Owner of Super Green Solutions Sean Cochrane left $70k out of pocket by solar trading company

A Townsville energy business owner is contemplating whether or not to keep running, after being left $70k out of pocket by a dodgy solar trading company which now operates under a new name.

Super Green Solutions Founder Sean Cochrane. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Contemplating whether or not to keep his small green-energy business running, owner Sean Cochrane said it “hurts to much” to try and get back on their feet after being “ripped off” by a solar trading company.

Founder and owner of Super Green Solutions, a Townsville-based supplier of green and solar power energy technologies, Mr Cochrane said he is $70,000 out of pocket after a now-defunct trading company refused to pay out his solar rebate.

“It’s painful,” he said.

“It’s the second time this has happened. I’ve got to take money out of my mortgage to keep my staff employed.”

Many businesses across the country have been left out of pocket by former trading company Emerging Energy Solutions Pty Ltd.

To encourage Aussies to use of renewable energy, the Australian Government provides incentives called small-Scale technology certificates (STC’s), which individuals or businesses can earn when they install eligible small-scale renewable energy systems such as hot water or solar panels.

“Solar power is sold to the consumer,” Mr Cochrane said.

“We put it on his house, so the electricians do the work and there’s a rebate that the customer benefits from reducing the cost of the solar power system, or hot water system. We then claim that rebate from an STC trader.”

He said dodgy trading company Emerging Energy Solutions Pty Ltd had taken $70 million from small businesses after refusing to pay them their solar rebates, and said the government’s response was it was the business fault.

“These people were vetted by the government,” Mr Cochrane said.

“We did nothing, but we’ve got to carry the can. The governments are approving these STC traders and they abscond with the money.”

With the company now dealing under a new name, Mr Cochrane asked why the government is still allowing them to trade.

Super Green Solutions Founder Sean Cochrane and Federal Member for Herbert Phil Thompson. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I want the government to stop messing with our industry. Hold the people accountable that are the traders,” he said.

After reaching out for help to the Master Builder’s Association, Housing Industry Association and other groups with no luck, Mr Cochrane said the response from Energy Minister Chris Bowen was that Mr Cochrane made a commercial decision and the government was not to blame.

Federal member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said business around the country are being punished, losing money and in some cases having to close up shop due to dodgy trading houses.

“Our small businesses in Townsville are the backbone of the community,” he said.

“They keep people employed, they keep food on the table and they keep our economy going and for this small business to lose money because of a dodgy company … is despicable.”

Mr Thompson said he was made aware of Mr Cochrane’s situation and wrote to the minister and regulator.

“The regulator, the day I wrote to it, cancelled this dodgy business from practising which is great,” he said.

“This is a big problem and for these crooks to then close business and pop up one the next day and start again, I think it’s a failure in the system.

“Chris Bowen must take responsibility for the actions and the policies that he has implemented.”

On how to address the issue, Mr Thompson said the government must either get rid of the rebates or give the regulator “more teeth to act on this”.

“It could be either of those two, but we know that they solar businesses here in towns around the country operate when times are good and when times are tough,” he said.

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Owner of Super Green Solutions Sean Cochrane left $70k out of pocket by solar trading company