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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How can I configure Powerwall to export to the grid?
  2. Why is my Powerwall charging or discharging when I don’t expect it to?
  3. Intelligent Octopus Go: Why is my Powerwall charging from the grid or discharging to the EV?
  4. Where can I suggest features or changes for Netzero?
  5. Why is my Powerwall 2 or Powerwall 3 diagnostic connection failing?
  6. How do I edit or remove an existing automation?
  7. Why did my automation not run during a storm?
  8. Can I run different automations in summer and winter?
  9. Can you add support for my EV, EV charger, or heating/cooling unit?
  10. Why does my Netzero app not work or allow me to sign in?
  11. How do I subscribe to Netzero for advanced features?
  12. Which automations should I configure for my system?
  13. Can I use Netzero with more than one energy system?
  14. I have a Wall Connector linked to my Tesla account: why is it not showing up in Netzero?
  15. My question is not answered here.

1. How can I configure Powerwall to export to the grid?

There are two ways: start a Powerwall grid export for a set period of time, or configure the settings that let Tesla’s Savings mode algorithm export on its own.

Starting an export

Powerwall grid export discharges stored energy to the grid for a set period of time. Start it from the Powerwall grid export card in the Automation > Configuration tab, picking a duration of 15 to 240 minutes, or from an automation using the Powerwall grid export action. Tesla offers no direct control over battery export, so Netzero drives it with a temporary utility rate plan, and the Powerwall takes a few minutes to start exporting.

The backup reserve is not changed, and acts as the floor that exports stop at, so set it before starting an export to control how much of the battery is exported.

Grid export requires a Netzero subscription, a Powerwall with an Energy Exports setting, and a grid connection that permits exporting stored energy. The Energy exports permitted row on the Devices > Gateway card shows what the grid connection allows: the card and the automation action appear only where that row reads Everything (solar and battery).

Exporting under Savings mode

The rest of the time, exporting is determined by Tesla’s Savings mode algorithm. That algorithm decides whether exporting is beneficial based on your utility rate plan, predicted home usage, and predicted solar production.

Netzero can configure the relevant settings for exporting, such as:

  • Enabling Savings mode.
  • Setting Energy Exports to Everything (solar and battery).
  • Setting a low backup reserve.
  • Keeping the utility rate plan up to date (for dynamic pricing plans).

However, these settings alone do not guarantee export. Outside of a Powerwall grid export, the final decision remains with Tesla.

Common reasons why Powerwall does not export on its own:

  • Preserving capacity may be more valuable. Powerwall often avoids exporting if holding charge for later peak prices produces greater savings. Tesla also restricts configurations so that export prices can never exceed import prices for any period.
  • Exporting may be installer-restricted. If you do not see the Energy Exports: Everything option in the Tesla app, your installer or utility may have disabled battery export. Confirm with the installer or Tesla Support.

2. Why is my Powerwall charging or discharging when I don’t expect it to?

Apart from a Powerwall grid export, Netzero does not directly control real-time charging or discharging. It sets configuration parameters such as the operational mode, backup reserve, and export settings. Powerwall behavior itself is decided by Tesla.

Useful Tesla references:

Common explanations for unexpected behavior:

  • Misconfigured settings. Double-check operational mode, backup reserve, and export settings in Netzero and in the Tesla app.

  • Optimized Charging. When charging from solar, Powerwall may pause at around 80% (exporting excess solar to the grid) and top off to 100% later in the day. Tesla introduced this behavior to reduce the time the battery spends at 100% state of charge, which improves long-term battery health. When it is active, the Tesla app shows an Optimized Charging message.

  • Powerwall 3 Calibration Mode. Powerwall 3 sometimes enters a calibration cycle that rapidly discharges and recharges the battery, even below the backup reserve. It typically completes within 24 hours. If the behavior persists, contact Tesla Support.

  • System restart needed. If behavior remains unclear, power-cycle the system:

3. Intelligent Octopus Go: Why is my Powerwall charging from the grid or discharging to the EV?

When the Intelligent Octopus Go (IOG) integration is enabled, Netzero uses Octopus-scheduled charging windows to preserve or charge the Powerwall.

Important notes:

  • Only the Octopus API key and account number are required in Netzero. EV or charger integration is optional and not used for charging windows. The utility rate plan does not need to be managed by Netzero either.
  • To receive notifications when Intelligent Octopus sessions begin or end, enable email or push notifications in Settings > Notifications, and ensure Automations notify only when failing is disabled.
  • On the current version of the tariff, the Powerwall is not charged during every slot: a slot that would take the day’s smart charging past the 6-hour limit leaves the Powerwall in Preserve Charge, and charging only starts once the EV is actually drawing power. See 6-hour smart charging limit and Powerwall charging follows your EV.

4. Where can I suggest features or changes for Netzero?

Use the public GitHub issue tracker to submit feature requests: Netzero Issues.

This allows other users to discuss and upvote ideas, and helps us track them efficiently.

5. Why is my Powerwall 2 or Powerwall 3 diagnostic connection failing?

Troubleshooting guides are available:

6. How do I edit or remove an existing automation?

In the mobile app, swipe left on any automation in the schedule to edit, pause, mute, or delete it. In the web app, the same actions are shown as icons next to each automation.

Pause stops the automation from running until it is resumed. Mute keeps the automation running on its schedule, but stops its notifications, including failure notifications. Its runs are still listed under Past Runs. See Automation Notifications for the other notification settings.

7. Why did my automation not run during a storm?

By default, automations do not run while a Storm Watch event is active, so they do not interfere with the Powerwall charging ahead of severe weather. The run is listed as failed under Past Runs. A Powerwall enters Storm Watch as soon as a weather warning is issued, which can be a day or more before the weather itself.

To run an automation during Storm Watch anyway, enable Run during Storm Watch events under Advanced options when editing it. See Storm Watch events.

8. Can I run different automations in summer and winter?

Yes. Keep both sets of automations and set a Date range on each one, under When it can run: for example Apr 1 to Sep 30 on the summer automations and Oct 1 to Mar 31 on the winter ones. Automations outside their date range are skipped, so the two schedules change over on their own.

See Seasonal schedules.

9. Can you add support for my EV, EV charger, or heating/cooling unit?

Netzero uses an API partner to integrate energy devices. Supported manufacturer and model availability depends on programmatic access, reliability, and vendor support.

The list of supported devices is regularly updated: Energy Device Integration.

10. Why does my Netzero app not work or allow me to sign in?

Common fixes:

11. How do I subscribe to Netzero for advanced features?

Go to Settings > Subscription in the iOS, Android, or web app. On a phone or tablet, the purchase goes through the App Store or Google Play, so ensure you are signed in to the correct store account. In the web app, the purchase goes through a Stripe checkout page.

For the free trial, billing, cancellation, and other subscription questions, see Netzero Subscriptions.

12. Which automations should I configure for my system?

Automation choices depend on your goals and utility rate structure. See the documentation for more examples:

13. Can I use Netzero with more than one energy system?

Yes. Every energy system on your Tesla account is available under Settings > Switch System. Accounts with two or three systems in the same time zone also get a Combined System option there, which adds up the Solar, Home, Powerwall, and Grid data across all systems on the dashboard. Automations, Devices, and Settings always apply to one system at a time.

One subscription covers up to three energy systems. Accounts with more than three need a separate multi-system subscription: contact support@netzero.energy.

14. I have a Wall Connector linked to my Tesla account: why is it not showing up in Netzero?

The Wall Connector needs to be added to your Powerwall system to be shown in Netzero. One way to confirm this is that you only have one system in the top-left dropdown in the Tesla app, and it shows both the solar system and your car garage with the Wall Connector on the same screen.

If the Wall Connector is shown as a separate system in the Tesla app, you can ask Tesla Support to merge the two systems for you.

15. My question is not answered here.

Contact us at feedback@netzero.energy.

Netzero Documentation