Tesla or Tesla Energy is online company with no local footprint in Phoenix AZ. Here is my experience with them:
1. Based on the quote on Tesla site/chat, I paid 100$ and registered solar panels with 2 Powerwall+ for my recently built house in Mesa AZ (SRP Utility area).
2. After waiting more than 3 weeks, with no communication from Tesla, I contacted customer service number in their Tesla Website. For the first two days, no customer service for my zip code area, as soon as I select the option for solar and my zip code, the message will "no support available now, call back later. Third days trying, got hold of customer service representative. My online order was struck up somewhere in their Tesla IT technology black hole, and immediately I got email about to check my Tesla site account to update details. (I had seen similar stories in online reviews about Tesla solar). That's the 1st taste of Tesla solar energy business of practice, no real people looking at the sales request or any real follow-up.
3. Immediately updated details about my house, pictures, HOA forms. 3 weeks no communication. Then design confirmation or acceptance email came. Immediately accepted them.
4. After 3 weeks, Someone from Tesla Energy in Las Vegas initiated Utility interconnection agreement for my solar installation with my electric provider SRP. This is an online tool provided by SRP to streamline these requests, and all requests will be taken care within 10 business days. I got email & SMS from Tesla, to sign the online document in SRP site. I had immediately done that.
5. After 3 days, SRP sent back the application (to Tesla), asking for corrections in application.
6. Next 3 weeks, no actions or messages from Tesla. 4th week, Tesla again updated the application sent back to SRP. Got confirmation from SRP online tool about the submission. No communication from Tesla, about correction. Again, on the second day SRP send the application back to Tesla for correction.
7. Next 4 weeks, no actions or message from Tesla about this interconnection agreement application with SRP. Multiple messages to Tesla customer service in Tesla website for a week; no replies. After two days of trying, reached Tesla customer service, she didn't have anything to help, other than asking me to check my Tesla online account for updates, and she will record my issues from her side, so that it's reviewed by the project manager. They will email me. No project manager name or contact details provided to me.
8. No emails, no calls from Tesla. For the first time, I went through online reviews of Tesla Solar customers, during pre-installation process, installation process, Utility & Local authority safety clearance process, start of service process, and mainly months of waiting for customers with system down to even get an appointment. Especially the installation is done, by contractors & no real quality control from Tesla. Only quality control is done by the Utility about the system connecting to their utility network, and the local approvers about any fire issues with installations. Also came across the Tesla Solar panel fire issues Walmart/Amazon/Customer from Colorado & Tesla actual bad ethical behavior or response to that is nice learning for me.
9. With regards to Tesla, no local footprint in Phoenix AZ, non-acceptable level customer service for current customers, no proper timely care for system issues to generation issues. So, any one from Phoenix AZ area who go solar with Tesla, and have issues with their system, will be using more power from utility and paying huge recurring penalties for that, until Tesla fixes that. You will be at the mercy of Tesla's unethical customer service. Why I need to pay hard earned money & be at the mercy of Tesla for any issues with my system power generation.
10. 5 weeks after SRP requested for correction in interconnection agreement. Tesla person from Las Vegas filed fresh new interconnection application for my house to SRP utility online site. I didn't get any SMS or email from Tesla this time, I only get email from SRP utility to sign the application in their site. I promptly rejected interconnection application in SRP site, and also canceled my order with Tesla aka Tesla Energy.
I don't want to play with my Utility service & increase fire hazard risks to roof or its quality. Thanks a lot for Tesla for teaching me of all the issues in going solar, and especially with Tesla Energy.
Going Green or Save money in Energy bills is still for future, until we have strong regulations of solar installations & minimum customer service expectations. That's the reality in Phoenix AZ.
Stay away from Tesla Energy. Their practices are a scam in real business sense. read more