About to jump

[Ampster]

It wonder if the quoted production may be on the optimistic side as I have a 19.5kw system and over the past 4 years the production has been in the 15,000 to 16,200 kWh range. But I do have some seasonal shading and we also get at least 3 months where the panels are usually covered in snow, so other areas most likely do a lot better.

That is easy enough to check using PV Watts.

[Truenorth]

It wonder if the quoted production may be on the optimistic side as I have a 19.5kw system and over the past 4 years the production has been in the 15,000 to 16,200 kWh range. But I do have some seasonal shading and we also get at least 3 months where the panels are usually covered in snow, so other areas most likely do a lot better.

Good luck on your new project!

[Cshama]

So I have been speaking to other solar providers today. The latest quote was $53,000 after incentives compared to $19k from Tesla for basically the same output. That was from sunpower.

2 local outfits are going to give me pricing very soon.

I also reached out to my tesla project adviser today. He seemed very cool and actually advised me not to get the powerwall as it would delay the project and I really didn't need it. He also asked for a small redesign that I wanted.

So far I am very impressed by tesla. The whole process has been very easy and competent. Maybe the horror starts later

But right now I am moving forward with them. I would consider a 30% difference in pricing but 150% is crazy.

[SunEagle]

It was specific to my location so I don't know if you would find comparable pricing for your location. I already have solar on this house so the exercise was just to give a data point to answer the question that @Solarix posed. I do plan on acquiring a new home in the next six months and will look at this option.
The last system I purchased three years ago was $3.50 a Watt but did include a new service panel. Now that I have been in the area for a few years I have a resource to accomplish that at probably less than Tesla would charge but the capacity of the existing service panel and busbars is the first issue that would need to be underwritten. I spend enough time on other forums to know how to work the Tesla system so I could deal with that, but any other reader would have to factor that into their decision matrix. Then there is the risk of an inverter going bad and losing production while Tesla takes their
time replacing it but for $0.10 a Watt I could buy a spare inverter and swap it out myself if that was an issue. That could be an issue for other readers because there are clear issues of lack of responsiveness on the back end of some installs.
I am not sure I could do it myself for that price and at my age working on roofs is off my list so I would definitely consider this hypothetical if I had the need and the space.
I would look at the contract and hold back some funds until the PTO was received. I have had over forty years dealing with contractors so I may be willing to underwrite risks that others may not be comfortable with. It all depends on where you are standing.
Can you think of any more gotcha's?

No it sounds like there are no strings attached. I hope they are being truthful with their price. Last time I checked in my area the cost was more than $3/watt, mostly because it included micro inverter. I will be looking again this year to see if the price has come down but with my low cost per kWh and my typical yearly usage even with full Net metering I calculate way over 10 year payback.

[Ampster]

I just got the finalized quote from Tesla.

20458kwh produced from an 18.36kw system.

Gross price $33,128

Net price $19588

That is $1.81 per Watt. Did that come off the website or after a conversation or site visit?
The production number looks conservative but I don't know your site specifics.

[Cshama]

I just got the finalized quote from Tesla.

20458kwh produced from an 18.36kw system.

Gross price $33,128

Net price $19588

[Ampster]

Seems low to me. Is there any "gotcha's" once you sign with them?

It was specific to my location so I don't know if you would find comparable pricing for your location. I already have solar on this house so the exercise was just to give a data point to answer the question that @Solarix posed. I do plan on acquiring a new home in the next six months and will look at this option.
The last system I purchased three years ago was $3.50 a Watt but did include a new service panel. Now that I have been in the area for a few years I have a resource to accomplish that at probably less than Tesla would charge but the capacity of the existing service panel and busbars is the first issue that would need to be underwritten. I spend enough time on other forums to know how to work the Tesla system so I could deal with that, but any other reader would have to factor that into their decision matrix. Then there is the risk of an inverter going bad and losing production while Tesla takes their
time replacing it but for $0.10 a Watt I could buy a spare inverter and swap it out myself if that was an issue. That could be an issue for other readers because there are clear issues of lack of responsiveness on the back end of some installs.
I am not sure I could do it myself for that price and at my age working on roofs is off my list so I would definitely consider this hypothetical if I had the need and the space.
I would look at the contract and hold back some funds until the PTO was received. I have had over forty years dealing with contractors so I may be willing to underwrite risks that others may not be comfortable with. It all depends on where you are standing.
Can you think of any more gotcha's?

[SunEagle]

I just got a similar quote, from their website by typing in my address. It is one of their cookie cutter systems. To be clear, the total price is $32,800 for a 16.32 kW system. Any way you look at it, it is $2.0098039 per Watt.

Seems low to me. Is there any "gotcha's" once you sign with them?

[Ampster]

........ I can't believe for $22k after credits, they are going to give you more than a 12kW system.

I just got a similar quote, from their website by typing in my address. It is one of their cookie cutter systems. To be clear, the total price is $32,800 for a 16.32 kW system. Any way you look at it, it is $2.0098039 per Watt.

[J.P.M.]

At what point does this become an issue with the power company? Whether its 12kw or 18kw, may need some power company approval.

Locally, with APS, I believe 10 kw is a rather easy approval, 15 kw needs studies, and bigger, not sure. At some point, especially as more people get solar, those transformers that have been out there for a couple of decades can’t handle the power from houses being pushed back into them. In rare cases, the power company won’t say no, but could require a new transformer to be put in, and at whose cost, each company is different.

For me, as I teeter totter on getting solar for my house, I am starting to lean towards earlier than later.

The issue here isn't regulatory - that'll be needed regardless of system size - it's about which vendors to get quotes from.

While glitches can and do arise, the grid, the NYS Power Authority and the POCOs in NY are mostly capable of handling changes imposed by distributed generation. For one thing, there isn't the same type of expansion issues that seem to make grids more frail in states with burgeoning populations. Having grown up and lived in NYS and moved to CA yrs. ago, I was surprised at how flimsy the grid is and how mickey mouse the POCOS are out west, particularly w/respect to infrastructure.

[chrisski]

At what point does this become an issue with the power company? Whether its 12kw or 18kw, may need some power company approval.

Locally, with APS, I believe 10 kw is a rather easy approval, 15 kw needs studies, and bigger, not sure. At some point, especially as more people get solar, those transformers that have been out there for a couple of decades can’t handle the power from houses being pushed back into them. In rare cases, the power company won’t say no, but could require a new transformer to be put in, and at whose cost, each company is different.

For me, as I teeter totter on getting solar for my house, I am starting to lean towards earlier than later.

[solarix]

Based on the OP's confusion between kW and kWh, (don't feel bad - everybody except us solar nurds get that confused) you need to nail down what exactly Tesla is trying to sell you. I can't believe for $22k after credits, they are going to give you more than a 12kW system.

[J.P.M.]

Yes I somewhat agree. It really is a complex subject. The low price that Tesla is offering really is the main driver. Essentially $22k after rebates for a 18.5kwh system. That plus the Tesla strength behind the warranty. The negative is the seeming lack of customer service.

I contacted a local New York company Solar Liberty and they will give me a quote on Friday. But with Tesla, assuming their numbers are real, I would be getting a payback in around 4 years. Quite enticing

That would be an 18.5 kW (18 kilowatt) system, not an 18.5 kwh (sic) (18 kilowatt-hour) system. Your need of education is showing.

One way to begin clearing the complexity you write of is to consider downloading a free (but somewhat dated) pdf copy of "Solar Power Your Home for Dummies", or, get a revised hardcopy at bookstores or Amazon for ~ $25 before you deal with any vendors.

I'd also note that all qualified equipment installed by licensed vendors to proper codes is eligible for the same incentives. Buying based on low initial price is the errand of a fool.

Also, from what I've seen, based on their business ethics and ability, I'd put less faith in Tesla's product warranty performance than that of other vendors. If you're referring to a production warranty, they're all jokes and pretty much useless except as marketing tools to dupe the solar ignorant. Don't believe me ? Read one carefully.

[sabersix]

My average electric bill is $420/month.

Have you looked at how to reduce your bill? Taking steps to reduce your bill will be much more cost effective than a solar system.

[Cshama]

Yes I somewhat agree. It really is a complex subject. The low price that Tesla is offering really is the main driver. Essentially $22k after rebates for a 18.5kwh system. That plus the Tesla strength behind the warranty. The negative is the seeming lack of customer service.

I contacted a local New York company Solar Liberty and they will give me a quote on Friday. But with Tesla, assuming their numbers are real, I would be getting a payback in around 4 years. Quite enticing