Tesla inconsistency and timelines for PTO...

[valleydude]

Tesla totally screwed up my PowerWall installation, in that, they did not backup the most essential loads in the house.
But, the PowerWall is operational. It is charging from the Solar and it is powering up whatever loads it was wired to backup (which is like 5% of the total loads in the house).
I got conflicting info about PowerWall not being fully functional before PTO. My installer told me that it is fully operational and showed how to use the App, even though the installation has not yet been inspected by the city and we have not received PTO from PG&E. But, during one of my several calls to the Tesla customer service, I was told by a rep that the behavior I'm seeing is because my PowerWall installation did not receive a PTO yet!

 

[brian.c]

I was curious as to what the normal steps are with filling out an interconnection agreement? Is this something that should be submitted to PG&E before installation? I see see people saying that it was done at the beginning of the process, then approved, or denied at that point. I am over a month past install, still have not seen any interconnection documentation, still no PTO. Is it normal to not sign an interconnection agreement before install?

 

[aesculus]

Is it normal to not sign an interconnection agreement before install?

My first PTO application was signed 10/19/20. After looking at it again I saw the first mistake. The numbers were way off. They had to correct this after I spotted it later. PG&E needed this prior to install to review I believe, which makes the whole process suspect as it should sort of be approved.

My install and inspection was done by 12/21/2020. I signed the updated interconnection application 1/22/21. That would have been OK by me but it was fraught with other issues I was not privy too and the final PTO was not completed until 4/16/21.

 

[h2ofun]

My first PTO application was signed 10/19/20. After looking at it again I saw the first mistake. The numbers were way off. They had to correct this after I spotted it later. PG&E needed this prior to install to review I believe, which makes the whole process suspect as it should sort of be approved.

My install and inspection was done by 12/21/2020. I signed the updated interconnection application 1/22/21. That would have been OK by me but it was fraught with other issues I was not privy too and the final PTO was not completed until 4/16/21.

From what I have seen, PGE does not need to approve first. They did not on my first 15K of panels, and looks like the second 15K they will not have either, which is a big concern to me. But, shall see, I trust the installer knows what they are doing and does not want to have to remove them.

 

[brian.c]

From what I have seen, PGE does not need to approve first. They did not on my first 15K of panels, and looks like the second 15K they will not have either, which is a big concern to me. But, shall see, I trust the installer knows what they are doing and does not want to have to remove them.

I just spoke with PG&E, and they did say that it is not submitted until after the project is completed. As of today they said nothing has been submitted, they did say I could submit the docs myself if Tesla is unresponsive. Then spoke with Tesla, asked about getting the docs so I could submit myself, I was told they would only submit and I could not do it. Timeline is still 90 days, and they are aware of the lag and trying to hire/train more people.

 

[h2ofun]

I just spoke with PG&E, and they did say that it is not submitted until after the project is completed. As of today they said nothing has been submitted, they did say I could submit the docs myself if Tesla is unresponsive. Then spoke with Tesla, asked about getting the docs so I could submit myself, I was told they would only submit and I could not do it. Timeline is still 90 days, and they are aware of the lag and trying to hire/train more people.

wow, even though my solar is costing more than using tesla, I can talk to folks any day, and the timeline of things is SO SO much faster than it seems most Tesla customers are posting on this site.

 

[holeydonut]

If it makes anyone feel any better... there's been some activity lately on the CPUC proceeding regarding NEM 3.0 and the possible new interconnection portal.

Just about everyone except the IOUs (aka monopoly folks) want more transparency and input to the interconnection portal; and they want the IOU's to be less free to request odd bits of data that could invalidate a PTO. But if it takes 2 months just for people to agree who is on the 'watch list' of a PTO application, just imagine how many months it'll take to actually get the meaty NEM 3.0 details ironed out.

 

[tconvert]

Well Monday will be the two weeks post their message/promise to finally get the interconnection agreement submitted within 2 weeks. Nothing has been submitted yet. They have two more business days before this also falls through.

 

[holeydonut]

Well Monday will be the two weeks post their message/promise to finally get the interconnection agreement submitted within 2 weeks. Nothing has been submitted yet. They have two more business days before this also falls through.

Yeah, just remember aim your frustration at Elon, and not the poor folks on the other end of the phone in the call centers. Tesla has some grand vision were trying to "automate" the entire solar process and remove humans. But the problem as you'd expect is they got rid of many of the humans before their magical automation was ready for prime time.

Tesla is super under-staffed. Assuming it takes an hour to complete the PG&E PTO form (it's such a huge pain; especially if you have batteries), I can see why their backlog on PTO is many weeks. There's probably one or two unfortunate humans left to do an entire major metro area's interconnection submissions.

 

[DJVoorhees]

Best of luck to you all. I'm going on 5 months since I ordered my system, 2+ months since it's been installed and PSEG has given Tesla PTO as confirmed by me calling PSEG.

I'm already paying on the loan and I cant get anyone from Tesla to pick up the phone or return an email. My advisor stopped responding to me a few months ago telling me he got a new position at Tesla and I don't have another advisor. I email the generic email and they answer days later telling me to contact my advisor which I tell them in the mail that I dont have anymore, so they clearly dont even read the emails.

I've turned my system on myself after talking to PSEG and it does nothing, so I guess Tesla has to activate something on their end.

 

[brian.c]

Well Monday will be the two weeks post their message/promise to finally get the interconnection agreement submitted within 2 weeks. Nothing has been submitted yet. They have two more business days before this also falls through.

I received my interconnection agreement to sign, just over a month after install. Apparently this is to just get the ball rolling, and not to submit for PTO, yet. I have not seen anything since signing.

 

[aesculus]

I got a very nice voice mail from a Tesla employee plus a text message telling me that I could turn on my solar roof. My PTO was approved 4/26 finally so more than six weeks after the PTO was issued. She had done some auditing and noticed that they had not notified me or updated my Tesla account.

So it was nice to know at least someone was awake at Tesla and had a responsibility and/or a desire to follow through, late as it was.

 

[DJVoorhees]

I got a very nice voice mail from a Tesla employee plus a text message telling me that I could turn on my solar roof. My PTO was approved 4/26 finally so more than six weeks after the PTO was issued. She had done some auditing and noticed that they had not notified me or updated my Tesla account.

So it was nice to know at least someone was awake at Tesla and had a responsibility and/or a desire to follow through, late as it was.

WOW!!!! Thats crazy.

 

[brian.c]

Update, today my interconnection agreement was sent to PG&E. Hopefully no issues and we can get approval in a timely manner.

 

[tconvert]

I also received my interconnection agreement to sign last Friday at the very end of the two weeks they said they would do it in (they did but I had to send an email asking if it was going to done...all that matters though is they did get the agreement together). It has not been submitted to PGE yet but been only 1 business day since I approved it on the tesla site. @brian.c How do you know they sent to PGE; did you get the email from PGE saying they received it? Maybe today then I will get it too being 1 business day later like yours. TY for update/sharing.

 

[brian.c]

I also received my interconnection agreement to sign last Friday at the very end of the two weeks they said they would do it in (they did but I had to send an email asking if it was going to done...all that matters though is they did get the agreement together). It has not been submitted to PGE yet but been only 1 business day since I approved it on the tesla site. @brian.c How do you know they sent to PGE; did you get the email from PGE saying they received it? Maybe today then I will get it too being 1 business day later like yours. TY for update/sharing.

I received a confirmation email from PG&E a couple days after signing. As of today no additional updates or PTO. I received the email on 6/11, agreement was signed 6/9.

 

[Sunil D]

Last week i called Tesla and started to give vent but the specialist was a real thing. He said he too can submit to PGE and started filling in the data while on the phone with me. Sure enough as soon as he filed, i got a confirmation email from PGE to sign the document. He said there is a second form that needs to be filed that the account team can only file. Researching it later found that the first application is 79-1151A-02 which got approved. The second one 79-1151B-02 is still pending but Tesla is still quoting that stupid 90 possible timeline for PTO submission. Let me call them up again and see if i can file myself.

 

[brian.c]

Last week i called Tesla and started to give vent but the specialist was a real thing. He said he too can submit to PGE and started filling in the data while on the phone with me. Sure enough as soon as he filed, i got a confirmation email from PGE to sign the document. He said there is a second form that needs to be filed that the account team can only file. Researching it later found that the first application is 79-1151A-02 which got approved. The second one 79-1151B-02 is still pending but Tesla is still quoting that stupid 90 possible timeline for PTO submission. Let me call them up again and see if i can file myself.

Did you try calling PG&E to check status. I called today, the PG&E representative said they had the application, and it would take them up to 30 days to respond. The only document I have seen so far is the 79-1151A-02, which I e-signed through Tesla. If you have not already, I would try talking with PG&E at this point. Tesla is just about worthless to get anything out of them. The PG&E rep explained the process at this point, and was very helpful. He said most applications are approved in 7-12 days, but said could be up to a month if there are any issues. I am hopeful at this point I have another 1-2 weeks before PTO.

 

[Sunil D]

Did you try calling PG&E to check status. I called today, the PG&E representative said they had the application, and it would take them up to 30 days to respond. The only document I have seen so far is the 79-1151A-02, which I e-signed through Tesla. If you have not already, I would try talking with PG&E at this point. Tesla is just about worthless to get anything out of them. The PG&E rep explained the process at this point, and was very helpful. He said most applications are approved in 7-12 days, but said could be up to a month if there are any issues. I am hopeful at this point I have another 1-2 weeks before PTO.

My 79-1151A-02 was e-signed by me on 06/08. I called up Tesla and asked when 79-1151B-02 will be submitted. Naturally, got the official line about 7-90 days. Gave a piece of my mind to the specialist and asked for his supervisor to call me up. And lo and behold, an hour later got a text message from Tesla that all the documents have been submitted.

Just now called up PGE and they confirmed the same. Said would take max of 30 business days but could come earlier if everything is in order. (10 buisness days in review + 15 business days in field verification/approval).

Will follow up with PGE next week to make sure that there was no issue found in the paper work.

 

[Baloo11]

super frustrating process. I actually ordered mine back in 5/2020. Took them some back and forths to fix my order, and was fully signed 7/2020. For some reason they just dragged on and on and making one mistake after another and after a failed installation attempt, finally got it installed on 4/20/2021 and inspected 4/30/2021. Now after twice weekly calls about my PTO, still waiting for them to submit it. I have Edison in my area who told me its only about 5 days for them to approve the PTO.