I decided to go with Tesla for a couple of reasons. 1, they were the lowest priced. 2, they handle all aspects of the system themselves. From manufacturing or sourcing equipment, to installation, to financing. Seemed like a good idea. Everything up to and including the initial installation was flawless, except for the email + call + text (yes, all 3) every day for the 14 days leading up to the install date. After install is when the real problems started.
Prior to the City inspection, Tesla sent a tech to make sure everything was ready. He identified a couple of issues that could cause the inspection to fail. Tesla didn’t act upon this recommendation, and sure enough the inspection failed. Tesla came out to correct the issues, did so poorly, and the second inspection also failed. The system did pass on the third try. Wouldn’t be so bad, except I work from home. Every time Tesla had to come out, they turn my power off for however long. What they don’t tell you is someone needs to be home while the tech is there if any equipment is in the garage. So can’t work, and can’t go somewhere else to work.
System passed inspection 6/2. Tesla website says 1-6 weeks to complete the permission to operate application and have the new meter installed by your power company, unless delayed by the power company for some reason. In mid-June I received an email from my power company saying they were ready to proceed, waiting on the application from Tesla. I forwarded this to Tesla. Their reply is ‘we have 90 days to complete this application’. I called my power company and asked if this is true. The rep I spoke to said the remainder of the application is less than 100 keystrokes, but must be completed by Tesla, since they opened the application. *All attempts to get Tesla to tell me why it takes 90 days to complete the application have been met with ‘we have 90 days’ – nothing further.
Suddenly one day, my system stops working. The time was 12:00:00. Way too precise to be a coincidence in my book. I did the self-troubleshoot, to no avail. I turned the entire system off for a day to see if maybe it just got hot and needed to reset. No change. I called customer service, waited on hold, found out I don’t want customer service – I want Powerwall customer service. Called them. Went through the same troubleshoot process. Rep told me the system wasn’t communicating properly, and went into standby as an automatic safety precaution. We opened a service ticket, and she told me 7-14 calendar days for a service appointment. This was 7/15. No further communication from Tesla.
I started calling on 8/3 to ask about the missed 14-day threshold I was given. I was then told I would have to wait 20 business days (from 2 weeks to 4 weeks). When I asked why, I was told a tech would need to ping my system to see if they could reset it from the office (which is exactly what we did on 7/15). After 2 more days and 3 more calls / texts / chats, Tesla finally agreed to give me a service appointment. BUT- I would need to use the Tesla app to schedule it. My Tesla app doesn’t have the option to schedule service, so I had to call again. The rep sent a message to the scheduling dept, and I got a call within a couple of hours. My date is 8/25. Another 3 weeks. Again, no explanation why it takes so long.
I was told at one point that since I don’t have permission to operate, I was not a priority. I reminded them that this is because Tesla refuses to complete the application, not because of something I did or failed to do. It also isn’t because of the power company, who is sending me emails saying they are ready to go. No one I talk to is any help. I can’t get to a manager. I get random texts from Tesla that also don’t help. They did say they would move me up in the schedule if someone cancels. At 3 weeks for an appt, who’s going to cancel? At this point, my opinion is the appt for 8/25 should be for system removal, not service.