THE Department of Energy (DOE) reminded the public to buy solar kits or other solar powered appliances only from authorized dealers or distributors.
DOE-Visayas information officer Lou Arciaga said there are cases in the hinterlands where residents buy these products from peddlers who roam their area.
Sometimes, they even trade their farm animals in exchange for solar kits, she said.
Arciaga said the risk in buying solar powered products from peddlers is that they do not have service centers where the buyer can go to in case the product malfunctions or a part of it needs repair.
She underscored that as a consumer, they should be assured of an address of the store or an authorized person who will fix their equipment once it breaks down.
Another risk is that consumers are not assured of the quality of the product.
She noted that some solar kits or solar appliances sold by ordinary peddlers break down after three months.
“Our advice to them is to make sure they buy from a reliable supplier. They should have a clear address and avoid buying from peddlers,” Arciaga said.
The DOE official noted that consumers should practice caution in buying these products to protect investments, since solar energy is not a cheap investment.
Meanwhile, DOE-Visayas has installed 2,300 units of solar home system to different households in 15 barangays in Bayawan City.
The installation was part of the department’s Household Electrification Program for households in remote areas in Negros Oriental.
Other areas in the province covered by the program include some barangays in Sta. Calina and Siaton towns. (PIA)