Tesla opens sales of Powerwall home batteries, nearly two years after limiting them because its supply was “too low.”

Tesla announced its backup battery technology way back in 2015 with the explicit intention that the product would work in tandem with solar panels. Yet until 2021, the automaker also allowed people to buy the large batteries separately. Eventually, Elon Musk clarified that supply issues were behind the restrictions, but the executive teased in 2022 that “ordering a Powerwall on its own should be possible” by the end of the year.

Seemingly a few months behind schedule, it’s happening now – with caveats.

Tesla said this week that it now sells Powerwalls separately”in some US markets.” The company hasn’t released an official list of these markets, as far as we can tell, but its website offers potential buyers a way to see if their address has been whitelisted.

For example: I typed in my Los Angeles address and the Tesla site responded, “We are evaluating where to service next.” Reserve your Powerwall to help us grow in your area. However, the device appears to be available separately in other regions, such as Austin, Texas.

Tesla’s focus on Texas is no coincidence. The company moved to Austin in 2021. A year later, Tesla launched its invite-only electric plan in parts of Texas where retail choice is available, including Houston and Dallas. As we wrote in December, the plan is called Tesla Electric, and it’s exclusively available to Powerwall holders. Tesla recently told investors it intended to expand its electric plan to other markets, but the company remained vague about it, as always. With that in mind, it’s plausible that Tesla is doing this as part of its Tesla Electric growth plan.

You might be wondering, “Why would anyone want a Powerwall without solar?” The self-contained device could be appealing to people who aren’t in an ideal location for the sun, or for those who don’t want to pay for solar power and a home battery at the same time. As we observed at CES 2023, many companies seem to believe that demand for backup batteries and generators is on the rise – and extreme weather events linked to climate change could certainly spark interest.