Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Exodus 20:16

Notice to DIY Solar installers:

DIY Solar projects can be a wonderful and rewarding experience for a home owner.

Many home owners have documented their success stories on Youtube sharing their experiences along the way!

Being self reliant, self sufficient and independent off the grid is a goal many people strive in today’s world and Btek understands that, because we’ve been preaching it for years!

In 2016, Btek supplied all the products necessary to a home owner who wanted to install their own DIY solar system.

The couple had learned that “home owners” like themselves had saved thousands of dollars installing their own DIY solar safely and legally and wanted to do the same.

The couple asked Btek for some help with their DIY installation, however half way through their DIY project the homeowners gave up, and abandoned their DIY installation.

It is our opinion that the home owners took out their frustrations of being unable to accomplish their project on Btek unfairly and undeservedly.

Btek was unfairly expected to do the work the home owners had agreed to undertake themselves as home owners who wanted to install their own solar.

In Ontario, home owners are legally permitted to install their own DIY Solar system, provided they obtain the permits and pay the fees.

The home owners failed to obtain their permits and pay the fees associated with their DIY install.

By not obtaining permits, and claiming complete ignorance, the homeowners did the unthinkable, they reported Btek to the ESA, denying their involvement in their own DIY project.

The ESA was informed by Btek that this was their DIY solar install and that they had taken on the role as installer as home owner which is perfectly legal.

However, the ESA did not want to hold the home owners accountable for their involvement, for failing to get a permit, or failing to pay the fees associated with THEIR DIY solar installation.

It is our opinion that the ESA wanted to make an example out of Btek in order to protect the homeowners.

ESA cited that digging a trench and selling the couple the equipment made Btek liable for their DIY installation which was only 20% completed, we believe this was an absurd attempt to protect the owners from “accountability”. We are all adults, they were not little children that needed to be protected, they wanted to install their own DIY SOLAR - however the ESA absolved the couple of all their responsibilities and assumed them on Btek. It’s our opinion that this is absolutely pathetic behaviour from a so called ‘government agency’.

It is our opinion that the ESA acted in a “morally reprehensible” manner giving the homeowners ‘special treatment’ treating them like underage children who could not take accountability for their own choices and actions.

Despite all our efforts to convince the ESA that this was in fact a DIY solar install that was abandoned by the homeowners, the ESA doubled down and wanted Btek to be held responsible for the entire installation.

In our opinion the actions taken by the ESA were overly excessive, unfair, and unwarranted, however we have no choice but to accept the court’s decision.

The ESA shifted responsibility of this DIY home owner installation on to Btek, an Ontario business in Renewable Energy serving Canadians for nearly 20 years.

Btek merely aided the couple with their DIY system who chose to take on the project as THOUSANDS of others have, without incident.

The law in the Province of Ontario regarding electrical work, is that no one is permitted to assist another home owner in any way with any electrical work.

HOWEVER IN REALITY, Alexander J. Bonello, owner of BTEK installed his own 10kw solar system from the ground up WITH with the assistance of MULTIPLE people with NO PROBLEM.

WHY did the the ESA inspector who attended 4 times not care that anyone else was assisting with Btek’s installation?

It was simple, because the owner of Btek, Alexander Bonello, obtained and paid for all the necessary permits.

The HOMEOWNERS promised in writing SEVERAL TIMES that they would obtain the permits required as instructed by Btek over and over again.

Had the homeowners obtained their permits and paid their fees, there would have been no issue at all. The ESA inspector would have been satisfied that this was a ‘DIY” installation.

BUT It’s our fault - we trusted them, they never obtained the permits, and for this we will never get involved in another DIY install again.

We trusted the homeowners, they promised they would obtain the permits, they asked for our assistance and it’s our opinion they set us up.

We believe it was morally reprehensible to set Btek up like this with the intention to damage and tarnish Btek’s Reputation in the Solar business.

In our opinion, it was cruel treatment by the homeowners, who wanted all the results without doing all the hard work that goes in to a DIY system.

In our view, the ESA should not be in the business of protecting and cover up failed attempts of homeowners who want to install their own DIY solar installation.

The ESA and home owner teamed up together to flip the blame and responsibility of this couple’s responsibilities for undertaking a DIY solar installation on to Btek.

In order to accomplish this, the ESA designated Btek as an electrical contractor working without a license instead of calling it what it was, a Renewable Energy Company supplying products.

Btek is a RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS SUPPLIER, who tried to assist their customers with their purchases.

DEAR ESA - We are NOT ELECTRICIANS, NOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS - We are SPECIALIZED TECHNICIANS in our field.

Btek has the TECHNICAL EXPERTISE i e with Skystream and Skystream integration that NO ONE ELSE in CANADA has. Period.

No other TECHNICIAN IN CANADA has 20 YEARS of hands on technical experience that Btek has with the Skystream and other wind turbines, PERIOD.

No 30 + year electrician with special anything can help you if you have a broken Skystream, other than Btek, PERIOD.

Btek has always worked with licensed electrical contractors for all our installations, it has never been an issue.

Btek has installed wind turbines and SOLAR for colleges and schools in Southern Ontario since 2007 and assists with the Skystream turbiines all over the USA and Canada with remote technical assistance.

All our installations are legal and conform to all ESA rules and regulations - we absolutely believe the ESA targeted us unfairly and WAY too harshly, and it speaks volumes about their organization.

It is our opinion that this should have been a nothing burger, a “slap on the wrist”, yet this was blown out of proportion by the ESA INTENTIONALLY, as they did not want the “DIY couple” to appear as incompetent home owners and clearly did not want then to be held accountable or liable for their actions as adults should be.

Btek no longer assists in ANY DIY installations in the Province of Ontario.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, as we must eliminate any possible liability this may pose to our business and operations.

Btek will ALWAYS continue to provide solar/wind service with fully contracted and licensed electricians.

We humbly believe the ESA misused their media resources to attempt to try to “cancel” Btek from “solar” spaces, which in an abuse of power.

Thankfully Btek is becoming an OG in the Renewable Energy World.

The RE world is a small group of individuals who work in the RE space, and Btek has been a part of that now for nearly 20 years.

The esa regulates ELECTRICIANS - we are not electricians.

In our opinion, the ESA’s attempt to tarnish our solar reputation only sheds light on how abusive an organization the ESA is if you attempt to assert yourself in anyway.

Property Owners in Ontario CAN install their own solar legally - If you think you’re capable - do it.

Btek did it.

This 10kw Solar Tracker was installed by Alexander Bonello the owner of Btek RE Products in 2012.

This system was installed legally, safely and WITHOUT an electrician saving THOUSANDS on the installation as one would expect.

Location: Btek’s Headquarters North of Toronto, Ontario.

Property Owners in the Province of Ontario CAN legally install their own solar provided they follow the rules as required.

Btek obtained all required permits and obtained the inspections from the ESA for their flagship installation.

DIY Installations are NOT for everyone.

Most homeowners hire an installer that staffs or subcontracts a licensed electrician to perform all required work as per ESA requirements.

Btek will only be involved with installations that have approved licensed electrical contractors and will not assist DIY’ers working without one.

On THIS Rock that the Builders rejected, was Btek built on; and on its foundations - it will stay evermore.

We will continue to ENCOURAGE others to be self reliant despite our disappointment with the ESA.

Do not give up - IF these GUYS HERE can do it - you can do it too!

Btek’s NEW Online Store will have everything you need to install your own system at the best prices available!

Finish what you start - stay with it, and you can be successful as Btek and many others have been.