From Powerless to Empowered: My Solar Journey After Winter Storm Uri

Daniel Verastiqui

10 Oct 2024 — 5 min read

Cheyenne bundles up like she isn't already wearing a fur coat.

In February 2021, like many Texans, I learned that our statewide power grid is not connected to either of the national grids. So when Winter Storm Uri hit, and temperatures plunged, we were unprepared for the surge in demand and how the extreme cold would affect the energy infrastructure, leading to loss of power for pretty much everyone. It was a sobering moment for me to realize that, essentially, we were on our own. However, this realization also empowered me to make a proactive choice for solar energy. While our situation was never dangerous, it left a bad taste in my mouth that I wasn't doing enough to prepare for the next one.

In the months following Uri, there was a run on Generac backup generators. I must have put my name on a dozen lists and didn't get any response until 6 - 8 months later. In the meantime, I had already purchased a portable generator and had an electrician install a bypass outlet on the side of my house. I let that sit for a while before convincing myself that even a beefy generator won't be able to keep the house going for more than a few hours at a time and that the best use of it would be to simply run the refrigerator and a space heater. Plus, there was also the noise to consider. During the outage in 2021, a lone generator rumbled throughout the day and night somewhere near our house.

Praise the Sun

Many of my neighbors already had solar back in 2021, but only one had battery backups. During a conversation with said neighbor, I got to see the Tesla Powerwall app for the first time, and I completely nerded out. I loved being able to see how much power was being generated, how much stored, and how much going back to the grid. It was a moment of revelation, and I felt a sense of relief and peace of mind.I resolved then that I would get a solar system and some batteries and never look back!

I interviewed five companies and narrowed it down to two: Longhorn Solar and Freedom Solar. Both companies were extremely knowledgeable and patient as they explained their solutions to me. I eventually went with Longhorn Solar based on the recommendation of a friend and the friendly service. The only tick they had against them was their use of Tesla batteries (see next section). We hashed it out, over and over, but there was no way around it–the Powerwalls were just the best solution. And after a year, I have to agree. They rock.

A Musky Problem

With the batteries and the inverters, there are six extra boxes on the side of my house, all with Tesla branding. That was unacceptable, but I let it sit for a year just in case I had a warranty claim. But recently, I walked back there to look at the batteries to see how I could cover up the branding. I thought maybe the covers were engraved or recessed, but no... it's just stickers. Considering how much these batteries cost, I was expecting something... more, maybe? But, that does mean I didn't have to paint or anything; I just removed the stickers.

I even found a better home for those stickers...

Your Turn

Ready to go solar? Seriously, it's the best thing ever. There is nothing like selling electricity back to the state at a 90% market rate. Except, of course, for keeping your family warm and safe during extended power outages. But you likely won't make money off of that.