Convince Me I did the Right Thing Installing Tesla Solar w/ 1 powerwall
Background: Have a lakehouse in Texas where I installed solar. Leased an 8.4 system with only 1 Powerwall (mainly for price, but also didn't know I would need more). We really wanted some backup in case of outages (which are somewhat regular) and didn't want to pay for a generator and propane to run it. Since we won't be there as often, any energy credits will be good over time.
Don't have any complaints about the process through installation, as we had good communication and a good crew. It seems the power wall won't last for more than a couple of hours if we use the AC during an outage. Tesla won't add to the existing lease, and any expansion pack would cost over $ 5,000 for installation, as if it were a new PW3 install through Tesla Solar.
From start to finish, it took a couple of months to get the system up and running. I've had the system running for a full month now. In that month, it seems I have returned 81.46kWh to the grid. (.0059968cents) Normal electric costs are $0.1412698 per kWh, not including the $40 per month service charge. The house averages around 600kWh per month.
I'll still have to pay the $40 per month, but I will get a $4.88 credit this month for electricity later on. I basically saved $72.75 from last month's bill by having solar produce the electricity. Lease payment is $160 with the usual terms.
I figured the lease worked better since Tesla is responsible for repairs, etc., and because I didn't have the cash or money for a system purchase. I also thought I could lease again after 5 years to keep a low payment and Tesla would still be responsible for the "older" system and maybe Tesla will let me add an expansion pack or 2 then if I re-up (doubtful). After 10 years, I imagine I'll be in a position to purchase. The 5-year price is still too high given the quoted amount.
Did I mess this up? Is saving $80 a month for what amounts to $200 in costs worth it just for the peace of mind of having backup for a couple of hours? I'm not that concerned about the environmental impact I may be helping with by having solar. I might have just set myself up to pay more each month for something that won't help me that much or get that much use. So, did I make the right decision?
Thoughts? Ideas?