Tesla's Elon Musk slashing solar prices for PG&E customers hit by wildfire blackouts

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says anyone impacted by the California power outages can purchase his company’s solar panels and Powerwall at a discount.

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“If you’re directly affected by wildfire power outages, Tesla is reducing Solar+Powerwall prices by $1000 as of today,” Musk tweeted. This product, according to the company, can power your home's entire energy needs on a "typical day."

Tesla sells two Powerwalls on its website for $13,500 plus an additional $1,100 for the supporting software. The company recommends two Powerwalls for a home that's under 700 square feet and three Powerwalls ($19,500) for any space under 3,900 square feet. The $1,000 discount means two Powerwalls would cost $12,500 plus the $1,100 supporting-software fee.

Tesla acquired Musk's Solar City in a $2.6 billion deal in 2016.

The California utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company was forced to shut off power to more than 2.4 million people over the weekend amid fears hurricane-force winds could spark new wildfires caused by downed power lines.

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It wasn't the first time this month that PG&E was forced to shut off power. On Oct. 9, the San Francisco-based utility stopped service to more than 800,000 customers.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the weekend due to the wildfires and also criticized PG&E, saying that the problems are “not a climate change story as much as a story about greed and mismanagement over the course of decades.”

PG&E in January filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to liabilities stemming from wildfires in Northern California in 2017 and 2018.

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Tesla shares have lost 1.4 percent this year, trimming a deficit of over 20 percent following the company's return to profitability last week.