Just to premise this article, we do not sell Telsa products. We are not distributors, manufactures, or installers of Tesla solar products. However, due to an increasingly high number of questions we are getting from customers, we thought it was a good idea to touch briefly on Tesla. Here are the latest Tesla news update from the industry.
The Tesla News Update: Concern About Clean Energy
Photo Credit: Insider EVs
Currently, there is a seemingly large amount of misinformation, information, and hype swirling around Tesla’s electric vehicle. The funnel of information is having many people, patiently waiting, to get their Tesla solar panels or batteries, installed on their homes, call us and ask if there should be concern.
First, we do not know. As we mentioned, we are not affiliated with Tesla.
What we do know is that Tesla is also the owner of SolarCity. About two years ago, Tesla acquired Solar City for $2.6 billion in stock and about $3 billion in debt. Unfortunately, from the solar side, solar installations at Tesla have plummeted.
What Has Been Published About Tesla
We know that Tesla has changed their selling strategies recently. Once, you could find Tesla sales people knocking door-to-door and stationed at Home Depot. Today, Tesla only can be found online and at Tesla retail location. We do know that Tesla did have to layoff about 9% of their workforce during this transitional period.
Tesla News Update: And then there is Yelp
Photo Credit: LittleAcreFlowers
Tesla has been tight-lipped about much of the changes happening within the solar side of business. So, another way to assess the company is through what their solar customers are say.
YELP, the infamous customer feedback tool, shows that Tesla customers have not been overwhelmingly happy when it comes to solar. With reviews from 2017-2018, there are an overwhelming number of 1-Star reviews and multiple comments that customer service was poor and even, “non-existent.” Other comments discussed equipment failure, utility disputes, and other technical issues.
What does all this mean?
As we have written before, there are dozens of other equivalent, or superior, solar products in the marketplace. Tesla has done an awesome job marketing solar – and like the electric car – they made solar sexy and desirable.
However, for people who have piqued interest in solar, it is important they start to do their research. Tesla is only one of many solar installation companies that service the Contra Costa and San Francisco Bay areas. Other companies, selling a myriad of highly rated and high performing panels, are options that should not be overlooked.
From solar panels, inverters and battery systems, all consumers need to take the time to work with a local solar installation company and learn which solar panels and solar PV systems are the ideal energy solutions to their homes. Tesla does come with brand recognition that other solar companies, or solar energy solutions do not come with. However, other solar products have:
- product integrity
- installation quality
- customer service that Tesla seems to lack
If you are interested in learning about how solar could work for you, take the time to reach out to one of our Energy Adviser’s today.
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