I signed up for Tesla Solar at the end of January just before the referral credit expired. I've been through multiple visits, designs, and entire teams at Tesla since. Signed off three times. Halfway through august, and they still haven't applied for permits!
I want solar this year both for the tax credits and incentives. At what point do I give up with Tesla and contact someone local?
Does anyone have any good contacts at Tesla energy that can help move things along?
Here's a timeline...
Jan 20ish Signed up for Solar through my referral code
Jan 26 first visit by Tesla Sales to start project and make estimates, upload documents Tesla contact is Juan
Feb 23 first assessment by inspector, thumbs up
Feb 28 first design, 9.75kW system, but missing panel upgrade and not 208V Tesla contact is now Jamie
it's sent back to engineering for the panel upgrade, they come back invalidating the whole roof due to photos, ignoring inspection notes, so we schedule another...
Mar 16 second inspection, inspector runs more tests and approves
Mar 20 second design, now 5.5kW on different roof, still no panel upgrade and not 208v. New contact is Robert
Mar 21 call to discuss, they submit back to engineering.
Then I wait and wait, no response from any Tesla contact
Apr 19 I call Tesla customer service and explain I haven't heard from anyone
Apr 20 New contact Juan I get to explain everything to and promises to get on top of everything asap
Apr 24 Another design, 5.2kW, Panel upgrade at $9k cost, 208v inverters
Apr 28 discussion with Juan, promises to look into roof and upgrade costs
Apr 1 panel cost reductions with new quotes "escalated to manager"
May 9 Juan asks me to send pictures of electrical (the TWO inspections weren't good enough?), I expose and measure incoming service conductors in hopes to knock off service upgrade and trenching costs
May 10 "Good news we have determined that trenching is not needed" Panel upgrade now $3500
May 20 while reviewing documents to sign, find panel is only 8 breakers/same as existing size/panel upgrade missing...how are we back to this?? Sent back to engineering for review
May 23 I get assurances that the panel will be upsized
May 24 I sign all documents and loan apps
May 31 New contact Cody emails for blank check and says electric company needs to make an inspection
Jun 14 Cody now says electric company insists on trenching and service upgrade and we are back to $9000 up front but has no documents, going back to request them
June 26 Cody responds that trenching is not negotiable and things panel upgrade is only because of my request, not because laws of physics prevent 20 breakers from fitting in a 8 breaker panel...
July 5 I speak to Cody on phone for the first time and explain the WHOLE DEBACLE to him and he finally seems to understand. Again start attempts to increase solar install size, and finally increase panel to 200A/20 position.
July 24 another new design, 5.2kW with 200A panel, Cody says I need to sign before the 26th or credit will expire and need to be re-pulled
July 25 I sign all documents again
July 30 I receive $4k invoice for out of pocket, but Cody instructs not to pay as he is working to reduce it
July 31 I receive Load Approved email, immediately followed by Loan Cancelled email! Never got an answer why...
Aug 2 Cody says they are still running alternatives. Then I hear nothing
Aug 12 finally hear back from Cody. Still waiting for quotes. He confirms they can't apply for solar permits till all the service upgrades and panel installs are complete...and we are still waiting on quotes for those!
...
I want solar this year both for the tax credits and incentives. At what point do I give up with Tesla and contact someone local?
Does anyone have any good contacts at Tesla energy that can help move things along?
Here's a timeline...
Jan 20ish Signed up for Solar through my referral code
Jan 26 first visit by Tesla Sales to start project and make estimates, upload documents Tesla contact is Juan
Feb 23 first assessment by inspector, thumbs up
Feb 28 first design, 9.75kW system, but missing panel upgrade and not 208V Tesla contact is now Jamie
it's sent back to engineering for the panel upgrade, they come back invalidating the whole roof due to photos, ignoring inspection notes, so we schedule another...
Mar 16 second inspection, inspector runs more tests and approves
Mar 20 second design, now 5.5kW on different roof, still no panel upgrade and not 208v. New contact is Robert
Mar 21 call to discuss, they submit back to engineering.
Then I wait and wait, no response from any Tesla contact
Apr 19 I call Tesla customer service and explain I haven't heard from anyone
Apr 20 New contact Juan I get to explain everything to and promises to get on top of everything asap
Apr 24 Another design, 5.2kW, Panel upgrade at $9k cost, 208v inverters
Apr 28 discussion with Juan, promises to look into roof and upgrade costs
Apr 1 panel cost reductions with new quotes "escalated to manager"
May 9 Juan asks me to send pictures of electrical (the TWO inspections weren't good enough?), I expose and measure incoming service conductors in hopes to knock off service upgrade and trenching costs
May 10 "Good news we have determined that trenching is not needed" Panel upgrade now $3500
May 20 while reviewing documents to sign, find panel is only 8 breakers/same as existing size/panel upgrade missing...how are we back to this?? Sent back to engineering for review
May 23 I get assurances that the panel will be upsized
May 24 I sign all documents and loan apps
May 31 New contact Cody emails for blank check and says electric company needs to make an inspection
Jun 14 Cody now says electric company insists on trenching and service upgrade and we are back to $9000 up front but has no documents, going back to request them
June 26 Cody responds that trenching is not negotiable and things panel upgrade is only because of my request, not because laws of physics prevent 20 breakers from fitting in a 8 breaker panel...
July 5 I speak to Cody on phone for the first time and explain the WHOLE DEBACLE to him and he finally seems to understand. Again start attempts to increase solar install size, and finally increase panel to 200A/20 position.
July 24 another new design, 5.2kW with 200A panel, Cody says I need to sign before the 26th or credit will expire and need to be re-pulled
July 25 I sign all documents again
July 30 I receive $4k invoice for out of pocket, but Cody instructs not to pay as he is working to reduce it
July 31 I receive Load Approved email, immediately followed by Loan Cancelled email! Never got an answer why...
Aug 2 Cody says they are still running alternatives. Then I hear nothing
Aug 12 finally hear back from Cody. Still waiting for quotes. He confirms they can't apply for solar permits till all the service upgrades and panel installs are complete...and we are still waiting on quotes for those!
...