavers.gov/, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us.

In addition to carefully reviewing the energy efficiency of particular products, Corbett stressed that consumers considering home improvement projects - including the replacement of windows and doors, or other large-scale changes - should verify that the installation business or contractor is registered with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Corbett said that all home improvement projects, including the installation of many energy-saving products, are covered by Pennsylvania's new Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, which went into effect on July 1, 2009.

"This new law requires written contracts for all projects over $500, including specific information about the total price, a start-date and end-date, details about the materials being used and an explanation of a consumer's three-day right to cancel a contract," Corbett said. "The law also requires contractors to register with the Attorney General's Office, so consumers can learn about past problems, including lawsuits, bankruptcies and other issues that may impact their selection of a business."

Corbett encouraged consumers to file formal complaints with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection if they believe they have been targeted by deceptive advertising or high-pressure sales tactics, along with homeowners who are directed to use unregistered contractors.  He also urged consumers to report incidents where they believe that products they received do not match the specifications for the items that they ordered.

More information about the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act is available by using the "Consumer Information" link on the front page of the Attorney General's website.

Consumers can file complaints by calling the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 or file an online consumer complaint at www.attorneygeneral.gov. (Click on the "Complaints" button in the main menu and select "Consumer Complaints" from the list)

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