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One of the most recognizable companies in the country, Tesla operates in the solar panel installation market. With service in all 50 states and Washington D.C., Tesla offers both traditional solar panels and cutting-edge solar roofs. Tesla also has affordable solar options and will price-match competitors. However, the company''s customer service options may seem substandard compared to other solar panel installers.
Tesla is known for producing sleek designs, even when it comes to the solar panel and solar roof offerings from the company. Tesla solar panels can be retrofit to any existing roof with low-profile, efficient panels. The Tesla solar roofs look even more advanced. However, the company has not had the most successful solar roof deployment.
Tesla''s solar panels are traditional photovoltaic panels installed on existing roofs. The one line of solar panels—S-series—have sleek appearances thanks to skirted edges that look more cohesive with existing roofs. Within each series, there are three output ratings and each model has its own efficiency rating. That said, all models hover around 20% efficiency.
Solar roofs are worth your consideration if you are building a home or installing a new roof. The solar roofing tiles can add value and energy efficiency to your home—albeit at a greater cost than traditional solar panels or traditional roofs. The company hasn''t shared efficiency data for the solar shingles, but most solar shingles on the market are less efficient than most traditional solar panels.
Solar roofs (or solar shingles) from Tesla were announced to fanfare several years ago but have since hit some roadblocks with production and design. As Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in 2021, the company "basically made some significant mistakes in assessing the difficulty of certain roofs."
Tesla''s solar division came into being after the company acquired SolarCity in 2016 and has since grown. Now, Tesla offers two lines of solar panels—the S Series and the H Series—which are both highly efficient and sleek. The company stands out from the competition by offering solar roofs, which are steel roofing tiles with integrated solar.
Tesla Solar makes the Forbes Homes'' list of Best Solar Panel Installation Companies. The company has a profile on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website with an A+ rating; however, Tesla Solar is not accredited by the BBB. Companies must pay for the accreditation process.
Understanding what you can expect from Tesla will help you make a better decision for your home. First, when it comes to actually paying for the system, Tesla offers a few options. Customers can choose to pay cash, finance their systems, enter into a power purchase agreement or lease their systems. Customers can usually find an affordable option to fit their needs.
Tesla also provides a free energy consultation to help customers decide if solar is even viable for them. They can also elect to have standard solar panels or solar roofing shingles–something only Tesla offers at this point. If the customer decides to move forward, Tesla will likely have one of their third-party subcontractors install the system.
Some of Tesla''s services are in-house, while others are allocated to third-party contractors. Customers need to understand this before they purchase, as they will likely have a subcontractor install and service their systems, not Tesla employees.
As for services and products, Tesla offers solar panels, solar shingles, battery storage systems, and a mobile app. The company doesn''t offer professional monitoring services, roof repair or any other major benefits. However, in-house financing options and energy consultations are available.
After the purchase is complete, most of the installation work is performed by third-party professionals. This includes the roof inspection, installation of solar panels, solar roofing shingle systems, storage systems and service.
Tesla offers three solar panel models, including the T420S, the T425S and the T430S. The panels names correspond with their wattage output. The T420S is 19.3% efficient, the T425S is 19.6% and the T430S is 19.8% efficient. These ratings aren''t remarkable, however, as most other companies have at least one available panel with over 20% efficiency.
It is worth noting that these systems are more stylish than most. They feature sleeker, lower-profile designs and skirts that help them blend more seamlessly into the roof surface . For some homeowners, the desire for better-looking panels might outweigh the need for added efficiency.
One of the biggest changes for Tesla in recent years is its expansion. In 2023, Tesla was available in 40 states plus D.C., with some of the more rural states left unserviced. Now, customers throughout the country can now shop for Tesla systems to power their homes.
Tesla offers a 10-year comprehensive warranty on solar products and a 25-year performance warranty. Because of that differentiation, it''s important to understand the limitations of the warranty before going ahead with the purchase.
System pricing varies significantly based on the location, the size of the system and the panels the homeowner chooses to have installed. Also, solar roof systems, which utilize solar shingles rather than panels, are considerably more expensive due to the cost of the materials and installation.
Note: The federal tax credit for solar systems is up to 26%. We used our calculations below to determine the cost of the roofing system and then assumed that the entire cost was eligible for the tax credit.
As with any solar equipment, the cost to install Tesla solar panels or a solar roof depends on factors such as your home size, energy needs and more. Tesla does price match other companies (on a price-per-watt basis) if you can provide a lower quote within 14 days of receiving a bid. The company is also known for offering competitively priced solar options, which CEO Elon Musk says is partly due to limited advertising and sales expenses.
Based on information provided to the Forbes Home team, it would cost $26,900 before tax incentives and credits to install Tesla solar panels on a two-story, 2,000-square-foot. home. These panels could be expected to generate 8.16 kW. In a comparable situation, it would cost $55,300 to install a solar roof that would generate 11.28 kW.
We also received a quote for a home in San Francisco. We were quoted $11,745 to have 100 square feet of solar panel system installed on the property''s roof. However, the quote doesn''t explain which solar panel would be used, so we can''t necessarily calculate the output.
Customers can expect to pay around $3.20 per watt based on the location and panel chosen. This is in the middle of the national average range of $2.40 to $3.60 per watt, making Tesla a competitively-priced option.
Thanks to Tesla''s flexible purchasing options, most homeowners can find a system that will fit their budget and needs. The company offers the following options:
Power purchase agreements allow customers to have solar panel systems installed on their properties for no money out of pocket. The customer agrees to pay for the electricity generated by the panel system, which is typically less expensive than a utility company. During the agreement, the solar company owns and maintains the system, taking advantage of tax credits. Once the agreement expires, the homeowner can choose to buy the system, extend the agreement or have it removed.
Leasing is a great option as well, as it''s typically low cost upfront and the homeowner simply pays for the system each month. The solar company owns and maintains the system, reducing the responsibility of the homeowner but also allowing the company to take advantage of tax credits.
There are separate processes to install solar panels versus solar roofs from Tesla, but with some similarities. Both cases start with a consultation, followed by a design proposal. Then Tesla manages getting the proper permits and approvals before installation. Installation for solar panels can take as little as one day. Not surprisingly, it''s a longer process—about five to seven days—for the more complicated installation of a solar roof.
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