I am researching adding solar and battery storage to my home.
Question: If I simply want to utilize only my own self-generated power, yet still be connected to the grid (basically, as a rarely-used "backup") will Tesla Solar install a system that is still connected to grid, but only to consume from it (when needed) and never send power back... allowing me to avoid an NEM contract (and its limitations). Everything on the Tesla Solar website only talks about NEM. Also, at the PG&E website, it never mentions not switching to NEM when adding solar.
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More backstory...
I live on the central California coast, firmly in PG&E territory, with a mild climate and an average of 5+ hours of sunshine per day. Ideally, I would like to power my home completely from solar, and be able to power-through (pun intended) outages in comfort and without compromise.
That is, I want to power everything.... all appliances, HVAC, and EV charging, from solar and battery.
Currently, my water heater, furnace, stove, and fireplace are all gas-powered. I plan to switch the water heater and furnace to heat-pump-based units in the future, and perhaps also move from a gas stove to electric. (So, maybe someday it will be only the fireplace that uses any gas.)
I am still trying to figure out how much electricity a heat-pump furance will consume, but my current estimate for the worst-case (winter) energy needs to power the entire house in the future (with everything electric, as mentioned) is something like 90 kWh per day. I the summer, it might be more like half that (where I live, in summer, there is not much need for air conditioning).
Anyway, this plan puts me way past 150% of my current historic energy usage, and beyond what is allowed by NEM 3.0 (with attestation of planned future use). This is also pushing me into the realm of Tesla's largest residential offerings, as it would require (according to my calculations) an approximately 20 kW solar array made up of 50-60 panels (I believe Tesla's maximum is 60 panels).
As far as I know, California places no limits on the size solar system one can install, but PG&E does if you want to interconnect under a NEM contract and send power back to the grid.
So, again, can you just opt-out of NEM? -- and will Telsa install a one-way grid-connected system that does not require or use net-metering?
Question: If I simply want to utilize only my own self-generated power, yet still be connected to the grid (basically, as a rarely-used "backup") will Tesla Solar install a system that is still connected to grid, but only to consume from it (when needed) and never send power back... allowing me to avoid an NEM contract (and its limitations). Everything on the Tesla Solar website only talks about NEM. Also, at the PG&E website, it never mentions not switching to NEM when adding solar.
------
More backstory...
I live on the central California coast, firmly in PG&E territory, with a mild climate and an average of 5+ hours of sunshine per day. Ideally, I would like to power my home completely from solar, and be able to power-through (pun intended) outages in comfort and without compromise.
That is, I want to power everything.... all appliances, HVAC, and EV charging, from solar and battery.
Currently, my water heater, furnace, stove, and fireplace are all gas-powered. I plan to switch the water heater and furnace to heat-pump-based units in the future, and perhaps also move from a gas stove to electric. (So, maybe someday it will be only the fireplace that uses any gas.)
I am still trying to figure out how much electricity a heat-pump furance will consume, but my current estimate for the worst-case (winter) energy needs to power the entire house in the future (with everything electric, as mentioned) is something like 90 kWh per day. I the summer, it might be more like half that (where I live, in summer, there is not much need for air conditioning).
Anyway, this plan puts me way past 150% of my current historic energy usage, and beyond what is allowed by NEM 3.0 (with attestation of planned future use). This is also pushing me into the realm of Tesla's largest residential offerings, as it would require (according to my calculations) an approximately 20 kW solar array made up of 50-60 panels (I believe Tesla's maximum is 60 panels).
As far as I know, California places no limits on the size solar system one can install, but PG&E does if you want to interconnect under a NEM contract and send power back to the grid.
So, again, can you just opt-out of NEM? -- and will Telsa install a one-way grid-connected system that does not require or use net-metering?
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