Tesla Electric

[+SpiceWare]

Hard to believe it's been 5 years since installing solar panels.  My net-metering plan was on a 5 year contract, so it was time to renew or pick a new electric provider.

 

I checked around and the rates have gone up quite a bit.  Decided to go with Tesla Electric, which is a TOU (time of use) plan:

• $0.124^* / kWh during peek usage, which is 4pm - 7pm.
• $0.077^* / kWh all other times

 

^* add another $0.055 for grid and delivery fees for $0.179 and $0.132 respectively. These prices are what appear in the app:

 

  

 

 

The rates were lower than other options, but instead of net-metering any excess solar production is bought at the 90% of market price, which varies every 15 minutes based on demand. This also shows up in the app:

 

 

 

This time of year demand isn't very high, as temperature's nice outside so AC usage is low, so the market price is low. It even goes negative on occasion, though it looks like I'm not charged for them to take it:

 

 

I did see some instances of higher rates, such as getting paid almost $0.30 per kWh for a brief period on the 18th.

 

 

If the selling price goes above $0.30 then energy stored in the Powerwall will be sent to the grid. I have that set to only use the upper 70% of my Powerwall for that.

 

  

 

 

Bill for first 11 days, note that it lists $0.124 and $0.077 for Tesla's rates, with the grid charges broken out further down:

 

 

Not great compared to my net-metering plan due to how low market prices currently are for my excess solar. I'll be evaluating how this turns out over the summer when increased electric usage raises market prices.  If it works out well I'll keep this plan, if not it's a month-to-month plan so I can easily switch to another without any penalty.

[+SpiceWare]

Hmm, looks like both rates went down by 1.6¢ per kWh

 

  

 

 

[+SpiceWare]

Have noticed a change in behavior for the PowerWall - it's 1:30pm and a thunderstorm just started, so there's no solar production.  In the past I would now be drawing from the PowerWall, but I'm currently drawing from the grid instead.  Presumably due to TOU rates the energy stored in the PowerWall is being held in reserve to be used during 4-7pm peek usage period when the grid rates are higher.